1.6 DIG-T vs 1.2 16v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 DIG-T carries less risk than the 1.2 16v: 23/100 (low risk) versus 36/100 (moderate risk). The 1.6 DIG-T has no documented serious faults; the 1.2 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged head gasket and coolant loss».

Risk index

1.6 DIG-T

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.2 16v

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 27 September 202622 sources How we work

Is the 1.6 DIG-T reliable?

The 1.6 DIG-T (MR16DDT) has a reputation as a solid engine: a German buying guide describes it as powerful and free of notable problems, and a Spanish long-term test reports five years without faults in a Juke. Its documented weak points are occasional oil consumption, chain noise for a minority of owners and sensor failures; we have not found any recalls or a pattern of turbo failures.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 3 of the 1.6 DIG-T faults

Is the 1.2 16v reliable?

The 1.2 16v (D4F) and its 8-valve predecessor, the D7F, are simple naturally aspirated engines, used for over two decades as the entry-level option in Renault and Dacia cars, with a reputation for reliability: the reliability pages consulted document no catastrophic failures and no oil consumption. The most-cited problems are ignition coils and sensors and, on higher-mileage cars, the head gasket.^[6][7][8][9]

See the 5 of the 1.2 16v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 DIG-T and 1.2 16v
Item	1.6 DIG-T	1.2 16v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,618 cm³	1,149 cm³
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	163–215 hp	60–76 hp
Production	2010–2019^{[10][11][12][13]}	2001–2020^{[14][15][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	23Low risk	36Moderate risk
Documented faults	3	5
Of high or critical severity	0	1
Worst severity	Medium severity	High severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Timing chain wear and noise Medium severity: Oil consumption from piston ring wear Low severity: Lambda sensor and other engine sensor failures	High severity: Damaged head gasket and coolant loss Medium severity: Ignition coil failure (misfires, engine warning light) Medium severity: Probe and sensor faults (crankshaft position, throttle body)
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.2 16v 75/76 (D4F, 2001-2020)^{[6][7][8][9][18][19][20][21]} 1.2 16v 60 (D4F 708, Twingo I, 2004-2007)^[16]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.6 DIG-T 163 (MR16DDT, Nissan Qashqai II)^{[1][2][4][22]} 1.6 DIG-T 190 (MR16DDT, Nissan Juke and Nissan Pulsar)^[2][3][4][5] 1.6 DIG-T Nismo / Nismo RS, 197-215 hp (MR16DDT, Nissan Juke only)^[11]	None
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

1.6 DIG-T

1.2 16v

See the 11 models with the 1.2 16v

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 DIG-T

With the 1.2 16v

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Sources

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

Nissan Qashqai: Bekannte Probleme & KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Problemas comunes del Nissan Qashqai: cómo solucionarlos en el popular SUVAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 9 September 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T 190 CV CVT 4x4 (prueba de propietario)km77 · Motoring press · published 11 September 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Avis moteur Nissan Qashqai 2 1.6 163 chFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Avis moteur Nissan Juke 1.6 Turbo 190 chFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Maxi-fiche fiabilité : la Renault Twingo 2Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Nissan MR engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Nissan JukeWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Nissan QashqaiWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Motor Renault-Nissan Type-MWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Moteur D RenaultWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault KangooFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia LoganFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia SanderoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Essai complet Nissan Qashqai 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French