1.5 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 1.5 EcoBoost: 14/100 (low risk) versus 43/100 (moderate risk). 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 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.5 EcoBoost

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202626 sources How we work

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.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 2 of the 1.5 EcoBoost faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 EcoBoost and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	1.5 EcoBoost	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,498 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	120–200 hp	135–177 hp
Production	since 2014^{[13][14][15][16][17]}	1999–2010^{[5][7][18][19]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	43Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	2	1
Of high or critical severity	2	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Coolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5) Critical severity: Fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[5][6][8][9][20][21]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[10][11][22]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)^[1][2] 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)^{[3][4][23][24]} 1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)^[3][15][25]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[8][20][22] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[9][11] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[9][10][12][19][26]}
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

1.5 EcoBoost

See the 10 models with the 1.5 EcoBoost

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 EcoBoost

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

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.

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
PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
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
Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
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
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French