2.0 TDI vs 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi carries less risk than the 2.0 TDI: 38/100 versus 48/100 (both moderate risk). The 2.0 TDI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI»; the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi)».

Risk index

2.0 TDI

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

Moderate risk · 2 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 27 September 202623 sources How we work

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.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 8 of the 2.0 TDI faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi reliable?

The R family groups the 2.0 CRDi (D4HA, 136-185 hp) of the compact SUVs (Tucson, ix35, Sportage) and the 2.2 CRDi (D4HB, 197-202 hp) of the large ones (Santa Fe, Sorento): Bosch common rail, variable-geometry turbo and chain-driven timing. The 2.2 CRDi can suffer high oil consumption from 100,000 km in the Santa Fe and a turbo that is expensive to repair between 100,000-150,000 km in the Sorento; for the 2.0 CRDi we have not found sources with a specific serious fault.^[7][8][9]

See the 3 of the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 TDI and 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
Item	2.0 TDI	2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,968 cm³	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	84–240 hp	136–202 hp
Production	since 2003^{[1][10][11][12][13]}	since 2009^{[7][14][15][16][17][18]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	48Moderate risk	38Moderate risk
Documented faults	8	3
Of high or critical severity	3	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Oil pump failure on the pumpe-düse 2.0 TDI Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and the subsequent update High severity: High-pressure pump, injectors and diesel leaks on the EA189	High severity: High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi) High severity: Variable-geometry turbo failure from 100,000-150,000 km (2.2 CRDi) Medium severity: Particulate filter (DPF) clogged by short journeys
Most expensive documented repair	up to €3,000Clogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorPublished figure^[3][19][20]	up to €1,600High oil consumption from worn piston rings and valve guides (2.2 CRDi)Published figure^[8]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 TDI EA288 (from 2012)^[5] 2.0 TDI EA288 evo (from 2019)^[6]	2.0 CRDi (D4HA, 136-185 hp, Tucson/ix35/Sportage, 2010-2021)^[7]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 TDI pumpe-düse unit injector (EA188, 2003-2010)^[4][21] 2.0 TDI common rail EA189 (2008-2015)^[3][22][23]	2.2 CRDi (D4HB, 197-202 hp, Santa Fe/Sorento, 2010-2020)^[8][9]
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 TDI

See the 48 models with the 2.0 TDI

2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

See the 8 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 TDI

With the 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi

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Sources

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

VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
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
Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Audi A4 (2007-2015) : belle, mais capricieuseCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 1 April 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Audi A6 III (2004-2011) : la fiche express fiabilité de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 4 July 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
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
Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Volkswagen Golf VIII : du genre agaçanteCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 5 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Hyundai R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Hyundai Santa Fe: fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia Sorento: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalRenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
VW EA188Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
List of Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
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
Hyundai ix35Wikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Hyundai TucsonWikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Kia SportageWikipedia (de.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Hyundai Santa FeWikipedia (es.wikipedia.org) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Kia SorentoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Filtro de partículas: ¿mejor limpiar o sustituir?Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 17 January 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
VW/Audi 2.0 TDI PD EA188 Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability, Oil, InfoMotorReviewer · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Información sobre el motor EA189Volkswagen España · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Used Skoda Yeti reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 15 June 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026