2.0 HDi vs Td5 2.5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Td5 2.5 carries less risk than the 2.0 HDi: 29/100 (moderate risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The 2.0 HDi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Variable-geometry turbo failures (actuator, sensors and clogging)»; the Td5 2.5 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall)».

Risk index

2.0 HDi

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Td5 2.5

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

Reviewed on 2 November 202622 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 HDi reliable?

It is a robust diesel in its simplest 90 hp version, but the 136 to 140 hp generation with a DPF (2004-2011) concentrates the engine's problems: turbo, DPF, EGR and, above all, a dual-mass flywheel that fails very often. The BlueHDi engines (from 2013) are mechanically more reliable, but add an AdBlue tank that can crystallise; the OCU (Spanish consumer organisation) has reported this fault in Spain and Stellantis covers it with a compensation programme.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 2.0 HDi faults

Is the Td5 2.5 reliable?

The Td5 is the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder diesel fitted to the Defender from 1998 to 2007 (and to the Discovery II). Land Rover Hub considers it the best diesel the Defender ever had and as reliable as the Tdi; the documented issues are the flywheel recall on the first Td5s and contamination of the injector wiring.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 2 of the Td5 2.5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 HDi and Td5 2.5
Item	2.0 HDi	Td5 2.5
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,997 cm³	2,495 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Gears
Power	90–180 hp	122–139 hp
Production	1999–2021^{[1][9][10][11][12]}	1998–2007^{[13][14][15][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	55High risk	29Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	2
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	High severity	High severity
Main faults	High severity: Variable-geometry turbo failures (actuator, sensors and clogging) High severity: DPF clogging on additive-type systems (Eolys/cerine) Medium severity: Premature dual-mass flywheel wear (from 107/110 hp)	High severity: Cracked flywheel in the first Td5s (2000 recall) Medium severity: Injector wiring contamination and Td5 control unit failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,200AdBlue tank crystallisation and failures (BlueHDi)Published figure^[3][4][18]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 HDi 90 (DW10TD, 1999-2005)^[1] 2.0 HDi 150/163 DPF (DW10C / DW10CTED4, 2007-2013)^[1]	Td5 122 hp, 15P engines (Defender, 2002-2007)^[5][7][8]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 HDi 107/110 (DW10ATED / DW10ATED4, 2000-2008)^[1] 2.0 HDi 136/138/140 DPF (DW10BTED4, 2004-2011)^[1] 2.0 BlueHDi 120/150/163/180 (DW10FE / DW10FD / DW10FC, 2013-2021)^[1][2][3][4] 2.0 TDCi 180/210 Ford Euro 6 (Edge II, 2016-2018)^[19][20]	Td5 122 hp, 10P engines (Defender, 1998-2002)^[6][7][21] Td5 139 hp (Discovery II, 1998-2004)^[22]
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

2.0 HDi

See the 25 models with the 2.0 HDi

Td5 2.5

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 HDi

With the Td5 2.5

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Sources

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

Fiabilité du 2.0 HDIFiches-Auto · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
AdBlue : problèmes en pagailleFiches-Auto · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Más problemas para Stellantis: ahora tendrá que indemnizar también a los afectados por el AdBlueAutopista · Motoring press · published 30 December 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
El fallo que afecta a cientos de coches y que ahora la OCU denuncia para reclamar indemnizacionesAutopista · Motoring press · published 29 May 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Defender Engines ratedLand Rover Hub (Land Rover Monthly) · Motoring press · published 1 January 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026
How to buy a Land Rover 90, 110 & Defender (1983-2016)Haynes Manuals UK · Technical documentation · published January 2017 · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Defender review: common repair issues (AA Mechanic)The AA · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Peugeot 307Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Peugeot 3008Wikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Citroën C4 PicassoWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover DiscoveryWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover DefenderWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Aditivo AdBlue: qué debes usar para evitar una reparación de 2.000 euros en tu coche diéselAutopista · Motoring press · published 1 April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Tous les problèmes sur Ford EDGE 2016-2020 (31 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Ford Edge: bekannte Probleme, Schwachstellen und Rückrufegebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Land Rover Defender Buying GuideHeritage Parts Centre · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Land Rover Discovery: Engine Flywheel May Fragment (R/2000/038)Car-Recalls.co.uk (reproduce DVSA) · Other source · published 5 June 2000 · consulted 2 November 2026