1.4 Turbo 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 1.4 Turbo: 14/100 (low risk) versus 45/100 (moderate risk). The 1.4 Turbo has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Early engine failure from a cracked piston»; the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.4 Turbo

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

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 202624 sources How we work

Is the 1.4 Turbo reliable?

The Opel/Vauxhall 1.4 Turbo (GM Small Gasoline Engine; A14NET, A14NEL, B14NET and, from 2015-2016, B14NEH/B14XFT/D14XFT) powered much of Opel's petrol range between 2009 and 2018, with outputs from 120 to 152 hp. There is no documented timing chain failure pattern, but there is one for the water pump and thermostat housing, the ignition coils, turbocharger wear and, in fewer cases, early engine failure from a cracked piston.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 4 of the 1.4 Turbo 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.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}

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

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.4 Turbo and 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Item	1.4 Turbo	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,364 cm³	—
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	120–152 hp	135–177 hp
Production	2009–2018^{[1][15][16][17]}	1999–2010^{[7][9][18][19]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	45Moderate risk	14Low risk
Documented faults	4	1
Of high or critical severity	2	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Early engine failure from a cracked piston High severity: Whistling, loss of power and turbocharger wear Medium severity: Coolant leak from the water pump or thermostat housing	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
Most expensive documented repair	up to €600Ignition coil failurePublished figure^[3]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[7][8][10][11][20][21]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[12][13][22]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.4 Turbo 120-140 hp (A14NET/A14NEL/B14NET, indirect injection, 2009-2015)^[2][3][4][5] 1.4 Turbo 150-152 hp (B14NEH/B14XFT/D14XFT, from 2015-2016)^[6][23]	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[10][20][22] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[11][13] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[11][12][14][19][24]}
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

1.4 Turbo

See the 10 models with the 1.4 Turbo

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 1.4 Turbo

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

Opel Astra JWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Opel Astra 3 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Mokka : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Meriva 2 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Zafira Tourer : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Astra 5 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
GM Family 0 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Opel InsigniaWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Opel MokkaWikipedia (español) · Other source · 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
Opel Adam : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 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