1.5 BlueHDi vs 1.6 CDTI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CDTI carries less risk than the 1.5 BlueHDi: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 77/100 (very high risk). The 1.5 BlueHDi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts»; the 1.6 CDTI has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner».

Risk index

1.5 BlueHDi

Very high risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 27 September 202627 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 BlueHDi reliable?

The 1.5 BlueHDi has a serious weak point in engines built from October 2017 to January 2023: the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break. Stellantis has recalled them and covers this fault for 10 years or 240,000 km; engines built up to August 2020 can also suffer AdBlue tank failures, with partial compensation from the manufacturer.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.5 BlueHDi faults

Is the 1.6 CDTI reliable?

The Opel/Vauxhall 1.6 CDTI (2013-2020, 95-160 hp) has no design fault acknowledged by the manufacturer, but it has built up reports of early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner, two episodes (2016 and 2018) of German investigation into a possible EGR valve shut-off, and AdBlue system faults on its Euro 6 versions.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

See the 3 of the 1.6 CDTI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 BlueHDi and 1.6 CDTI
Item	1.5 BlueHDi	1.6 CDTI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,499 cm³	1,598 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	75–130 hp	95–160 hp
Production	since 2017^{[12][13][14][15][16][17]}	2013–2020^[5][18]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	77Very high risk	36Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	3
Of high or critical severity	4	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts Medium severity: AdBlue tank and pump failure High severity: Seizure of the high-pressure pump and injection system	High severity: Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner Medium severity: Suspected software shut-off of the EGR valve (emissions investigation) Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versions
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,500AdBlue tank and pump failurePublished figure^{[4][19][20][21]}	up to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure^[11][22]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 BlueHDi with 8 mm chain (from February 2023)^[2][23][24]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 BlueHDi 75-130 with 7 mm chain (October 2017 - January 2023)^[25][26][27]	1.6 CDTI 95 hp (B16DTE/B16DTU, 2014-2018)^[9][10] 1.6 CDTI 108-110 hp (B16DTL/B16DTN/B16DTU/D16DTI, 2014-2019)^[10] 1.6 CDTI 120-122 hp (B16DTJ/B16DTC, 2014-2018)^[6][7][8] 1.6 CDTI Turbo ecoFLEX 134-136 hp (B16DTH, 2013-2020)^[6][10] 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI ecoFLEX 150-160 hp (B16DTR/D16DTR, 2015-2019)^[9][18]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.5 BlueHDi

See the 34 models with the 1.5 BlueHDi

1.6 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.6 CDTI

Other comparisons

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With the 1.6 CDTI

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis rappelle 930 000 véhicules et étend la couverture à 10 ansL'argus · Motoring press · published 3 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Llaman a revisión a miles de Citroën, Opel, Peugeot, DS y Fiat en España con el motor diésel 1.5 BlueHDiMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 3 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Réservoir AdBlue Stellantis. Quels changements dans l'indemnisation des clients français ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 21 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
OCU y BEUC consiguen que Stellantis amplíe la garantía de los depósitos AdBlue defectuososOCU · Consumer association · published 27 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
GM Medium Diesel engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Opel, acusada de desconectar la válvula EGR de su modelo Zafira ¿aumentando las emisiones de NOx?Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 19 May 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Opel está de nuevo en el punto de mira por las emisiones con 60.000 coches afectadosMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 16 July 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
La Fiscalía alemana registra las instalaciones de Opel en el marco de una investigación sobre emisionesMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 October 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilité Opel Astra 5 (K) - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Opel Mokka X - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
El aditivo de AdBlue que debes usar para evitar una reparación de 2.000 euros en tu coche diéselAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 1 April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Ford DLD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Motor DV5Oryx Parts · Technical documentation · published 24 January 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Which Cars Have a Wet Belt? Full UK Engine List (2026)CarOkay · Other source · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026
Opel Corsa F: Probleme mit dem Ölbad-Zahnriemen erklärtcarVertical · Other source · published 17 July 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
PSA 1.5L BlueHDi: a focus on the DV5 engineSumax · Technical documentation · published July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
Timing Belt Kit & Water Pump for Peugeot 1.5 BlueHDi - DV5RLymm Engine Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
La OCU quiere tomar medidas ante los problemas del sistema de AdBlue de Citroën y Peugeotcoches.com · Motoring press · published 30 May 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Solución fallo AdBlue Peugeot, Citroën y Opel: evita cambiar el depósitoST Automoción · Other source · published 11 December 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Stellantis amplía las compensaciones por los problemas técnicos de sus depósitos AdBlueMinisterio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030 · Official body · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Twin dosing en diésel: el fallo que dispara una avería de más de 1.000 euros en el tallerMotor16 · Motoring press · published 22 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis rappelle plusieurs milliers de véhicules pour un problème d'injectionL'argus · Motoring press · published 14 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Europa amplía la llamada a revisión por los graves problemas del motor 1.5 BlueHDi de StellantisAutonoción · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Cobertura especial para los 1.5 BlueHDi del Grupo Stellantiscoches.net · Motoring press · published 3 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Casse chaîne 1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis étend sa prise en charge à 7 ans ou 180 000 kmL'argus · Motoring press · published 15 January 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité moteur Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi. Une nouvelle huile pour éviter la casseL'argus · Motoring press · published 14 January 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French