Skyactiv-D vs 2.2/2.5 dCi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.2/2.5 dCi carries less risk than the Skyactiv-D: 52/100 versus 55/100 (both high risk). The Skyactiv-D has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations»; the 2.2/2.5 dCi has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Premature turbo and intercooler failure».

Risk index

Skyactiv-D

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.2/2.5 dCi

High risk · 3 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 27 September 202616 sources How we work

Is the Skyactiv-D reliable?

The Skyactiv-D is a modern and generally reliable diesel, but across its three displacements (1.5, 1.8 and 2.2) it shares oil dilution with diesel fuel during diesel particulate filter regenerations, which means you need to watch the oil level and not stretch oil changes, especially on short journeys; the older 2.2s (2012-2014) also accumulate more turbo and carbon build-up cases.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the Skyactiv-D faults

Is the 2.2/2.5 dCi reliable?

The 2.2 dCi (YD22DDT/YD22DDTi) and 2.5 dCi (YD25DDTi) are diesels of Nissan's own design, with a timing chain, fitted to the Almera, Primera, X-Trail, Navara and Pathfinder between 2000 and 2015. The turbo and its intercooler are the best-documented fault, above all on the X-Trail, along with injector failures; the timing chain, on the other hand, gives hardly any trouble according to the reliability reports consulted.^[5][6][7]

See the 5 of the 2.2/2.5 dCi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Skyactiv-D and 2.2/2.5 dCi
Item	Skyactiv-D	2.2/2.5 dCi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	105–184 hp	110–190 hp
Production	since 2012^[1][8][9]	2000–2015^[5][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	55High risk	52High risk
Documented faults	4	5
Of high or critical severity	3	3
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations High severity: Turbo wear or failure from lack of lubrication Critical severity: Oil pump chain breakage and camshaft wear	High severity: Premature turbo and intercooler failure High severity: Injection pump or injector failure Critical severity: Timing chain wear
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175 (SH-VPTS, 2012-2017)^[2][11][12] 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175/184 (SH-VPTS, 2017-2021)^[3][13] 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 (S5-DPTS, 2015-2018)^[4][14] 1.8 Skyactiv-D 116 (S8-DPTS, 2018-present)^[4][15][16]	2.2 Di 110-125 (YD22DDT, 2000-2003)^[6] 2.2 dCi 136-140 (YD22DDTi, 2003-2007)^[7] 2.5 dCi 142-174 (YD25DDTi, 2005-2010)^[5] 2.5 dCi 144-190 (YD25DDTi, 2010-2015)^[5]
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

Skyactiv-D

See the 7 models with the Skyactiv-D

2.2/2.5 dCi

Other comparisons

With the Skyactiv-D

With the 2.2/2.5 dCi

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Sources

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

SkyActivWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2012-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda CX-3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Nissan YD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiabilité Nissan Almera : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Nissan X-Trail : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Mazda CX-5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Mazda3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Nissan Navara SE Doble Cabina 2.5 dCi 190 CV 4x4 — datos técnicoskm77 · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Aviso a todos los propietarios de Mazda CX-5 Dieselkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 May 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2013-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda CX-30Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2019-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French