1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue vs 1.7 CDTI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.7 CDTI carries less risk than the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 59/100 (high risk). The 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)»; the 1.7 CDTI has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear».

Risk index

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.7 CDTI

Moderate risk · 3 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 27 September 202613 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue reliable?

EcoBlue has been Ford's diesel family since 2016, with two very different engines despite the shared name: the 2.0 (codenamed «Panther») debuted a wet timing belt (belt-in-oil) and a second wet belt for the oil pump, the same type of design that has caused problems on other Ford engines; the 1.5, by contrast, uses a conventional dry belt. The 2.0 powers vans, SUVs and large saloons; the 1.5 the smaller models.^[1][2]

See the 3 of the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue faults

Is the 1.7 CDTI reliable?

The 1.7 CDTI (Isuzu, 2003-2015) is a simple, widely used diesel, but it has built up accounts of soot-fouled EGR valves and injectors, a clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF) with oil dilution, wear of the dual-mass flywheel and clutch, and of the Hitachi-brand alternator; it also requires the timing belt to be changed every 150,000 km or 6 years to avoid a serious failure.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

See the 5 of the 1.7 CDTI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue and 1.7 CDTI
Item	1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue	1.7 CDTI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	1,686 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	85–213 hp	100–130 hp
Production	since 2016^[1][10]	2003–2015^[3][11][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	59High risk	36Moderate risk
Documented faults	3	5
Of high or critical severity	2	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue) Critical severity: Wet oil pump belt (2.0 EcoBlue) Medium severity: Emissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wear	High severity: Dual-mass flywheel and clutch wear High severity: Clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF) and oil dilution Critical severity: Timing belt: risk of serious failure if not changed on time
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 EcoBlue 85/95/100/120 (dry timing belt, since 2018)^[2]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 EcoBlue single-turbo 105/130/150/170/190, with and without mild hybrid (since 2016)^[2][13] 2.0 EcoBlue twin-turbo 213 (Ranger and high-demand applications, since ~2019)^[2]	1.7 CDTI 100-101 hp (Z17DTH, 2003-2007)^[8][9] 1.7 CDTI 110 hp (Z17DTJ/A17DTJ/A17DTC/A17DTE, 2007-2014)^[8][9] 1.7 CDTI 125 hp (Z17DTR/A17DTR, 2006-2013)^[4][5] 1.7 CDTI 130 hp (A17DTS, 2010-2015)^[8][9]
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 / 2.0 EcoBlue

See the 13 models with the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

1.7 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.7 CDTI

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

With the 1.7 CDTI

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 EcoBlue engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Which Cars Have a Wet Belt? Full UK Engine List (2026)CarOkay · Other source · published 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
Circle L engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Essai complet Opel Astra (H) : fiabilité et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai complet Opel Zafira 2 : fiabilité et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai complet Opel Meriva : fiabilité et avisFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Astra H (A04): Probleme & KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Meriva A: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Meriva B: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Nuevo motor Ford 2.0 EcoBlue Diésel: más potente y ahorradorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published April 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Opel Corsa DWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel MerivaWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Todos los coches afectados ya por problemas de motor a causa de correas de distribución en aceiteAutopista.es · Motoring press · published February 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish