2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 2.3 EcoBoost: 14/100 (low risk) versus 41/100 (moderate risk). The 2.3 EcoBoost has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Focus RS cylinder head gasket and block: coolant entering the cylinders»; the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

2.3 EcoBoost

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/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 2 November 202623 sources How we work

Is the 2.3 EcoBoost reliable?

The 2.3 EcoBoost is the turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that Ford has fitted since 2015 to the Focus RS (350 hp), the fourth-generation Focus ST (280 hp) and the Ranger. Its documented fault is the cylinder head gasket on Focus RS cars built up to July 2017, which Ford repaired free of charge. We have found no evidence that it affects the ST, which uses a variant derived from the Mustang.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 3 of the 2.3 EcoBoost faults

Is the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/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 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.3 EcoBoost and 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Item	2.3 EcoBoost	1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	2,261 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	270–350 hp	116–177 hp
Production	since 2015^{[1][4][13][14]}	1999–2010^{[5][7][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	41Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	3	1
Of high or critical severity	2	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Focus RS cylinder head gasket and block: coolant entering the cylinders High severity: Engine wiring harness damaged by the gearbox housing (fourth-generation Focus) Medium severity: Oil leaks from the filler cap, the oil cooler and the sump	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.3 EcoBoost 280 hp (Focus ST, 2019-2025)^[4][17]	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[5][6][8][9][18][19]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[10][11][20]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.3 EcoBoost 350 hp (Focus RS, 2016-2018)^[2][3] 2.3 EcoBoost 270 hp (Ranger T6.2, Mexico, from 2023)^[14] 2.3 EcoBoost PHEV 281 hp (Ranger plug-in hybrid, from 2025)^[14][21]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[8][18][20] 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][16][22]} 1.8 16v 115-117 hp (EW7J4, 6FZ, 2000-2005)^[9][19] 1.8 16v 125-127 hp (EW7A, 6FY, 2005-2010)^[10][23]
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

2.3 EcoBoost

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

See the 19 models with the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the 2.3 EcoBoost

With the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/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 EcoBoost engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
Ford Focus RS (Mk3) | PH Used Buying GuidePistonHeads · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026
Ford Focus RS engine problems: owners promised free repairsevo · Motoring press · published 23 January 2018 · consulted 2 November 2026
Ford Focus ST (Mk4) | PH Used Buying GuidePistonHeads · Motoring press · published 19 November 2023 · consulted 2 November 2026
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 Focus RS (tabla del Focus RS Mk3, 2015-2018)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Ford Ranger (T6)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
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
Used Ford Focus ST (Mk4, 2019 to date) review and buyer's guideevo · Motoring press · published 4 August 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026
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
Ford Ranger (tabla del Ranger Plug-in-Hybrid)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2008-2017 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French