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1.6 CDTI vs D5 5 cilindros: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.6 CDTI carries less risk than the D5 5 cilindros: 36/100 versus 39/100 (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 D5 5 cilindros has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it».

Risk index

1.6 CDTI

36

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

D5 5 cilindros

39

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

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 D5 5 cilindros reliable?

Volvo's five-cylinder D5 (2.4 D3/D4/D5 and 2.0 D3/D4) has no documented systemic fault, but it does carry one serious risk: several owners report that a snapped auxiliary belt took the timing belt with it. The rest is EGR, DPF and the odd turbo.[8][9][10]

See the 4 of the D5 5 cilindros faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.6 CDTI and D5 5 cilindros
1.6 CDTID5 5 cilindros
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelDieselDiesel
Displacement1,598 cm³2,400 cm³
TimingChainTiming belt (dry)
Power95–160 hp126–215 hp
Production2013–2020[1][11]2001–2015[12][13][14][15]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)36Moderate risk39Moderate risk
Documented faults34
Of high or critical severity11
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 with it
  2. Medium severity: EGR valve and EGR cooler clogged with carbon
  3. Medium severity: Clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF)
Most expensive documented repairup to €2,000AdBlue (SCR) system failure on Euro 6 versionsPublished figure[7][16]up to €1,400Turbocharger failurePublished figure[10]
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]
  • 2.4 D and D5 of 130-163 hp (D5244T, 2001-2009)[8][9]
  • 2.4 D5 of 175-215 hp and D4 of 181 hp (D5244T4/T10/T11/T14/T15, 2005-2015)[8][9]
  • 2.0 D3/D4 five-cylinder (D5204T, 2011-2016)[9][15]
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

D5 5 cilindros

See the 10 models with the D5 5 cilindros

Other comparisons

With the 1.6 CDTI

With the D5 5 cilindros

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. Fiabilidad Volvo S60 (2010-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  9. Fiabilidad Volvo XC60 (2008-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  10. Problemas Volvo XC90 D5Total Renting · General press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Opel Astra KWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  12. Volvo D5 de 185 CV para S60, V70, XC70 y XC90Autopista · Motoring press · published 27 July 2005 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Volvo V70 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  14. Volvo S80 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  15. Volvo V60 (motorizaciones de la primera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  16. 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