2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M): 14/100 (low risk) versus 27/100 (moderate risk). The 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults; the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M) has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)

Moderate risk · 0 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 202625 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 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M) reliable?

Suzuki's M series (the 1.3-litre M13A, 1.5-litre M15A and 1.6-litre M16A, with a timing chain and indirect injection) has a reputation as a simple, reliable engine: we have found no documented serious fault in the block or the chain. What is on record are minor faults or one-off campaigns: the catalytic converter and lambda sensors of the 2005-2010 Swift, the catalytic converter of the 2006-2007 SX4, the Swift's fuel hose and the Grand Vitara and Jimny tensioner pulley.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}

See the 4 of the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 and 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
Item	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12	1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	135–177 hp	83–136 hp
Production	1999–2010^{[1][3][15][16]}	since 1999^[9][10][17]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	14Low risk	27Moderate risk
Documented faults	1	4
Of high or critical severity	0	0
Worst severity	Medium severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils	Medium severity: Faulty catalytic converter and lambda sensors on the 2005-2010 Swift (engine warning light) Medium severity: Accessory belt tensioner pulley on the Grand Vitara 1.6 and Jimny 1.3 (2010 campaign) Medium severity: Fuel hose damaged by rubbing on the Swift 1.3 and 1.5 (2005-2008)
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][18][19]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[6][7][20]	1.3 M13A 83-92 CV (Swift, Ignis and Jimny, 2003-2018)^[10][11][14] 1.5 M15A 99-109 CV (Swift, SX4 and Ignis, 2003-2012)^[12][21] 1.6 M16A 120-136 CV (SX4, Sedici, S-Cross, Vitara and Swift Sport, 2009-2018)^[22][23][24]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[4][18][20] 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][16][25]}	1.6 M16A 107-125 CV (Swift Sport, SX4, Sedici and Grand Vitara, 2005-2009)^[10][11][12]
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

1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)

See the 11 models with the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

With the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)

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.

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
Suzuki M engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Suzuki Swift MK4 MZ 2005-2010: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité et pannes Suzuki Swift (2005-2010)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Rückruf Suzuki SX4AUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 7 April 2008 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
Por 7.000 € puedes tener un Suzuki Jimny: guía de segunda manoDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 10 January 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
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
Suzuki SX4 1.6 VVT 4x2 GL (2010-2012): datoskm77.com · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 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
Suzuki SX4: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Suzuki Vitara (ab 2015): Bekannte Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross JY 2013-2021: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité et pannes Suzuki Swift 2 (2010-2017)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