2.0 TSI / TFSI vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v carries less risk than the 2.0 TSI / TFSI: 25/100 (moderate risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 2.0 TSI / TFSI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption»; the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

2.0 TSI / TFSI

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

Moderate risk · 0 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 2 November 202619 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 TSI / TFSI reliable?

It depends above all on the generation. The earliest units (2008-2012, without Valvelift) have more oil consumption complaints and somewhat more chain and tensioner wear; from 2012 the Valvelift design reduced oil consumption but kept carbon build-up on the intake valves as a weak point until, around 2016, supplementary indirect injection was added. The thermostat housing with the integrated water pump leaks coolant in several generations.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 5 of the 2.0 TSI / TFSI faults

Is the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v reliable?

The 30-valve V6 engines of the Volkswagen Group (2.4, 2.8 and 3.0) have few documented faults: there are few owner reviews, and they mention coils, the thermostat and oil leaks. The most sensitive item is the timing belt, which on the 2.8 also drives the water pump: Audi and VW ask for it to be changed every 120,000 km, and the job takes 2.9 to 3.5 hours.^[6][7][8][9]

See the 4 of the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 TSI / TFSI and 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
Item	2.0 TSI / TFSI	2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,984 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	170–320 hp	136–220 hp
Production	since 2008^[1][10]	1996–2006^[11][12][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	25Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	4
Of high or critical severity	2	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	High severity: High oil consumption Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner wear Medium severity: Carbon build-up on the intake valves	Medium severity: Timing belt, tensioner and water pump on the 30v V6 Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils Medium severity: Thermostat and water pump leaking or seized
Most expensive documented repair	up to €4,000High oil consumptionPublished figure^[14]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 3B / evo, with added indirect injection (2016 onwards, 190-320 hp)^[1][5][15]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 1, without Valvelift (2008-2012, 170-220 hp)^{[2][3][15][16]} 2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 2/3, with Valvelift and direct injection only (2012-2016, 180-230 hp)^[2][3][15]	2.4 V6 30v 136-170 hp (ALW, ARN, ASM, APZ, AMM, AJG, AGA, AML, ALF, APS, ARJ, BDV; 1997-2005)^[7][8] 2.8 V6 30v 190-193 hp (ACK, APR, AMX, AQD, ALG, ATQ, BBG; 1996-2006)^{[6][8][17][18][19]} 3.0 V6 30v 220 hp (ASN, AVK; 2000-2005)^[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 TSI / TFSI

See the 45 models with the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

With the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

Volkswagen EA888 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Volkswagen (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Audi (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Motores TFSI: características, ventajas e inconvenientesAutofácil · Motoring press · published 18 May 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor 2.0 TFSI 190 CV (ficha técnica)km77 · Technical documentation · published 13 May 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Installation tips: changing timing belts. Detailed instructions for the 2.8L 30V engine in the Audi A4, A6, A8 and VW PassatContiTech (Power Transmission Group) · Technical documentation · published December 2010 · consulted 2 November 2026
Zahnriemenwechsel Audi » Intervalle • Kosten • WerkstättenFairGarage · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Audi A6 1997 - 2004 (186 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Audi A4 2001-2007 (446 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Audi TTWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
List of discontinued Volkswagen Group petrol enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Audi A6 C5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Audi A6Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Tu coche quema aceite: 6 señales de alarma y la solución definitiva para salvar tu motorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 19 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Témoignages fiabilité Audifiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Témoignages fiabilité Volkswagenfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen PASSAT 1996-2004 (310 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Skoda SUPERB 2002 - 2008 (47 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
2.8 V6 30V engine reliabilityMotorsforum · Owners' forum · published April 2006 · consulted 2 November 2026