1.9 dCi vs 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) carries less risk than the 1.9 dCi: 20/100 (low risk) versus 67/100 (high risk). The 1.9 dCi has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Seizure and wear of the big-end bearings»; the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.9 dCi

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

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

Reviewed on 30 October 202617 sources How we work

Is the 1.9 dCi reliable?

The 1.9 dCi (F9Q) was Renault's first common-rail diesel (1999) and powered a large part of its range, and those of Nissan and Volvo, for more than a decade. It has well-documented weak points: on versions of up to 120 hp built before 2005, the big-end bearings can seize and the turbo tends to degrade around 150,000 km; the injectors, the EGR valve and, on the 120 hp versions, the dual-mass flywheel also fail fairly often.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 5 of the 1.9 dCi faults

Is the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) reliable?

No serious mechanical faults are documented in the European sources we were able to open: AutoBild saw the 2.8 as more robust than the 3.0 it replaced, although it points to glow plugs that fail early. Its best-documented weak point is the particulate filter, with a lawsuit in Australia but no equivalent recall or legal action in Europe, and there are barely any high-mileage examples from which to judge long-term reliability.^[6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.9 dCi and 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Item	1.9 dCi	2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,870 cm³	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	80–130 hp	150–204 hp
Production	1999–2011^[9][10][11]	since 2015^{[12][13][14][15]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	67High risk	20Low risk
Documented faults	5	4
Of high or critical severity	3	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Seizure and wear of the big-end bearings High severity: Premature turbocharger wear High severity: Failures of the Delphi direct-injection injectors	Medium severity: Blocked particulate filter (DPF) due to incomplete regenerations Medium severity: Variable geometry turbo (VNT) seized by soot Medium severity: Diesel dilution of the engine oil from interrupted particulate filter regenerations
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	2.8 D-4D 204 (1GD-FTV, 204 hp, from 2020)^[16]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.9 dCi 95-120 (F9Q, first generation, 1999-2005)^[3] 1.9 dCi 125-130 (F9Q, Energy dCi, 2005-2011)^[3] 1.9 dCi 80-101 (F9Q, vans and commercial vehicles, 1999-2007)^[1][2]	2.4 D-4D 150 (2GD-FTV, 150 hp, from 2016)^[16][17] 2.8 D-4D 177 (1GD-FTV, 177 hp, 2015-2020)^[6][7][16]
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

1.9 dCi

See the 13 models with the 1.9 dCi

2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

Other comparisons

With the 1.9 dCi

With the 2.4 / 2.8 D-4D (GD)

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.

Renault Mégane II (2002 – 2009): Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Renault Scénic II (2003 – 2009) – Typische Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Achat d'occasion : faut-il éviter le moteur 1.9 dCi F9Q chez Renault ?Planète Renault · Motoring press · published 24 January 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Vanne EGR : problèmes et pannesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Land Cruiser 150: Gebrauchtwagen-TestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 20 January 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Toyota Faces Up To $1.5 Billion Payout To Owners Over Diesel Lawsuit In AustraliaCarscoops · Motoring press · published 7 April 2022 · consulted 9 October 2026
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 9 October 2026
Renault F-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Moteur F RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Renault Espace IVWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Toyota GD engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Toyota HiluxWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 9 October 2026
Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8 D-4D (5-Türer) (10/20 - 08/24)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Allgemeine Daten zum Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4 D-4D Duty 4x4 (08/16 - 09/20)ADAC Autokatalog · Technical documentation · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
Toyota upgrades DPF system, no change on dust issuePractical Motoring · Motoring press · published 27 August 2020 · consulted 9 October 2026
DPF regeneration: your questions answeredToyota UK Magazine · Manufacturer · consulted 9 October 2026