1.6 CDTI vs 2.0 dCi: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CDTI carries less risk than the 2.0 dCi: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 52/100 (high 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 2.0 dCi has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Premature turbocharger failure».

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

2.0 dCi

High risk · 2 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 27 September 202619 sources How 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 2.0 dCi reliable?

The 2.0 dCi (M9R) is a Renault-Nissan Alliance diesel with known, well-documented weak points: the turbo and the EGR valve fail relatively often, the particulate filter clogs up in urban use, and there are cases of injectors and even the timing chain failing earlier than expected in several of the models that use it.^{[8][9][10][11]}

See the 5 of the 2.0 dCi faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 CDTI and 2.0 dCi
Item	1.6 CDTI	2.0 dCi
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,598 cm³	1,995 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	95–160 hp	90–177 hp
Production	2013–2020^[1][12]	2005–2016^{[13][14][15][16]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	36Moderate risk	52High risk
Documented faults	3	5
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	High severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Noise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensioner Medium severity: Suspected software shut-off of the EGR valve (emissions investigation) Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versions	High severity: Premature turbocharger failure Critical severity: Timing chain wear or breakage Medium severity: Clogged particulate filter (DPF)
Most expensive documented repair	up to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure^[7][17]	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
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][12]	2.0 dCi 130-150 (M9R, cars, 2005-2012)^[8][9][11] 2.0 dCi 160-177 (M9R, higher-output cars, 2006-2016)^[9][10][18] 2.0 dCi 90-115 (M9R, vans, 2006-2014)^[19]
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 CDTI

See the 7 models with the 1.6 CDTI

2.0 dCi

See the 12 models with the 2.0 dCi

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 CDTI

With the 2.0 dCi

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Sources

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

GM Medium Diesel engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
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
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
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
Fiabilité Opel Astra 5 (K) - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Opel Mokka X - avis et pannes des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
Fiabilité Renault Laguna 3 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Renault Koleos : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Renault Espace 4 : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Nissan Qashqai : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Renault KoleosWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Renault Mégane IIIWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Renault Grand Espace 2.0 dCi PrivilegeAutopista · Motoring press · published 19 September 2006 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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
Fiabilité Nissan X-Trail : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Renault TraficWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026