1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue vs D5 5 cilindros: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the D5 5 cilindros carries less risk than the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue: 39/100 (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 D5 5 cilindros has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it».

Risk index

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

D5 5 cilindros

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 5 October 202611 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 D5 5 cilindros reliable?

Volvo's five-cylinder D5 (2.4 D3/D4/D5 and 2.0 D3/D4) has no documented systemic fault, but it does carry one serious risk: several owners report that a snapped auxiliary belt took the timing belt with it. The rest is EGR, DPF and the odd turbo.^[3][4][5]

See the 4 of the D5 5 cilindros faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue and D5 5 cilindros
Item	1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue	D5 5 cilindros
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	2,400 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	85–213 hp	126–215 hp
Production	since 2016^[1][6]	2001–2015^{[7][8][9][10]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	59High risk	39Moderate risk
Documented faults	3	4
Of high or critical severity	2	1
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: Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it Medium severity: EGR valve and EGR cooler clogged with carbon Medium severity: Clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF)
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	up to €1,400Turbocharger failurePublished figure^[5]
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][11] 2.0 EcoBlue twin-turbo 213 (Ranger and high-demand applications, since ~2019)^[2]	2.4 D and D5 of 130-163 hp (D5244T, 2001-2009)^[3][4] 2.4 D5 of 175-215 hp and D4 of 181 hp (D5244T4/T10/T11/T14/T15, 2005-2015)^[3][4] 2.0 D3/D4 five-cylinder (D5204T, 2011-2016)^[4][10]
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

D5 5 cilindros

See the 10 models with the D5 5 cilindros

Other comparisons

With the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

With the D5 5 cilindros

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

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
Fiabilidad Volvo S60 (2010-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Volvo XC60 (2008-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Problemas Volvo XC90 D5Total Renting · General press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Nuevo motor Ford 2.0 EcoBlue Diésel: más potente y ahorradorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published April 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Volvo D5 de 185 CV para S60, V70, XC70 y XC90Autopista · Motoring press · published 27 July 2005 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Volvo V70 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volvo S80 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volvo V60 (motorizaciones de la primera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
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