1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 8v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v carries less risk than the 1.6 EcoBoost: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 59/100 (high risk). The 1.6 EcoBoost has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked cylinder head from overheating, with fire risk»; the 1.2 8v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cylinder head gasket (coolant loss and overheating)».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.6 EcoBoost reliable?
It is a turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder that Ford used between 2010 and 2018 as a mid-range step across much of its European line-up, and which Volvo sold under its own T3/T4 designations. Its most serious fault is overheating caused by a loss of coolant circulation that can crack the cylinder head and cause a fire: Ford has recalled cars in South Africa and in the US/Canada, although we have not confirmed an equivalent campaign in Spain.[1][2][3]
See the 4 of the 1.6 EcoBoost faultsIs the 1.2 8v reliable?
The 1.2 8v (D7F) is a simple naturally aspirated engine of 54 to 60 hp, with a timing belt, which Renault fitted from 1996 to the Twingo, Clio II and Kangoo. No catastrophic failures are documented; what owner reviews mention most often are the sensors, the cylinder head gasket, the coil packs and the occasional oil drip.[4][5][6]
See the 5 of the 1.2 8v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.6 EcoBoost | 1.2 8v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,596 cm³ | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 120–200 hp | 54–60 hp |
| Production | 2010–2019[1][7] | 1996–2012[8][9][10][11] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 59High risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 4 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 3 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | None |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | ||
| 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
Other comparisons
With the 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW B58
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M50 and M52
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW M54
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW N13
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW N20
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs MZR gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M111
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M112 / M113
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M264/M254
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M260
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M271
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M272/M273
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M270/M274
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs M276
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 THP
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 16v
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Rover K-Series
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.2 12V
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.6 EcoBoost vs VR6
With the 1.2 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 8v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 8v vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 8v vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.2 8v vs M50 and M52
- 1.2 8v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 8v vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.2 8v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.2 8v vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 8v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.2 8v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 8v vs M111
- 1.2 8v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 8v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 8v vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.2 8v vs M260
- 1.2 8v vs M271
- 1.2 8v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 8v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 8v vs M276
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 8v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 8v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.2 8v vs VR6
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- The Largest Ford EcoBoost Recalls In 15 Years Of ProductionCarBuzz · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026
- Ford KugaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité Renault Clio 2 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 1993-2006 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 2 (2007-2014) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Volvo S60Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Moteur D (Renault)Wikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault Twingo IWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes Ford Mondeo 3Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes Ford S-MaxFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Ford Fiesta STWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes Volvo S60Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Renault Twingo (ab 1993): Schwachstellen laut TÜV-AuswertungAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published February 2002 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German