1.9 dCi vs 2.5 TDI R5: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.5 TDI R5 carries less risk than the 1.9 dCi: 45/100 (moderate 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 2.5 TDI R5 has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Plasma coating flaking off the cylinders».

Risk index

1.9 dCi

High risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

2.5 TDI R5

Moderate risk · 2 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 5 October 202614 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 2.5 TDI R5 reliable?

The 2.5 TDI R5 in the T5 and the Touareg has a poor reputation: camshaft wear, pump injectors and cylinder coating. The later series were more reliable. It is not Audi's V6 TDI.^[6][7][8]

See the 5 of the 2.5 TDI R5 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.9 dCi and 2.5 TDI R5
Item	1.9 dCi	2.5 TDI R5
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,870 cm³	2,461 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	80–130 hp	88–174 hp
Production	1999–2011^[9][10][11]	2003–2011^[12][13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	67High risk	45Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	5
Of high or critical severity	3	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical 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	Critical severity: Plasma coating flaking off the cylinders High severity: Camshaft and hydraulic tappet wear Medium severity: Leaks and play in the unit injectors
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
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]	2.5 TDI 130 and 174 hp with DPF (BNZ, BPC, 2006-2009)^[6] 2.5 TDI common rail Crafter (88 to 163 hp, 2006-2011)^[14]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	2.5 TDI 130 and 174 hp (AXD, AXE, 2003-2006)^[6]

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

2.5 TDI R5

Other comparisons

With the 1.9 dCi

With the 2.5 TDI R5

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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
VW T5 4Motion Gebrauchtwagen-TestAuto Bild · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Kaufberatung gebrauchter VW T5 (2003-2015)Promobil · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Ratgeber Technik: Fehler VW T5Auto Bild · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
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
VW T5Wikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
VW Touareg IWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Volkswagen CrafterWikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish