2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC vs 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC: 14/100 versus 23/100 (both low risk). The 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Camshaft wear and pitting on the 2.0 K20 (Accord VII, CR-V II, Civic)»; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v 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 30 October 202623 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC reliable?

Naturally aspirated Honda petrol engines (K20/K24 and R20) with a timing chain. The only serious documented fault is camshaft wear in the early K20s (2003-2004); the R20A and K24Z show no serious faults in the sources consulted, and only isolated cases of oil consumption appear. The sample of testimonies is small.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 2 of the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC faults

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v 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.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	150–200 hp	135–177 hp
Production	2001–2016^[15][16][17]	1999–2010^{[7][9][18][19]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	23Low risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	2	1
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	High severity	Medium severity
Main faults	High severity: Camshaft wear and pitting on the 2.0 K20 (Accord VII, CR-V II, Civic) Low severity: Excessive oil consumption on the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC engine	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 i-VTEC 156 and 2.4 i-VTEC 200 (K family, Accord VII)^[4] 2.4 i-VTEC 200 hp (K24Z, Accord VIII)^[3] 2.0 i-VTEC 156 hp (R20A, Accord VIII)^[3] 2.0 i-VTEC 150-155 hp (R20A, CR-V III and IV)^[1][2]	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[7][8][10][11][20][21]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[12][13][22]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 i-VTEC Type R (K20Z, Civic VIII FN2)^[15]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[10][20][22] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[11][13] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[11][12][14][19][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

2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

See the 7 models with the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Fiabilidad Honda CR-V III: averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda CR-V IV: averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda Accord (2008-2015): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Honda Accord (2003-2008): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Honda Accord 8: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
Honda CR-V RM: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
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
Honda K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Honda R engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Honda AccordWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
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
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
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French