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1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 1.8 and 2.0 XU: 14/100 (low risk) versus 39/100 (moderate risk). The 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults; the 1.8 and 2.0 XU has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Premature timing belt breakage in the 16-valve engines».

Risk index

1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

14

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.8 and 2.0 XU

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

26 sourcesHow we work

Is the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/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.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

See the of the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 fault

Is the 1.8 and 2.0 XU reliable?

These are naturally aspirated 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines with no serious documented design faults outside the 16-valve timing belt: the 1.8 16v built until late 1997 had a recall for premature breakages, and the 2.0 16v in the GTi-6 calls for shorter belt change intervals. The rest are minor faults: coolant and oil leaks, sensors and idle.[9][10][11][12]

See the 5 of the 1.8 and 2.0 XU faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12 and 1.8 and 2.0 XU
1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW121.8 and 2.0 XU
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingTiming belt (dry)Timing belt (dry)
Power116–177 hp90–167 hp
Production1999–2010[1][3][13][14]1993–2002[15][16][17][18]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)14Low risk39Moderate risk
Documented faults15
Of high or critical severity01
Worst severityMedium severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils
  1. Critical severity: Premature timing belt breakage in the 16-valve engines
  2. Medium severity: Coolant leaks from the thermostat housing and radiator
  3. Medium severity: Oil consumption and oil leaks
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • 1.8 8v 90-103 hp (XU7JB/LFX and XU7JP/LFZ, 1993-2001)[9][10][22]
  • 2.0 8v 121-123 hp (XU10J2C/RFX, until 1997)[9][23]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)[4][19][21]
  • 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)[5][7]
  • 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)[5][6][8][14][24]
  • 1.8 16v 115-117 hp (EW7J4, 6FZ, 2000-2005)[5][20]
  • 1.8 16v 125-127 hp (EW7A, 6FY, 2005-2010)[6][25]
  • 1.8 16v 110-112 hp (XU7JP4/LFY, 1995-2002)[9][10][11]
  • 2.0 16v 132-135 hp (XU10J4R/RFV, 1995-2002)[5][11][12]
  • 2.0 16v 150-167 hp (XU10J4/RFT/RFY S16 and XU10J4RS/RFS GTi-6 and VTS, 1993-2002)[12][23][26]
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

Other comparisons

With the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12

With the 1.8 and 2.0 XU

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. PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  2. Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  3. Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
  4. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  5. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  6. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  7. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  8. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  9. Peugeot 306: fiche fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  10. Citroën Xsara: fiche fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  11. Peugeot 406: fiche fiabilitéCaradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  12. Peugeot 306 GTI-6 buying guide: powertrainPistonHeads · Motoring press · published 4 September 2016 · consulted 2 November 2026
  13. Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  14. Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  15. PSA XU engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  16. Peugeot 306Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  17. Citroën XsaraWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
  18. Citroën XsaraWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Spanish
  19. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  20. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  21. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  22. Fiabilité Citroën Berlingo: pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  23. Fiabilité Peugeot 306: pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  24. Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  25. Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2008-2017 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
  26. Fiabilité Citroën Xsara: pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French