Skip to content
MotorFiable

1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire carries less risk than the 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE): 20/100 (low risk) versus 32/100 (moderate risk). The 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire has no documented serious faults; the 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE) has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «1GR-FE 4.0 V6 head gasket failure».

Risk index

1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire

20

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)

32

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

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

24 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 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 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire faults

Is the 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE) reliable?

The sources consulted describe them as robust chain-driven engines with few documented faults: on the 4.0 V6 (1GR-FE), the water pump, head gasket on early units and the coils; on the 2.7 (2TR-FE), the front crankshaft seal in the early years. Almost all the data comes from technical websites, not official campaigns.[7][8][9][10]

See the 5 of the 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire and 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,242 cm³—
TimingTiming belt (dry)Chain
Power60–69 hp151–281 hp
Productionsince 1985[11][12][13][14]since 2002[15][16]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)20Low risk32Moderate risk
Documented faults45
Of high or critical severity01
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. High severity: 1GR-FE 4.0 V6 head gasket failure
  2. Medium severity: 1GR-FE 4.0 V6 water pump leaks
  3. Medium severity: 2.7 2TR-FE oil leaks from the front crankshaft seal
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]
  • 1.0, 1.3 and 1.4 8V Fire flex (Brazil, 2001-2017)[17]
  • 0.8 and 1.0 8V FIRE 34-50 hp (Panda, 1986-1994)[18]
  • 2.7 Dual VVT-i (2TR-FE, from 2015)[9][10]
  • 4.0 V6 Dual VVT-i (1GR-FE, from 2009)[7][19]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.0 and 1.1 8V FIRE (European Uno, 1985-1994)[20]
  • 1.0 and 1.4 8V Fire Evo flex (Brazil, 2010-2021)[21]
  • 1.1 8V SPI/MPI 50-55 hp (1991-2010)[22][23]
  • 1.2 8V SPI/MPI 60-73 hp (1993-1999)[22]
  • 1.2 16V Fire 80 hp (Fiat Idea, 2004-2010)[24]
  • 1.4 8V Fire 77-78 hp (Fiat Idea, 2005-2011)[24]
  • 1.4 16V 95 hp (Fiat Idea, 2004-2010)[24]
  • 2.7 VVT-i (2TR-FE, 2,693 cc, 2004-2014)[9][10]
  • 4.0 V6 VVT-i (1GR-FE, 3,956 cc, from 2002)[7][8][19]
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

Other comparisons

With the 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire

With the 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)

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. 1GR-FE Toyota 4.0L 236 hp: ficha del motor, puntos débiles y fiabilidadAutoHints · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
  8. The 4 Most Common Toyota 1GR-FE Engine Problems8020 Automotive · Technical documentation · published 29 December 2020 · consulted 2 November 2026
  9. Toyota 2TR-FE 2.7L: ficha del motor, problemas y fiabilidadMotorReviewer · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
  10. Toyota 2TR-FE Engine Guide - Specs, Reliability, & Mods8020 Automotive · Technical documentation · published 2 February 2023 · consulted 2 November 2026
  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. Toyota TR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  16. Toyota GR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  17. Fiat Palio: 10 dicas pra observar na hora de comprar um usadoVrum · Motoring press · published 14 June 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  18. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (1980-2003): témoignages de propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  19. Toyota 1GR-FE 4.0L V6: ficha del motor, problemas y fiabilidadMotorReviewer · Technical documentation · consulted 2 November 2026
  20. Fiat UnoWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  21. Fiat Uno custa pouco, mas acumula queixas dos donos do hatchAutoo · Motoring press · published 27 June 2026 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese
  22. Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Punto (1993-1999): témoignages de propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  23. Fiat Seicento: typowe usterki (opiniones de propietarios)Autocentrum.pl · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  24. DVSA: base de datos de llamadas a revisión de vehículos desde 1992 (Fiat Idea: R/2007/012)DVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 2 November 2026