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1.2 8v Fire vs Mitsubishi PHEV: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v Fire carries less risk than the Mitsubishi PHEV: 20/100 versus 24/100 (both low risk). The 1.2 8v Fire has no documented serious faults; the Mitsubishi PHEV has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery».

Risk index

1.2 8v Fire

20

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

Mitsubishi PHEV

24

Low risk · 2 serious faults

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

19 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 Mitsubishi PHEV reliable?

Yes, with caveats: the OCU ranks the Outlander PHEV first for reliability among used plug-in hybrids. What is documented are isolated campaigns (spark plugs and software, air flow sensor, fuel hose) and a possible loss of battery capacity, cited by one source and one study without figures. The Eclipse Cross PHEV, which uses the same system, has no documented faults of its own.[7][8][9][10][11]

See the 5 of the Mitsubishi PHEV faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 8v Fire and Mitsubishi PHEV
1.2 8v FireMitsubishi PHEV
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,242 cm³—
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power60–69 hp163–224 hp
Production1999–2020[12][13][14][15]since 2013[16][17][18]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)20Low risk24Low risk
Documented faults45
Of high or critical severity02
Worst severityMedium severityHigh 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. Medium severity: Loss of traction battery (high-voltage) capacity
  2. Medium severity: Spark plugs and petrol engine software on the Outlander PHEV (campaign R3033111)
  3. High severity: Corroded air flow sensor: the petrol engine does not start to charge the battery
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]
  • 2.4 Eclipse Cross PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2021-2024)[10][11]
With cautionVersions to be cautious aboutNone
  • 2.0 Outlander PHEV (4B11, 12 kWh battery, 2013-2018)[9][10][19]
  • 2.4 Outlander PHEV (4B12, 13.8 kWh battery, 2018-2021)[7][8][9]
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

Mitsubishi PHEV

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 8v Fire

With the Mitsubishi PHEV

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.

  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. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, el híbrido enchufable de segunda mano más fiable según la OCUHíbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 14 May 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Mitsubishi Outlander (II & III) – Bekannte Probleme und MängelGebrauchtwagenberater (Alemania) · Motoring press · published 2 March 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  9. Baterías de híbrido enchufable: cuándo habrá que sustituirlas (Outlander PHEV)Autofácil · Motoring press · published 7 May 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  10. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  11. El Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV sí llegará a Europa, incluida España, en 2021Híbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · published 18 October 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  13. Fiat 500 (2007)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  14. Fiat Grande PuntoWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  15. Ford KaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  16. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  17. Mitsubishi OutlanderWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  18. Mitsubishi 4B1 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  19. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2013 – 2014): alerta A12/1947/19 (sensor de caudal de aire)car-recalls.eu (alertas Safety Gate / RAPEX) · Other source · published 13 December 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026