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1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC vs VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD carries less risk than the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC: 32/100 (moderate risk) versus 54/100 (high risk). The 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Turbocharger failure»; the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD)».

Risk index

1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC

54

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

32

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

20 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC reliable?

The i-DTEC is Honda's diesel family from 2008, with two four-cylinder blocks: the 2.2 (Accord, CR-V) and, from 2013, the 1.6 (Civic, CR-V, HR-V). It uses a timing chain instead of a belt and common-rail injection. The basic architecture has a good reputation for longevity, but the emissions system (DPF and EGR) and the turbocharger account for most of the faults documented by owners themselves.[1][2][3][4]

See the 5 of the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC faults

Is the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD reliable?

The VM Motori 2.8 CRD (four-cylinder) and 3.0 CRD V6 diesels from Jeep, Chrysler and Lancia show no systemic fault in open sources: they describe injector wear, a dirty EGR and a high-mileage turbo, and AUTO BILD says durability complaints about the 3.0 are very rare. The UK DVSA identifies only one engine campaign for the 3.0 (2025).[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC and VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
1.6 / 2.2 i-DTECVM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement——
TimingChain—
Power120–180 hp150–250 hp
Production2008–2020[1][9][10]2003–2020[11][12][13][14][15][16]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)54High risk32Moderate risk
Documented faults54
Of high or critical severity31
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Turbocharger failure
  2. Critical severity: Timing chain wear or breakage at high mileage
  3. Critical severity: Diesel injector wear or failure
  1. High severity: Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD)
  2. Medium severity: Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pump
  3. Medium severity: Turbocharger failure and intake hoses
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataup to €1,400Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pumpPublished figure[17][18]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.6 i-DTEC 120 (N16A1, single turbo, from 2013)[2][19]
  • 1.6 i-DTEC 160 (N16A4, twin turbo, CR-V)[3]
  • 2.2 i-DTEC 180 Type S (N22B2, from 2010)[1]
  • 2.8 CRD R 428 (ENR, 110 kW / 150 hp, 2003-2008)[5][17]
  • 2.8 CRD RA 428 Euro 4 (ENS, 163-177 hp, 2007-2011)[5][20]
  • 2.8 CRD A 428 Euro 5 (147 kW / 200 hp and 163-178 hp, 2010-2018)[5][20]
  • 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5 (190 and 239-241 hp, 2011-2013)[6][8]
  • 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5+ (190 and 250 hp, 2013-2020)[6][7]
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

1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

See the 10 models with the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 / 2.2 i-DTEC

With the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

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. Honda N engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité et pannes Honda CR-V (2012-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Fiabilité et pannes Honda CR-V (2007-2013)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Jeep Wrangler 2.8 Diesel ProblemsCarsGuide · Motoring press · published 11 December 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026
  6. Jeep Grand Cherokee IV: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 11 April 2018 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  7. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
  8. Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 con kilometraje: se puede comprar, pero con maticesZa Rulyom (zr.ru) · Motoring press · published 28 April 2023 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in another language
  9. Honda HR-VWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Avis et fiabilité Honda Accord (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. VM MotoriWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. VM MotoriWikipedia (it) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Italian
  13. Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRD Sport (2007-2008): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD Mountain Aut. (2012): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  16. First drive: oil burner adds to Cherokee rangeGoAuto · Motoring press · published 11 March 2003 · consulted 8 October 2026
  17. Problemas Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  18. Problemas Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  19. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2017-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  20. Zahnriemenwechsel Jeep Wranglerrepareo.de · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German