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MotorFiable

1.5 dCi vs 1.6 HDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 dCi carries less risk than the 1.6 HDi: 63/100 versus 71/100 (both high risk). The 1.5 dCi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings»; the 1.6 HDi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbo failure through lack of lubrication (carbon deposits and union filter)».

Risk index

1.5 dCi

63

High risk · 4 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.6 HDi

71

High risk · 2 serious faults

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

42 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.5 dCi reliable?

The post-2010 1.5 dCi engines, especially the 90 hp, have a good record. The Euro 3 and Euro 4 units (2001-2010) carry serious faults: big-end bearings that can wreck the engine, a Delphi pump that fills the injection system with metal filings and, in some 105/110 hp versions, a timing belt and dual-mass flywheel that fail early.[1][2][3][4]

See the 8 of the 1.5 dCi faults

Is the 1.6 HDi reliable?

It is an efficient diesel, but its 16-valve versions (2004-2011) have a serious weak point: the turbo is starved of lubrication by carbon deposits from the oil, often made worse by leaks at the injector washers. The 8V engines (from 2010) improved, although you need to watch the 2010-2011 belt and the injectors, and on the BlueHDi the AdBlue tank.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

See the 7 of the 1.6 HDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 dCi and 1.6 HDi
1.5 dCi1.6 HDi
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,461 cm³1,560 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Timing belt (dry)
Power55–116 hp75–120 hp
Productionsince 2001[1][14][15][16][17][18][19]2004–2019[8][10][20][21][22][23][24]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk71High risk
Documented faults87
Of high or critical severity42
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings
  2. Critical severity: Premature timing belt failure
  3. High severity: Delphi high-pressure pump that sheds filings and damages the injection
  1. High severity: Turbo failure through lack of lubrication (carbon deposits and union filter)
  2. High severity: Timing belt failure and premature wear
  3. Medium severity: AdBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi)
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000Premature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsPublished figure[25][26]up to €1,500Turbo failure through lack of lubrication (carbon deposits and union filter)Estimate[5][27][28][29][30][31][32]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.5 dCi Energy Euro 6 with NOx trap (90 and 110 hp, 2015-2018)[33][34][35]
  • 1.5 dCi in Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti (OM 607 / OM 608, 2012-2020)[19][36]
  • 1.6 HDi / e-HDi 92/95 8V (DV6D, 2009-2016)[37][38]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 4 (68/70, 85/86 and 105/106 hp, 2005-2010)[1][2][3][16]
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 5 with particulate filter (75, 90, 95 and 110 hp, 2010-2015)[1][3][39]
  • 1.5 Blue dCi with SCR and AdBlue (85, 95, 100 and 115 hp, from 2018)[34][40][41]
  • 1.6 HDi 75/90 16V (DV6BTED4 / DV6ATED4, 2004-2011)[6][7][37]
  • 1.6 HDi 110 16V DPF (DV6TED4, 2004-2011)[6][10][37]
  • 1.6 HDi / e-HDi 112/115 8V (DV6C, 2010-2015)[9][11]
  • 1.6 BlueHDi 75/100/120 (DV6FE / DV6FD / DV6FC, 2013-2019)[12][23][42]
AvoidVersions to avoid
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 3 (65, 80/82 and 100 hp, 2001-2005)[1][4]
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 dCi

See the 47 models with the 1.5 dCi

1.6 HDi

See the 49 models with the 1.6 HDi

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 dCi

With the 1.6 HDi

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

  1. Fiabilité du 1.5 dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Renault Clio 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 November 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  3. Maxi-fiche fiabilité : que vaut le Renault Scénic 3 en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 February 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  4. Maxi-fiche occasion : que vaut le Renault Scénic 2 en seconde main ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 29 October 2014 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. Häufige Schäden und die professionelle Reparatur (Turbolader PSA 1,6 HDi)Krafthand · Motoring press · published 6 June 2013 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  6. Boletín de servicio: sustitución del turbo en motores DV6 (versión reducida de la Información de servicio nº 77)Turbotec · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Diesel : la liste des pannes récurrentes des moteurs HDi, dCi, TDI... (1.6 HDi)L'argus · Motoring press · published 28 October 2014 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  8. Fiabilité Citroën Peugeot. Le bloc 1.6 HDi 8 soupapes est-il fiable ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 23 March 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  9. Fiabilité Citroën Peugeot. Le bloc 1.6 HDi 8 soupapes est-il fiable ? (1.6 HDi 112/115)L'argus · Motoring press · published 23 March 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  10. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.6 HDI 110 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.6 HDI 112 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. OCU y BEUC consiguen que Stellantis amplíe la garantía de los coches con AdBlueOCU · Consumer association · published 27 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. El Grupo PSA lanza la gama de motores Blue HDikm77 · Motoring press · published 16 September 2013 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  15. Moteur K RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  16. Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  17. Mercedes abandonne le 1.5 dCi Renault pour un moteur maison, qui émet plus de CO2 !Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 October 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  18. Nissan : le Qashqai reçoit un nouveau moteur dCiCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 14 September 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  19. Estos son los motores Renault que usa MercedesDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 22 December 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  20. Prueba de consumo (202): Peugeot Partner Outdoor 1.6-BlueHDi 120 CVkm77 · Motoring press · published 24 December 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  21. Motor PSA DVWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  22. Peugeot DV6TED4 engine: specifications and applicationsMyMotorList · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
  23. Fiabilité 1.6 BlueHDIFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · published 9 December 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  24. Motor Peugeot DV6FDTED: especificaciones y aplicacionesMyMotorList · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  25. Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  26. Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 17 October 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  27. Turbo intercambio Garrett 753420 motor 1.6HDi 1.6TDCI 1.6DFG Automoción · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  28. Turbo Garrett 753420 (GT1544V) para 1.6 HDI 110 CVAML Turbos · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  29. Tubo de engrase PSA 1.6 HDI 110 CV + filtro (OP10049COMP)Electromotor Lantejuela · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  30. ¿Cuál es el precio de la mano de obra en los talleres de las 10 marcas más vendidas en España?km77 · Motoring press · published 30 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  31. La doble tarifa de la mano de obra en los talleres españoles: lo que dice su tablón vs. lo que realmente ingresanInfotaller · Motoring press · published June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  32. ¿Estás cobrando lo justo en tu taller? Así está la mano de obra por hora en 2025Infotaller · Motoring press · published 9 September 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  33. Fiabilité du Renault Kadjar : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  34. Fiabilité du Dacia Duster 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 27 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  35. Fiabilité du Renault Captur : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 March 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  36. Fiabilité des 180d / 180 CDI MercedesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  37. Fiabilité 1.6 HDIFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · published 22 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  38. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.6 HDI 92 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  39. Fiabilité du Nissan Qashqai 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 22 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  40. Fiabilité du 1.5 Blue dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 18 May 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  41. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Renault Clio 5 : loin d'être irréprochableCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  42. Adblue : problèmes en pagaille ?Fiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French