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1.6 CDTI vs D4/D5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CDTI carries less risk than the D4/D5: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 64/100 (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 D4/D5 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing belt with it (5-cylinder)».

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

36

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

D4/D5

64

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

16 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 D4/D5 reliable?

The Volvo D5/D4 covers two different engines: the classic 5-cylinder (2001-2016, D5244T/D5204) and the 4-cylinder VEA (D4204T, from 2013). On the former, several owners document the auxiliary belt breaking and taking the timing belt with it, destroying the engine; on the VEA the most common problems are the EGR, the DPF and oil consumption that can damage the turbo from 90,000-150,000 km. Neither is an engine to buy without checking its service history.[8][9][10][11]

See the 6 of the D4/D5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 CDTI and D4/D5
1.6 CDTID4/D5
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,598 cm³—
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power95–160 hp120–235 hp
Production2013–2020[1][12]2001–2024[8][9][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)36Moderate risk64High risk
Documented faults36
Of high or critical severity12
Worst severityHigh severityCritical 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. Critical severity: Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing belt with it (5-cylinder)
  2. High severity: High oil consumption from 90,000-150,000 km that harms the turbo (VEA)
  3. Medium severity: Clogged EGR valve or EGR cooler leaking into the intake
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure[7][14]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][12]
  • 2.4/2.0 D3/D4/D5 5-cylinder (D5244T/D5204, 2001-2016)[10][15]
  • 2.0 D2/D3/D4/D5 VEA 4-cylinder (D4204T, 2013-2024)[10][11][16]
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

D4/D5

See the 14 models with the D4/D5

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 CDTI

With the D4/D5

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. Volvo Engine ArchitectureWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Volvo D5: 185 CV para el S60, V70, XC70 y XC90Autopista.es · Motoring press · published July 2005 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo XC60 (2008-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo V60Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  12. Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  13. Volvo XC90Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. 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
  15. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo S60Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  16. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo XC60 (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French