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Honda e:HEV / i-MMD vs M271: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD carries less risk than the M271: 34/100 (moderate risk) versus 59/100 (high risk). The Honda e:HEV / i-MMD has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)»; the M271 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets».

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

34

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

M271

59

High risk · 1 serious fault

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

8 sourcesHow we work

Is the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD reliable?

The Honda e:HEV hybrid system (formerly i-MMD) has no serious, widespread faults documented in the sources consulted. The most cited issue is the 12 V battery going flat when the car stands unused and, on the 2.0, a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD faults

Is the M271 reliable?

The M271 is the four-cylinder petrol engine Mercedes-Benz fitted from 2002 to 2015, first with a mechanical supercharger (Kompressor) and, from 2009, with a turbo in the EVO revision. It has one well-documented weak point across the range: the timing chain and the camshaft sprockets can wear prematurely, a problem a specialist source describes as persistent even after the EVO redesign.[4][5][6]

See the 4 of the M271 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda e:HEV / i-MMD and M271
Honda e:HEV / i-MMDM271
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement—1,796 cm³
TimingChainChain
Power109–184 hp122–204 hp
Productionsince 2018[1][7]2002–2015[5][6]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)34Moderate risk59High risk
Documented faults34
Of high or critical severity21
Worst severityHigh severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)
  2. High severity: Faulty fuel pump impeller on the 2019-2020 CR-V hybrid (Honda 6FE campaign)
  3. Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start
  1. Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprockets
  2. Medium severity: Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiring
  3. Medium severity: Crankcase ventilation hose under the supercharger: it cracks and lets in false air
Most expensive documented repairup to €25012 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to startPublished figure[1]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • e:HEV 1.5 (LEB-H5) 109-131 hp system output (Jazz IV, HR-V III)[1][7]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • i-MMD 2.0 184 hp system output (CR-V V hybrid)[1][2]
  • e:HEV 2.0 184 hp system output (Civic XI)[2][8]
  • M271 Kompressor 1.6/1.8 (KE16/KE18)[4]
  • M271 EVO 1.8 turbo CGI (DE18 LA)[4]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

M271

See the 7 models with the M271

Other comparisons

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

With the M271

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.

  1. Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Honda recalls 1.3 million cars: fuel pump fire risk (KBA 14559R)Car-Recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 17 March 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026
  3. Fiabilité Honda HR-V (2022): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  4. Mercedes M271: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  5. Mercedes-Benz M271 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Mercedes-Benz M 271Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  7. Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Guide d'achat Honda Civic (nueva campaña 6YP, 4.740 híbridos en Francia)L'argus · Motoring press · published 7 January 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French