1.6 CRDi vs 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) carries less risk than the 1.6 CRDi: 20/100 (low risk) versus 70/100 (high risk). The 1.6 CRDi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «MHSG belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley failure (48V mild hybrid)»; the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.6 CRDi

High risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202620 sources How we work

Is the 1.6 CRDi reliable?

The U2 D4FB (2009-2018) is a generally robust diesel if well maintained, with known turbo failures in the early units and timing chain problems from 120,000-150,000 km. Its successor, the Smartstream (U3 D4FE, from 2018), has a good reputation, except in the 48V mild hybrid version, which has a belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley fault that can destroy the engine.^[1][2][3]

See the 6 of the 1.6 CRDi faults

Is the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) reliable?

No serious mechanical faults are documented in the European sources we were able to open: AutoBild saw the 2.8 as more robust than the 3.0 it replaced, although it points to glow plugs that fail early. Its best-documented weak point is the particulate filter, with a lawsuit in Australia but no equivalent recall or legal action in Europe, and there are barely any high-mileage examples from which to judge long-term reliability.^[4][5][6]

See the 4 of the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 CRDi and 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Item	1.6 CRDi	2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,582 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	90–136 hp	150–204 hp
Production	since 2009^[1][7][8][9]	since 2015^{[10][11][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	70High risk	20Low risk
Documented faults	6	4
Of high or critical severity	4	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: MHSG belt tensioner and crankshaft pulley failure (48V mild hybrid) Critical severity: Timing chain stretch High severity: Premature variable-geometry turbo (VGT) failure	Medium severity: Blocked particulate filter (DPF) due to incomplete regenerations Medium severity: Variable geometry turbo (VNT) seized by soot Medium severity: Diesel dilution of the engine oil from interrupted particulate filter regenerations
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,800Particulate filter (DPF) blocked in urban usePublished figure^[14]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	Smartstream 1.6 CRDi U3 (D4FE, 115-136 hp, without mild hybrid, from 2018)^[2][15]	2.8 D-4D 204 (1GD-FTV, 204 hp, from 2020)^[16]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.6 CRDi U2 (D4FB, 90-136 hp, sold in Spain from 2010 to ~2018)^[1][17][18] Smartstream 1.6 CRDi 48V mild hybrid (D4FE MHEV, 136 hp, from ~2019)^[3][19]	2.4 D-4D 150 (2GD-FTV, 150 hp, from 2016)^[16][20] 2.8 D-4D 177 (1GD-FTV, 177 hp, 2015-2020)^[4][5][16]
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

1.6 CRDi

See the 16 models with the 1.6 CRDi

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 CRDi

With the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

Motor Kia y Hyundai 1.6 CRDI (D4FB): ficha tecnica, problemas y tuningMotordinámico · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed III: Bekannte Probleme & RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Kia / Hyundai 1.6 CRDi MHEV Engine FailuresDOHC (especialista en reconstrucción de motores) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
Toyota Land Cruiser 150: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 20 January 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Toyota Faces Up To $1.5 Billion Payout To Owners Over Diesel Lawsuit In AustraliaCarscoops · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026
Hyundai U engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai Smartstream engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Hyundai i30 Kombi 1.6 CRDi 48V-Mildhybrid Trend (10/20-01/22): Technische Daten, Bilder, PreiseADAC · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Toyota GD engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Toyota HiluxWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8 D-4D (5-Türer) (10/20 - 08/24)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4 D-4D Duty 4x4 (08/16 - 09/20)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Kia Ceed 1.6 Crdi Problemas | Fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Ceed im TÜV-Check 2026: Schwachstellen, Mängel und ProblemeAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Toyota upgrades DPF system, no change on dust issuePractical Motoring · Motoring press · published 27 August 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026
Kia and Hyundai 1.6 CRDI (D4FB) engineEngineDNA · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Best Hyundai Kia 1.6 CRDI Mods & Upgrades Guide to D4FB TuningTorqueCars · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
KIA SPORTAGE 2023 - vehicle recallsGOV.UK (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) · Official body · consulted 26 September 2026
DPF regeneration: your questions answeredToyota UK Magazine · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026