2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 1.4 and 1.6 8v: 14/100 (low risk) versus 48/100 (moderate risk). The 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults; the 1.4 and 1.6 8v has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «LPG tank corrosion».

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.4 and 1.6 8v

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202621 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v 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 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Is the 1.4 and 1.6 8v reliable?

The K7J (1.4) and K7M (1.6) are the original 8-valve, single-camshaft versions of Renault's «K» family: simple naturally aspirated engines that are, on the whole, reliable. None of the sources consulted documents oil consumption or faults that destroy the block. The most frequently cited weak points are the crankshaft sensor, the head gasket and the ignition coils; on Dacia's LPG versions, corrosion of the gas tank is added to the list.^[9][10][11]

See the 5 of the 1.4 and 1.6 8v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 and 1.4 and 1.6 8v
Item	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12	1.4 and 1.6 8v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	135–177 hp	75–90 hp
Production	1999–2010^{[1][3][12][13]}	since 1995^[14][15][16]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	14Low risk	48Moderate risk
Documented faults	1	5
Of high or critical severity	0	3
Worst severity	Medium severity	High severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils	High severity: LPG tank corrosion High severity: Timing belt breakage or failure High severity: Head gasket (and, in some cases, cylinder head)
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[1][2][4][5][17][18]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[6][7][19]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[4][17][19] 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][13][20]}	1.4 8V 75 hp (K7J, 1995-2012)^{[9][10][11][21]} 1.6 8V 90 hp (K7M, 1995-2012)^[9][10] 1.4 8V 75 hp LPG (K7J 714, Dacia, 2008-2012)^[11]
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

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

1.4 and 1.6 8v

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

With the 1.4 and 1.6 8v

Compare other engines

First engine

Second engine

That is the comparison you are viewing: change one of the two engines.

Sources

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

PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Sandero 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Renault K-Type engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Moteur K RenaultWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Kangoo 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French