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MotorFiable

1.5 dCi vs 1.9 dCi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 dCi carries less risk than the 1.9 dCi: 63/100 versus 67/100 (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 1.9 dCi has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Seizure and wear of the big-end bearings».

Risk index

1.5 dCi

63

High risk · 4 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.9 dCi

67

High risk · 3 serious faults

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

26 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 1.9 dCi reliable?

The 1.9 dCi (F9Q) was Renault's first common-rail diesel (1999) and powered a large part of its range, and those of Nissan and Volvo, for more than a decade. It has well-documented weak points: on versions of up to 120 hp built before 2005, the big-end bearings can seize and the turbo tends to degrade around 150,000 km; the injectors, the EGR valve and, on the 120 hp versions, the dual-mass flywheel also fail fairly often.[5][6][7][8][9]

See the 5 of the 1.9 dCi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 dCi and 1.9 dCi
1.5 dCi1.9 dCi
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,461 cm³1,870 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Timing belt (dry)
Power55–116 hp80–130 hp
Productionsince 2001[1][10][11][12][13][14][15]1999–2011[16][17][18]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk67High risk
Documented faults85
Of high or critical severity43
Worst severityCritical severityCritical 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. Critical severity: Seizure and wear of the big-end bearings
  2. High severity: Premature turbocharger wear
  3. High severity: Failures of the Delphi direct-injection injectors
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000Premature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsPublished figure[8][19]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.5 dCi Energy Euro 6 with NOx trap (90 and 110 hp, 2015-2018)[20][21][22]
  • 1.5 dCi in Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti (OM 607 / OM 608, 2012-2020)[15][23]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 4 (68/70, 85/86 and 105/106 hp, 2005-2010)[1][2][3][12]
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 5 with particulate filter (75, 90, 95 and 110 hp, 2010-2015)[1][3][24]
  • 1.5 Blue dCi with SCR and AdBlue (85, 95, 100 and 115 hp, from 2018)[21][25][26]
  • 1.9 dCi 95-120 (F9Q, first generation, 1999-2005)[7]
  • 1.9 dCi 125-130 (F9Q, Energy dCi, 2005-2011)[7]
  • 1.9 dCi 80-101 (F9Q, vans and commercial vehicles, 1999-2007)[5][6]
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

1.9 dCi

See the 13 models with the 1.9 dCi

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 dCi

With the 1.9 dCi

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. Renault Mégane II (2002 – 2009): Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  6. Renault Scénic II (2003 – 2009) – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Achat d'occasion : faut-il éviter le moteur 1.9 dCi F9Q chez Renault ?Planète Renault · Motoring press · published 24 January 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Vanne EGR : problèmes et pannesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  11. Moteur K RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  13. 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
  14. Nissan : le Qashqai reçoit un nouveau moteur dCiCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 14 September 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  15. Estos son los motores Renault que usa MercedesDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 22 December 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Renault F-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  17. Moteur F RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  18. Renault Espace IVWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  19. Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  20. Fiabilité du Renault Kadjar : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  21. Fiabilité du Dacia Duster 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 27 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  22. Fiabilité du Renault Captur : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 March 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  23. Fiabilité des 180d / 180 CDI MercedesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  24. Fiabilité du Nissan Qashqai 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 22 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  25. Fiabilité du 1.5 Blue dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 18 May 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  26. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Renault Clio 5 : loin d'être irréprochableCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French