2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 1.2 16v carries less risk than the 2.3 EcoBoost: 36/100 versus 41/100 (both 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 1.2 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 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 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 | 2.3 EcoBoost | 1.2 16v |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 2,261 cm³ | 1,149 cm³ |
| Timing | Chain | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 270–350 hp | 60–76 hp |
| Production | since 2015[1][4][9][10] | 2001–2020[11][12][13][14] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 41Moderate risk | 36Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 3 | 5 |
| Of high or critical severity | 2 | 1 |
| Worst severity | Critical 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 2.3 EcoBoost
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 PureTech
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 PureTech
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 TCe
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.3 TCe
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW B38 / B37
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW B48 / B38
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW B58
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M50 and M52
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW M54
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M60 and M62
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW N13
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW N20
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW N43/N46
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW N52 / N53
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW N54/N55
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs BMW N62 / N63
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs MZR gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Skyactiv-G
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M111
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M112 / M113
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M264/M254
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M260
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M271
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M272/M273
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M270/M274
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs M276
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs MIVEC gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 Turbo
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Porsche M96/M97
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 THP
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 0.9 TCe
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 TCe
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 8v
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Rover K-Series
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 Turbo
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs Drive-E gasolina
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0 MPI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.2 12V
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.8 T 20v
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.0 FSI
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 2.3 EcoBoost vs VR6
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 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 16v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 16v vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.2 16v vs M50 and M52
- 1.2 16v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 16v vs M60 and M62
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 16v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 16v vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 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 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 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 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 16v vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.2 16v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.2 16v vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 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 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.2 16v vs V6 Delta 2.5 and 2.7 (Hyundai-Kia)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 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 M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 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 M276
- 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 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 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 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.2 16v vs 1.4/1.6/1.8 Ecotec 16V (primera generación)
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.2 16v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 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 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.2 16v vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 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 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 16v vs 1.2 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 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 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 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
- 1.2 16v vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.2 16v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.2 16v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.2 16v vs VR6
Compare other engines
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
- 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 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
- 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
- Used Ford Focus ST (Mk4, 2019 to date) review and buyer's guideevo · Motoring press · published 4 August 2022 · consulted 2 November 2026
- 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 Ranger (tabla del Ranger Plug-in-Hybrid)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German