Honda e:HEV / i-MMD vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v carries less risk than the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD: 23/100 (low risk) versus 34/100 (moderate 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 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v

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 202614 sources How 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 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v reliable?

The 1.6 and 1.8 16v Ecotec (Z16XER/A16XER, Z18XER/A18XER) that Opel fitted between 2005 and 2015 to the Astra H and J, Zafira B, Vectra C and Insignia A have a reputation as reliable naturally aspirated engines: the sources consulted document no serious faults or failure patterns, only minor problems such as ignition coils and, on the 1.8, leaks from the oil cooler or thermostat.^[4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda e:HEV / i-MMD and 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
Item	Honda e:HEV / i-MMD	1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	109–184 hp	115–140 hp
Production	since 2018^[1][8]	2005–2015^{[9][10][11][12]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	34Moderate risk	23Low risk
Documented faults	3	3
Of high or critical severity	2	0
Worst severity	High severity	Medium severity
Main faults	High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP) High severity: Faulty fuel pump impeller on the 2019-2020 CR-V hybrid (Honda 6FE campaign) Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start	Medium severity: Oil and coolant leak or mixing via the oil cooler (1.8) Medium severity: Coolant loss through the thermostat or water pump Low severity: Ignition coil failures
Most expensive documented repair	up 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][8]	1.6 16V Ecotec 115 hp (Z16XER/A16XER, 2006-2015)^[4][5][6] 1.8 16V Ecotec 140 hp (Z18XER/A18XER, 2005-2014)^[4][7][13]
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][14]	None
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

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v

Other comparisons

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

With the 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v

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.

Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
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
Fiabilité Honda HR-V (2022): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Opel Insignia A – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Opel Astra (H): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Opel Zafira 2 (B): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Opel Insignia (A): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
Opel Astra HWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel ZafiraWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Astra JWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Astra J – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Vectra C: ProblemeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
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