OM656 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 OM656: 32/100 versus 39/100 (both moderate risk). The OM656 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Leak in the vacuum-driven coolant pump (fire risk)»; 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

OM656

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

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

Reviewed on 9 October 202621 sources How we work

Is the OM656 reliable?

The OM656 is the roughly 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder diesel with which Mercedes-Benz replaced the OM642 V6 from 2017 in the S-Class, E-Class, CLS, GLE, GLS and G-Class (350 d, 400 d and 450 d). It has few documented faults: the known campaign is the coolant pump one of 2021-2022, and the timing chain recall that circulates belongs to the OM654. Guides warn about the AdBlue/SCR system, the EGR and, in isolated cases, the roller rocker arms, without figures.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

See the 4 of the OM656 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][9][10][11]}

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

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of OM656 and VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
Item	OM656	VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	2,925 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	—
Power	272–367 hp	150–250 hp
Production	since 2017^[1][2][12]	2003–2020^{[13][14][15][16][17][18]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	39Moderate risk	32Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	4
Of high or critical severity	2	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Leak in the vacuum-driven coolant pump (fire risk) Medium severity: NOx sensor failure and AdBlue (SCR) system warnings Medium severity: EGR valve clogged with soot after short journeys	High severity: Loss of the crankshaft signal that stalls the engine (Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 CRD) Medium severity: Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pump Medium severity: Turbocharger failure and intake hoses
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	up to €1,400Wear of the injectors and the high-pressure pumpPublished figure^[19][20]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	OM656 3.0 diesel with electric assistance (D 30, from 2023)^[4][5][7]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	OM656 2.9 diesel 350 d (OM 656 D 29 R SCR, from 2017)^[3][4][5] OM656 2.9 diesel 400 d (OM 656 D 29 SCR, from 2017)^[3][4][5][7]	2.8 CRD R 428 (ENR, 110 kW / 150 hp, 2003-2008)^[9][19] 2.8 CRD RA 428 Euro 4 (ENS, 163-177 hp, 2007-2011)^[9][21] 2.8 CRD A 428 Euro 5 (147 kW / 200 hp and 163-178 hp, 2010-2018)^[9][21] 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5 (190 and 239-241 hp, 2011-2013)^[10][11] 3.0 V6 CRD A 630 Euro 5+ (190 and 250 hp, 2013-2020)^[5][10]
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

OM656

See the 11 models with the OM656

VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

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

Other comparisons

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With the VM Motori 2.8 and 3.0 CRD

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Sources

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

Mercedes-Benz OM656 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Mercedes-Benz OM 656Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Rückruf für OM 656 und OM 654 Motoren wegen KühlmittelpumpeMBpassion · Motoring press · published 9 December 2021 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Mercedes-Rückruf: Kühlmittelprobleme bei DieselautosAUTOHAUS · Motoring press · published 5 January 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Mercedes-Benz GLC (X253): Alle typischen Probleme & MängelGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Mercedes OM656 Diesel: Häufige Probleme, Ursachen & Tipps zur Vermeidung von MotorschädenMBpassion · Motoring press · published 19 February 2026 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Mercedes-Benz OM656 Engine Guide: Reliability, Common Problems & Tuning PotentialEuro Premium Parts · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026
Jeep Wrangler 2.8 Diesel ProblemsCarsGuide · Motoring press · published 11 December 2020 · consulted 8 October 2026
Jeep Grand Cherokee IV: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 11 April 2018 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
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
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
VM MotoriWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
VM MotoriWikipedia (it) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Italian
Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRD Sport (2007-2008): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD Mountain Aut. (2012): precio y ficha técnicakm77 · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
First drive: oil burner adds to Cherokee rangeGoAuto · Motoring press · published 11 March 2003 · consulted 8 October 2026
Problemas Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Problemas Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRDTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
Zahnriemenwechsel Jeep Wranglerrepareo.de · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German