1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 25/100 versus 36/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT has no documented serious faults; the 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT reliable?
The Ti-VCT is Ford's family of naturally aspirated petrol engines (Sigma, Zetec-SE or Duratec), in 1.25, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 litres, fitted to the Fiesta, Focus, C-Max, B-Max, EcoSport and Ka+ between 2003 and 2022. It is a reliable engine in general: its best-documented fault, a variable valve timing actuator that could seize, is concentrated in the oldest units (Focus II and C-Max I) and was corrected afterwards.[1][2][3][4]
See the 4 of the 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT faultsIs the 1.2 16v reliable?
The 1.2 16v (D4F) and its 8-valve predecessor, the D7F, are simple naturally aspirated engines, used for over two decades as the entry-level option in Renault and Dacia cars, with a reputation for reliability: the reliability pages consulted document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption. The most-cited problems are ignition coils and sensors and, on higher-mileage cars, the head gasket.[5][6][7][8]
See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT | 1.2 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | — | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 60–125 hp | 60–76 hp |
| Production | 2003–2022[1][9][10] | 2001–2020[11][12][13][14] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 25Moderate risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 4 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 0 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Medium severity | High severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | ||
| 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 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW B58
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW M54
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW N13
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW N20
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs MZR gasolina
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M111
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M112 / M113
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M264/M254
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M260
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M271
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M272/M273
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs M270/M274
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 THP
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Rover K-Series
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.2 12V
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
With the 1.2 16v
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 16v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 8v Fire
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 16v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 16v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 16v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 16v vs M111
- 1.2 16v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 16v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 16v vs M260
- 1.2 16v vs M271
- 1.2 16v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 16v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 16v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
- 1.2 16v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 16v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 16v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 16v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 16v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 16v 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.
- Ford Sigma engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Ford Focus Mk2: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Ford Focus: Probleme, Rückrufe, KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Ford C-Max Mk2: Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Ford FiestaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Ford C-MaxWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Moteur D RenaultWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Ford B-Max: alle bekannten ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Ford EcoSport (ab 2012): typische Probleme & MängelGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Ford Ka+ (2016-2020): typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Ford Fiesta – Typische Probleme & Krankheiten (MK6, MK7, MK8)Gebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes Ford FiestaFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Ford C-Max Mk1: Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Fiabilité et pannes Ford Focus 2Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French