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1.6 CDTI vs 1.4 HDi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CDTI carries less risk than the 1.4 HDi: 36/100 versus 43/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.6 CDTI has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner»; the 1.4 HDi has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing belt and water pump».

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

36

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

1.4 HDi

43

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

15 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.6 CDTI reliable?

The Opel/Vauxhall 1.6 CDTI (2013-2020, 95-160 hp) has no design fault acknowledged by the manufacturer, but it has built up reports of early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner, two episodes (2016 and 2018) of German investigation into a possible EGR valve shut-off, and AdBlue system faults on its Euro 6 versions.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

See the 3 of the 1.6 CDTI faults

Is the 1.4 HDi reliable?

It is a small diesel that is generally reliable, but with a very well-documented weakness: the injectors tend to lose their seal over time and let diesel escape. The turbo and the EGR valve also fail on a noticeable minority of units, and there are isolated cases of the crankshaft damper pulley failing at very high mileages. The timing belt does not seem to cause more problems than on any diesel of its era if it is changed on time.[8][9][10]

See the 5 of the 1.4 HDi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 CDTI and 1.4 HDi
1.6 CDTI1.4 HDi
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,598 cm³1,399 cm³
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power95–160 hp54–92 hp
Production2013–2020[1][11]2001–2010[8][12][13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)36Moderate risk43Moderate risk
Documented faults35
Of high or critical severity11
Worst severityHigh severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner
  2. Medium severity: Suspected software shut-off of the EGR valve (emissions investigation)
  3. Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versions
  1. Medium severity: Injectors that lose their seal and let diesel escape
  2. High severity: Timing belt and water pump
  3. Medium severity: Premature turbo wear from poor lubrication
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure[7][15]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.6 CDTI 95 hp (B16DTE/B16DTU, 2014-2018)[5][6]
  • 1.6 CDTI 108-110 hp (B16DTL/B16DTN/B16DTU/D16DTI, 2014-2019)[6]
  • 1.6 CDTI 120-122 hp (B16DTJ/B16DTC, 2014-2018)[2][3][4]
  • 1.6 CDTI Turbo ecoFLEX 134-136 hp (B16DTH, 2013-2020)[2][6]
  • 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI ecoFLEX 150-160 hp (B16DTR/D16DTR, 2015-2019)[5][11]
  • 1.4 HDi/TDCi 54/68/70 8V (DV4TD, 2001-2009)[9][10]
  • 1.4 HDi 90/92 16V (DV4TED4, 2002-2009)[9][14]
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

1.6 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.6 CDTI

1.4 HDi

See the 12 models with the 1.4 HDi

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 CDTI

With the 1.4 HDi

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.

  1. GM Medium Diesel engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Opel, acusada de desconectar la válvula EGR de su modelo Zafira ¿aumentando las emisiones de NOx?Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 19 May 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. Opel está de nuevo en el punto de mira por las emisiones con 60.000 coches afectadosMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 16 July 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. La Fiscalía alemana registra las instalaciones de Opel en el marco de una investigación sobre emisionesMotorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 October 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  5. Fiabilité Opel Astra 5 (K) - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Fiabilité Opel Mokka X - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. El aditivo de AdBlue que debes usar para evitar una reparación de 2.000 euros en tu coche diéselAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 1 April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Motor PSA DVWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.4 HDI 68 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  10. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.4 HDI 70 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  12. Ford Duratorq engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  13. Peugeot DV4TD engine: specifications and applicationsMyMotorList · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026
  14. Peugeot DV4TED4 engine: specifications and applicationsMyMotorList · Technical documentation · consulted 27 September 2026
  15. Twin dosing en diésel: el fallo que dispara una avería de más de 1.000 euros en el tallerMotor16 · Motoring press · published 22 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish