M270/M274 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 M270/M274: 14/100 (low risk) versus 43/100 (moderate risk). The M270/M274 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Camshaft breakage due to a defective weld (2015 units)»; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

M270/M274

Moderate 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 202618 sources How we work

Is the M270/M274 reliable?

The M270 (transverse, front-wheel drive) and the M274 (longitudinal, rear-wheel drive) are the family of turbocharged, direct-injection 4-cylinder engines that Mercedes-Benz has fitted since 2011 in 1.6 and 2.0 litres. They are generally solid engines —the timing chain no longer gives trouble— but with documented faults: camshaft breakage caused by a defective weld (2015) and, on the M274, oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster into the connector.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the M270/M274 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.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

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

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of M270/M274 and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	M270/M274	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,991 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	102–245 hp	135–177 hp
Production	since 2011^[1][12]	1999–2010^{[4][6][13][14]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	43Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	5	1
Of high or critical severity	1	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Camshaft breakage due to a defective weld (2015 units) Medium severity: Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster into the electrical connector (M274) Medium severity: Coolant leaks: thermostat and expansion tank	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	up to €500NOx sensor failure (code P2200) on the M274Published figure^[2]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[4][5][7][8][15][16]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[9][10][17]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	M270 1.6 turbo 102-156 hp^[3] M270 2.0 turbo 156-218 hp^[3] M274 2.0 turbo 156-245 hp^[2][3]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[7][15][17] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[8][10] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[8][9][11][14][18]}
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

M270/M274

See the 10 models with the M270/M274

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 M270/M274

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.

Mercedes-Benz M270 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Mercedes M274: Typische Probleme & HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Mercedes M270: Typische Probleme & HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 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
Mercedes-Benz Clase A (2012): información técnicakm77 · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 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