Skip to content
MotorFiable

OM654 vs 2.2 HDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.2 HDi carries less risk than the OM654: 48/100 (moderate risk) versus 63/100 (high risk). The OM654 has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing chain wear or breakage (2016 to 2021 units)»; the 2.2 HDi has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «DPF clogging with additive, especially on the 128-138 hp version».

Risk index

OM654

63

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.2 HDi

48

Moderate 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

14 sourcesHow we work

Is the OM654 reliable?

The OM654 is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel with which Mercedes-Benz replaced the OM651 from 2016, fitted to most of its passenger cars and mid-size vans. It has a reputation for reliability: we found no mechanical faults as serious and widespread as on the brand's earlier diesels, although there were recalls for the timing chain (units from 2016 to 2021) and the coolant pump, and the NOx sensor or AdBlue system fail with some frequency.[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the OM654 faults

Is the 2.2 HDi reliable?

This is a diesel derived from the 2.0 HDi that PSA and Ford shared in large saloons and MPVs (407, 607, 807, C5, C6, C8) and that Land Rover and Ford used under their own names (TDCi, TD4, SD4) in the Mondeo IV, the Freelander 2 and the first Evoque. According to fiches-auto it does not suffer chronically from the turbo or dual-mass flywheel problems of smaller HDi engines, but the 128-138 hp version does have a recurring problem of DPF clogging.[5][6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 2.2 HDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of OM654 and 2.2 HDi
OM6542.2 HDi
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,950 cm³2,179 cm³
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power116–272 hp128–204 hp
Productionsince 2016[1][2]2000–2015[5][7][9][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)63High risk48Moderate risk
Documented faults44
Of high or critical severity33
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Timing chain wear or breakage (2016 to 2021 units)
  2. Critical severity: Leak in the vacuum-operated coolant pump (overheating risk)
  3. High severity: Wear of the turbocharger and charge-air intercooler
  1. High severity: DPF clogging with additive, especially on the 128-138 hp version
  2. High severity: Turbo faults, somewhat more frequent on the sequential twin-turbo versions
  3. High severity: Piezo injector wear and failure
Most expensive documented repairup to €850NOx sensor failure and SCR/AdBlue system warningsPublished figure[4][12]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNone
  • 2.2 HDi 150-156 (single variable-geometry turbo, 2006-2012)[13][14]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • OM654 first generation (2016-2021)[3][4]
  • OM654 M, with 48 V mild hybrid (since 2021)[3][4][12]
  • 2.2 HDi 128-138 (DW12 TED4, single turbo, 2000-2006)[8]
  • 2.2 HDi 170-175 twin-turbo (DW12 BTED4, 2005-2010)[8][10]
  • 2.2 HDi 190-204 twin-turbo (DW12 C, 2010-2015)[10]
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

Other comparisons

With the OM654

With the 2.2 HDi

Compare other engines

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.

  1. Mercedes-Benz OM654 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Mercedes-Benz OM 654Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  3. Mercedes-Benz GLC (X253): Alle typischen Probleme & MängelGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  4. Fiabilité Mercedes Classe E (2016-2023)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Ford MondeoWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Land Rover FreelanderWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 2,2 HDI 136 chevauxFiches-Auto · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. Range Rover EvoqueWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 2,2 HDI 204 chevauxFiches-Auto · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. Essai Citroën C5 Exclusive + 2.2 HDI 200 TourerActu Automobile · Motoring press · published 2011 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  12. Fiabilité Mercedes GLC (2015-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  13. Essai Peugeot 4007 2.2 HDi DCS 6Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 7 April 2010 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  14. Citroën C-CrosserWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish