2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v: 14/100 (low risk) versus 25/100 (moderate risk). The 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v has no documented serious faults; the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

Moderate risk · 0 serious faults

Risk index

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

Low 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 202625 sources How we work

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.^[1][2][3][4]

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

Is the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

See the of the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v and 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Item	2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v	1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	136–220 hp	116–177 hp
Production	1996–2006^[13][14][15]	1999–2010^{[5][7][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	25Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	4	1
Of high or critical severity	0	0
Worst severity	Medium severity	Medium severity
Main faults	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	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[5][6][8][9][18][19]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[10][11][20]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.4 V6 30v 136-170 hp (ALW, ARN, ASM, APZ, AMM, AJG, AGA, AML, ALF, APS, ARJ, BDV; 1997-2005)^[2][3] 2.8 V6 30v 190-193 hp (ACK, APR, AMX, AQD, ALG, ATQ, BBG; 1996-2006)^{[1][3][21][22][23]} 3.0 V6 30v 220 hp (ASN, AVK; 2000-2005)^[3][4]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[8][18][20] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[9][11] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[9][10][12][17][24]} 1.8 16v 115-117 hp (EW7J4, 6FZ, 2000-2005)^[9][19] 1.8 16v 125-127 hp (EW7A, 6FY, 2005-2010)^[10][25]
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

2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

See the 19 models with the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v

With the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

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Sources

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

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
PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
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
Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 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
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2008-2017 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French