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1.5 dCi vs VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD carries less risk than the 1.5 dCi: 32/100 (moderate risk) versus 63/100 (high risk). The 1.5 dCi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings»; the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD)».

Risk index

1.5 dCi

63

High risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

32

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

33 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 VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD reliable?

The VM Motori 2.8 CRD (four-cylinder) and 3.0 CRD V6 diesels from Jeep, Chrysler and Lancia show no systemic fault in open sources: they describe injector wear, a dirty EGR and a high-mileage turbo, and AUTO BILD says durability complaints about the 3.0 are very rare. The UK DVSA identifies only one engine campaign for the 3.0 (2025).[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 dCi and VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
1.5 dCiVM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,461 cm³—
TimingTiming belt (dry)—
Power55–116 hp150–250 hp
Productionsince 2001[1][9][10][11][12][13][14]2003–2020[15][16][17][18][19][20]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk32Moderate risk
Documented faults84
Of high or critical severity41
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: Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD)
  2. Medium severity: Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pump
  3. Medium severity: Turbocharger failure and intake hoses
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000Premature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsPublished figure[21][22]up to €1,400Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pumpPublished figure[23][24]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.5 dCi Energy Euro 6 with NOx trap (90 and 110 hp, 2015-2018)[25][26][27]
  • 1.5 dCi in Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti (OM 607 / OM 608, 2012-2020)[14][28]
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][11]
  • 1.5 dCi Euro 5 with particulate filter (75, 90, 95 and 110 hp, 2010-2015)[1][3][29]
  • 1.5 Blue dCi with SCR and AdBlue (85, 95, 100 and 115 hp, from 2018)[26][30][31]
  • 2.8 CRD R 428 (ENR, 110 kW / 150 hp, 2003-2008)[5][23]
  • 2.8 CRD RA 428 Euro 4 (ENS, 163-177 hp, 2007-2011)[5][32]
  • 2.8 CRD A 428 Euro 5 (147 kW / 200 hp and 163-178 hp, 2010-2018)[5][32]
  • 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5 (190 and 239-241 hp, 2011-2013)[6][8]
  • 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5+ (190 and 250 hp, 2013-2020)[6][7]
  • 3.0 V6 Diesel A 630 HP Maserati (250 and 275 hp, 2013–2020)[6][33]
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

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

See the 13 models with the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 dCi

With the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

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. Jeep Wrangler 2.8 Diesel ProblemsCarsGuide · Motoring press · published 11 December 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026
  6. Jeep Grand Cherokee IV: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 11 April 2018 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  7. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
  8. Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 con kilometraje: se puede comprar, pero con maticesZa Rulyom (zr.ru) · Motoring press · published 28 April 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in another language
  9. Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  10. Moteur K RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. 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
  13. Nissan : le Qashqai reçoit un nouveau moteur dCiCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 14 September 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  14. Estos son los motores Renault que usa MercedesDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 22 December 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. VM MotoriWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  16. VM MotoriWikipedia (it) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Italian
  17. Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRD Sport (2007-2008): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  18. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD Mountain Aut. (2012): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  19. Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  20. First drive: oil burner adds to Cherokee rangeGoAuto · Motoring press · published 11 March 2003 · consulted 8 October 2026
  21. Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  22. Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 17 October 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  23. Problemas Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  24. Problemas Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  25. Fiabilité du Renault Kadjar : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  26. Fiabilité du Dacia Duster 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 27 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  27. Fiabilité du Renault Captur : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 March 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  28. Fiabilité des 180d / 180 CDI MercedesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  29. Fiabilité du Nissan Qashqai 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 22 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  30. Fiabilité du 1.5 Blue dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 18 May 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  31. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Renault Clio 5 : loin d'être irréprochableCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  32. Zahnriemenwechsel Jeep Wranglerrepareo.de · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  33. Problemas Maserati Ghibli DiéselTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 31 October 2026 · in Spanish