2.0 TDI vs MZR-CD: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 2.0 TDI carries less risk than the MZR-CD: 48/100 (moderate risk) versus 64/100 (high 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 MZR-CD has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain stretch on the 2.2 MZR-CD».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
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 faultsIs the MZR-CD reliable?
The MZR-CD is Mazda's most widespread diesel between 2002 and 2013, fitted to the Mazda3, Mazda6, Mazda5 and CX-7. It is sensitive to short journeys: the injector seals and incomplete DPF regenerations can dilute the oil, and the EGR and intake build up carbon. The 2.2-litre redesign (from 2008), with a timing chain instead of a belt, adds the risk of that chain stretching and damaging the engine.[7][8][9][10]
See the 4 of the MZR-CD faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 2.0 TDI | MZR-CD |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Diesel | Diesel |
| Displacement | 1,968 cm³ | — |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 84–240 hp | 105–185 hp |
| Production | since 2003[1][11][12][13][14] | 2002–2013[15][16][17][18][19] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 48Moderate risk | 64High risk |
| Documented faults | 8 | 4 |
| Of high or critical severity | 3 | 3 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | Critical severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | up to €3,000Clogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorPublished figure[3][20][21] | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | 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 2.0 TDI
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.5 BlueHDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 HDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.5 dCi
- 2.0 TDI vs BMW N47
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.3 Multijet
- 2.0 TDI vs OM651
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 CRDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 dCi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 TDI
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 HDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 JTDm Multijet II
- 2.0 TDI vs BMW B47
- 2.0 TDI vs BMW B57
- 2.0 TDI vs BMW M47
- 2.0 TDI vs BMW M57
- 2.0 TDI vs BMW N57
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.3 MultiJet
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.4 JTD / JTDm Multijet
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.8 TDCi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma)
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 i-CTDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.7 CRDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.1 and 1.4 CRDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 CRDi (D4EA)
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 TD4 / SD4
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 Ingenium diésel
- 2.0 TDI vs TDV6 / SDV6
- 2.0 TDI vs e-Skyactiv D 3.3
- 2.0 TDI vs Skyactiv-D
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 CDI (OM640)
- 2.0 TDI vs OM642
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 CDI (OM646)
- 2.0 TDI vs OM654
- 2.0 TDI vs OM656
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.8/2.2 DI-D
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2/2.5 dCi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.5 dCi YD25
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 CDTI
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.7 CDTI
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTI
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 CDTI
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.4 HDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 BlueHDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 HDi
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.9 dCi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0 dCi
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 dCi and 3.0 dCi V6
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.3 dCi (M9T)
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.6 e-XDi160
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.2 MultiJet / BlueHDi (Stellantis)
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.4 D-4D
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.0/2.2 D-4D
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
- 2.0 TDI vs VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
- 2.0 TDI vs D4/D5
- 2.0 TDI vs D5 5 cilindros
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.2 TDI
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.4 TDI
- 2.0 TDI vs 1.9 TDI
- 2.0 TDI vs 2.5 TDI R5
- 2.0 TDI vs 3.0 TDI V6
With the MZR-CD
- MZR-CD vs 1.5 BlueHDi
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 HDi
- MZR-CD vs 1.5 dCi
- MZR-CD vs BMW N47
- MZR-CD vs 1.3 Multijet
- MZR-CD vs OM651
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 CRDi
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 dCi
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 TDI
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 HDi
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 JTDm Multijet II
- MZR-CD vs BMW B47
- MZR-CD vs BMW B57
- MZR-CD vs BMW M47
- MZR-CD vs BMW M57
- MZR-CD vs BMW N57
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II
- MZR-CD vs 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD
- MZR-CD vs 2.3 MultiJet
- MZR-CD vs 2.4 JTD / JTDm Multijet
- MZR-CD vs 1.8 TDCi
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma)
- MZR-CD vs 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 and 2.2 VCDi
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 i-CTDi
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC
- MZR-CD vs 1.7 CRDi
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi
- MZR-CD vs 1.1 and 1.4 CRDi
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 CRDi (D4EA)
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 TD4 / SD4
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 Ingenium diésel
- MZR-CD vs TDV6 / SDV6
- MZR-CD vs e-Skyactiv D 3.3
- MZR-CD vs Skyactiv-D
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 CDI (OM640)
- MZR-CD vs OM642
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 CDI (OM646)
- MZR-CD vs OM654
- MZR-CD vs OM656
- MZR-CD vs 1.8/2.2 DI-D
- MZR-CD vs 2.2/2.5 dCi
- MZR-CD vs 2.5 dCi YD25
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 CDTI
- MZR-CD vs 1.7 CDTI
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTI
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 CDTI
- MZR-CD vs 1.4 HDi
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 BlueHDi
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 HDi
- MZR-CD vs 1.9 dCi
- MZR-CD vs 2.0 dCi
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 dCi and 3.0 dCi V6
- MZR-CD vs 2.3 dCi (M9T)
- MZR-CD vs 1.6 e-XDi160
- MZR-CD vs 2.2 MultiJet / BlueHDi (Stellantis)
- MZR-CD vs 1.4 D-4D
- MZR-CD vs 2.0/2.2 D-4D
- MZR-CD vs 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
- MZR-CD vs VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
- MZR-CD vs D4/D5
- MZR-CD vs D5 5 cilindros
- MZR-CD vs 1.2 TDI
- MZR-CD vs 1.4 TDI
- MZR-CD vs 1.9 TDI
- MZR-CD vs 2.5 TDI R5
- MZR-CD vs 3.0 TDI V6
Compare other engines
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
- Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2002-2008)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2008-2013)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Mazda 6 I: Bekannte Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda 6 II: Bekannte Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- Mazda diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda3Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Mazda CX-7Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- 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
- Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2003-2009)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Japanische Zuverlässigkeit? Ärger mit den Dieseln von Mazda und Toyotagebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2009-2013)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Mazda 3 II (2009-2013): Typische Probleme & Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German