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1.2 8v Fire vs 1.5 EcoBoost: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v Fire carries less risk than the 1.5 EcoBoost: 20/100 (low risk) versus 43/100 (moderate risk). The 1.2 8v Fire has no documented serious faults; 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)».

Risk index

1.2 8v Fire

20

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.5 EcoBoost

43

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

22 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.2 8v Fire reliable?

The 1.2 8v Fire is one of Fiat's simplest and most widespread petrol engines, with more than two decades in production and no serious or systemic faults documented. The sources consulted describe it as robust: its most-cited issues are isolated sensor failures (lambda sensor, crankshaft sensor), the ignition coil and somewhat high oil consumption at higher mileages; there is no pattern of timing belt breakage.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

See the 4 of the 1.2 8v Fire faults

Is 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.[7][8][9][10]

See the 2 of the 1.5 EcoBoost faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 8v Fire and 1.5 EcoBoost
1.2 8v Fire1.5 EcoBoost
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,242 cm³1,498 cm³
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power60–69 hp120–200 hp
Production1999–2020[11][12][13][14]since 2014[15][16][17][18][19]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)20Low risk43Moderate risk
Documented faults42
Of high or critical severity02
Worst severityMedium severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: Sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)
  2. Low severity: Oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket
  3. Low severity: Faulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)
  1. Critical severity: Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)
  2. Critical severity: Fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.2 8v SMPI 60-65 hp (1999-2009)[1]
  • 1.2 8v VVT 69 hp (2007-2020)[2][3][5][6]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious aboutNone
  • 1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)[7][8]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)[9][10][20][21]
  • 1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)[9][17][22]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

1.2 8v Fire

See the 7 models with the 1.2 8v Fire

1.5 EcoBoost

See the 10 models with the 1.5 EcoBoost

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 8v Fire

With the 1.5 EcoBoost

Compare other engines

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

  1. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (2003-2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (depuis 2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat 500Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Punto (Grande Punto / Punto Evo / Punto)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Fiat Panda III (seit 2011) – Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 21 January 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  6. Fiat 500 (ab 2007) – alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 24 November 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Ford Mondeo V - Auto ReviewANWB · Consumer association · published 2 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Dutch
  8. Ford EcoBoost Probleme und Haltbarkeitgebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  9. Rückruf: Bei diesen Ford-Modellen besteht BrandgefahrADAC · Motoring press · published 2 February 2026 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  10. Rückruf Ford Kuga: Brandgefahr wegen defekter Einspritzventileauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 3 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  11. Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  12. Fiat 500 (2007)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  13. Fiat Grande PuntoWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  14. Ford KaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  15. Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  16. Ford EcoBoostWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  17. Every Ford Powered By The 1.5L EcoBoost 'Dragon'SlashGear · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026
  18. 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
  19. Ford Kuga MK3 2019-2026 Probleme und Schwachstellengebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  20. Trois problèmes avec le Ford Kuga : jauge de carburant, injecteurs et toit panoramique défectueuxcar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  21. Tous les problèmes sur Ford FOCUS 4 2018 (93 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  22. YZJA engine (Ford 1.5 EcoBoost)Motorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026