Skip to content
MotorFiable
en

1.6 dCi vs 2.0 TDI: which engine is more reliable?

The 1.6 dCi and the 2.0 TDI tie on our risk index: 48/100 (moderate risk). The 1.6 dCi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Premature turbocharger failure or breakage»; the 2.0 TDI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI».

Risk index

1.6 dCi

48

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 TDI

48

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

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

25 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.6 dCi reliable?

The 1.6 dCi (R9M) is a diesel with a generally reasonable track record, but with well-documented known faults: the turbo fails relatively often, even at low mileage, the EGR valve clogs, the particulate filter can block up on short journeys, and there are cases of oil leaks from the timing chain cover that go as far as requiring the engine to be removed.[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.6 dCi faults

Is the 2.0 TDI reliable?

It depends on the generation. The EA189 (2008-2015) is the dieselgate engine: it needed a software update and has a record of EGR, particulate filter, turbo and injection faults. The earlier pumpe-düse (unit injector) engine has oil pump failures, and on the EA288 and EA288 evo (from 2012) the known faults are minor: coolant leaks and the odd AdBlue tank.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

See the 8 of the 2.0 TDI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 dCi and 2.0 TDI
1.6 dCi2.0 TDI
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,598 cm³1,968 cm³
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power95–165 hp84–240 hp
Production2011–2020[2][11][12][13][14]since 2003[5][15][16][17][18]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)48Moderate risk48Moderate risk
Documented faults58
Of high or critical severity23
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Premature turbocharger failure or breakage
  2. High severity: Oil leak from the timing chain cover
  3. Medium severity: Blocked or failed EGR valve
  1. Critical severity: Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI
  2. Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and the subsequent update
  3. High severity: High-pressure pump, injectors and diesel leaks on the EA189
Most expensive documented repairup to €3,000Premature turbocharger failure or breakagePublished figure[19]up to €3,000Clogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorPublished figure[7][20][21]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.6 dCi in Mercedes-Benz (OM 622/OM 626, 115 and 136 hp, 2014-2018)[12]
  • 2.0 TDI EA288 (from 2012)[9]
  • 2.0 TDI EA288 evo (from 2019)[10]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.6 dCi Euro 5 (110 and 130 hp, 2011-2015)[1][2]
  • 1.6 Energy dCi Euro 6 with NOx trap (130 and 160/165 hp, 2015-2019)[1][2][3][4][22]
  • 1.6 dCi for vans (95, 115, 125 and 145 hp, Trafic III/Vivaro B/Talento, 2014-2020)[14]
  • 2.0 TDI pumpe-düse unit injector (EA188, 2003-2010)[8][23]
  • 2.0 TDI common rail EA189 (2008-2015)[7][24][25]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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 dCi

See the 15 models with the 1.6 dCi

2.0 TDI

See the 48 models with the 2.0 TDI

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 dCi

With the 2.0 TDI

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 Renault Espace 5 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité Renault Kadjar : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité Nissan Qashqai 2 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité Nissan X-Trail 3 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  6. Un Volkswagen Tiguan en occasion : les meilleures versions par budget, et la fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  7. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Audi A4 (2007-2015) : belle, mais capricieuseCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  8. Audi A6 III (2004-2011) : la fiche express fiabilité de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 4 July 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  9. Fiabilité de l'Audi A3 (3e génération) : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 December 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  10. Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Volkswagen Golf VIII : du genre agaçanteCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 5 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  11. Nuevo Renault Energy dCi 130 CVCoches.net · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Mercedes-Benz OM 622 / OM 626Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  13. Renault EspaceWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Renault TraficWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  15. VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  16. VW EA188Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  17. List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  18. Three world premieres: Volkswagen presents progressive hybrid, natural gas and diesel systems at the Vienna Motor SymposiumVolkswagen Newsroom · Manufacturer · published 27 April 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026
  19. Las 10 averías del coche más caras en 2026: cuánto cuesta cada reparaciónMotorpoint · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  20. Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  21. Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 17 January 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  22. Si no hubo fraude, ¿por qué 15.000 Renault Captur y Espace serán revisados por un nivel de emisiones excesivo?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 19 January 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  23. VW/Audi 2.0 TDI PD EA188 Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability, Oil, InfoMotorReviewer · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  24. Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  25. Used Skoda Yeti reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 15 June 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026