1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue vs 1.9 dCi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue carries less risk than the 1.9 dCi: 59/100 versus 67/100 (both 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 1.9 dCi has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Seizure and wear of the big-end bearings».

Risk index

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

High risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.9 dCi

High risk · 3 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202612 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 1.9 dCi reliable?

The 1.9 dCi (F9Q) was Renault's first common-rail diesel (1999) and powered a large part of its range, and those of Nissan and Volvo, for more than a decade. It has well-documented weak points: on versions of up to 120 hp built before 2005, the big-end bearings can seize and the turbo tends to degrade around 150,000 km; the injectors, the EGR valve and, on the 120 hp versions, the dual-mass flywheel also fail fairly often.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

See the 5 of the 1.9 dCi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue and 1.9 dCi
Item	1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue	1.9 dCi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	1,870 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	85–213 hp	80–130 hp
Production	since 2016^[1][8]	1999–2011^[9][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	59High risk	67High 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	Critical severity: Seizure and wear of the big-end bearings High severity: Premature turbocharger wear High severity: Failures of the Delphi direct-injection injectors
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][12] 2.0 EcoBlue twin-turbo 213 (Ranger and high-demand applications, since ~2019)^[2]	1.9 dCi 95-120 (F9Q, first generation, 1999-2005)^[5] 1.9 dCi 125-130 (F9Q, Energy dCi, 2005-2011)^[5] 1.9 dCi 80-101 (F9Q, vans and commercial vehicles, 1999-2007)^[3][4]
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

1.9 dCi

See the 13 models with the 1.9 dCi

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

With the 1.9 dCi

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
Renault Mégane II (2002 – 2009): Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Renault Scénic II (2003 – 2009) – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Achat d'occasion : faut-il éviter le moteur 1.9 dCi F9Q chez Renault ?Planète Renault · Motoring press · published 24 January 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Vanne EGR : problèmes et pannesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Nuevo motor Ford 2.0 EcoBlue Diésel: más potente y ahorradorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published April 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Renault F-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Moteur F RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Renault Espace IVWikipedia · 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