M50 and M52 vs 1.5 EcoBoost: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.5 EcoBoost carries less risk than the M50 and M52: 43/100 (moderate risk) versus 52/100 (high risk). The M50 and M52 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cooling system failure (expansion tank, thermostat, pump and radiator)»; the 1.5 EcoBoost has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the M50 and M52 reliable?
The M52 and its predecessor the M50 are six-cylinder petrol engines that the sources describe as durable: Enginescope considers 300,000 km routine with the cooling circuit looked after. Watch the plastic cooling parts, VANOS, crankcase ventilation and oil leaks and, in the aluminium-block M52s built from 1995 to March 1998, cylinder wear caused by sulphur (Nikasil).[1][2][3]
See the 5 of the M50 and M52 faultsIs the 1.5 EcoBoost reliable?
These are two engines with the same name. The four-cylinder (2014-2019: Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max) has documented cases of coolant loss through a microcrack in the block, which can end in a new engine. The three-cylinder Dragon (from 2018) has hardly any mechanical faults cited, but the Kuga has been recalled several times because an injector can crack and cause a fuel leak with a fire risk.[4][5][6][7]
See the 2 of the 1.5 EcoBoost faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | M50 and M52 | 1.5 EcoBoost |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,498 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Chain |
| Power | 150–193 hp | 120–200 hp |
| Production | 1990–2001[8][9][10][11] | since 2014[12][13][14][15][16] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 52High risk | 43Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 2 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 2 |
| Worst severity | Critical severity | Critical severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | 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 M50 and M52
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 PureTech
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 PureTech
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 1.3 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- M50 and M52 vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- M50 and M52 vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- M50 and M52 vs BMW B38 / B37
- M50 and M52 vs BMW B48 / B38
- M50 and M52 vs BMW B58
- M50 and M52 vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- M50 and M52 vs BMW M54
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N13
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N20
- M50 and M52 vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N43/N46
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N52 / N53
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N54/N55
- M50 and M52 vs BMW N62 / N63
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 T-Jet
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- M50 and M52 vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- M50 and M52 vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- M50 and M52 vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- M50 and M52 vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- M50 and M52 vs Honda IMA híbrido
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 T-GDI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- M50 and M52 vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs MZR gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Skyactiv-G
- M50 and M52 vs M111
- M50 and M52 vs M112 / M113
- M50 and M52 vs M264/M254
- M50 and M52 vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- M50 and M52 vs M260
- M50 and M52 vs M271
- M50 and M52 vs M272/M273
- M50 and M52 vs M270/M274
- M50 and M52 vs M276
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- M50 and M52 vs MIVEC gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 DIG-T
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- M50 and M52 vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- M50 and M52 vs Porsche M96/M97
- M50 and M52 vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 THP
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- M50 and M52 vs 0.9 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 TCe
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 16v
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 8v
- M50 and M52 vs E-Tech Híbrido
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- M50 and M52 vs Rover K-Series
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 Turbo
- M50 and M52 vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.5 Hybrid
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 Hybrid
- M50 and M52 vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- M50 and M52 vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs Drive-E gasolina
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0 MPI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.2 12V
- M50 and M52 vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- M50 and M52 vs 1.8 T 20v
- M50 and M52 vs 2.0 FSI
- M50 and M52 vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- M50 and M52 vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- M50 and M52 vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- M50 and M52 vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- M50 and M52 vs VR6
With the 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW B58
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW M54
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW N13
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW N20
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs MZR gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M111
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M112 / M113
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M264/M254
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M260
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M271
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M272/M273
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M270/M274
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs M276
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 THP
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 16v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 8v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Rover K-Series
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.2 12V
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.5 EcoBoost vs VR6
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- BMW 3 Series E36 320i (M52B20): reliabilityEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M52 reliabilityAutoscore · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M52 Engine: Performance, Reliability, and TuningBMWBlog · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
- Ford Mondeo V - Auto ReviewANWB · Consumer association · published 2 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Dutch
- Ford EcoBoost Probleme und Haltbarkeitgebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
- Rückruf: Bei diesen Ford-Modellen besteht BrandgefahrADAC · Motoring press · published 2 February 2026 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
- Rückruf Ford Kuga: Brandgefahr wegen defekter Einspritzventileauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 3 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
- BMW M52Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M52Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- BMW M50Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- BMW M50Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
- Ford EcoBoostWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
- Every Ford Powered By The 1.5L EcoBoost 'Dragon'SlashGear · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026
- Ford Kuga Titanium 1.5 EcoBoost Auto-Start-Stop 150 CV 4x2 (2014-2016): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
- Ford Kuga MK3 2019-2026 Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
- BMW M50 / M52: problemas conocidosEnginescope · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
- Der BMW M50 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki.de · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- BMW Z3 Reliability Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before BuyingEuro Premium Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
- Trois problèmes avec le Ford Kuga : jauge de carburant, injecteurs et toit panoramique défectueuxcar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
- Tous les problèmes sur Ford FOCUS 4 2018 (93 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
- YZJA engine (Ford 1.5 EcoBoost)Motorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026