1.2 8v Fire vs Rover K-Series: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v Fire carries less risk than the Rover K-Series: 20/100 (low risk) versus 46/100 (moderate risk). The 1.2 8v Fire has no documented serious faults; the Rover K-Series has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Head gasket failure».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
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 faultsIs the Rover K-Series reliable?
The Rover K-Series has one very well-known fault: the head gasket, which according to Diariomotor can fail at under 100,000 km and which technical sources link to a small cooling circuit and a badly placed thermostat. The usual repair uses the multi-layer (MLS) gasket developed for the Freelander; the other two documented faults (sunken liners and coolant leaks) are related to that same circuit.[7][8][9][10]
See the 3 of the Rover K-Series faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 8v Fire | Rover K-Series |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,242 cm³ | — |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 60–69 hp | 60–160 hp |
| Production | 1999–2020[11][12][13][14] | 1990–2005[8][15] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 20Low risk | 46Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 4 | 3 |
| Of high or critical severity | 0 | 2 |
| Worst severity | Medium severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
| |
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | None | |
| 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 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW B58
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW M54
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW N13
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW N20
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 8v Fire vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 8v Fire vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M111
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M264/M254
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M260
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M271
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M272/M273
- 1.2 8v Fire vs M270/M274
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 8v Fire vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 8v Fire vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 8v Fire vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 8v Fire vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the Rover K-Series
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 PureTech
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 PureTech
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 TCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- Rover K-Series vs 1.3 TCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- Rover K-Series vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- Rover K-Series vs BMW B38 / B37
- Rover K-Series vs BMW B48 / B38
- Rover K-Series vs BMW B58
- Rover K-Series vs BMW M54
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N13
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N20
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N43/N46
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N52 / N53
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N54/N55
- Rover K-Series vs BMW N62 / N63
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 T-Jet
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- Rover K-Series vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- Rover K-Series vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- Rover K-Series vs Honda IMA híbrido
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 T-GDI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- Rover K-Series vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs MZR gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs Skyactiv-G
- Rover K-Series vs M111
- Rover K-Series vs M112 / M113
- Rover K-Series vs M264/M254
- Rover K-Series vs M260
- Rover K-Series vs M271
- Rover K-Series vs M272/M273
- Rover K-Series vs M270/M274
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- Rover K-Series vs MIVEC gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 DIG-T
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- Rover K-Series vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 THP
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- Rover K-Series vs 0.9 TCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 16v
- Rover K-Series vs E-Tech Híbrido
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 Turbo
- Rover K-Series vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.5 Hybrid
- Rover K-Series vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 1.8 Hybrid
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- Rover K-Series vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs Drive-E gasolina
- Rover K-Series vs 1.0 MPI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.2 12V
- Rover K-Series vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- Rover K-Series vs 1.8 T 20v
- Rover K-Series vs 2.0 FSI
- Rover K-Series vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (2003-2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (depuis 2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat 500Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Punto (Grande Punto / Punto Evo / Punto)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiat Panda III (seit 2011) – Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 21 January 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiat 500 (ab 2007) – alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 24 November 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Guía de compra del MG TF de segunda manoDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 7 November 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
- MG TF (2002)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
- Choosing the correct K Series Head Gasket KitDMGRS · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
- Cooling and heating (K-Series: ZR, ZS, ZT, MGF, TF)MGOC Spares · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
- Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiat 500 (2007)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiat Grande PuntoWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Ford KaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Rover K-series engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
- MG ZR ZS ZT & Modern Engine & FuelMGOC Spares · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
- MGF & TF Headgasket Repair KitsMGOC Spares · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026