1.2 8v vs 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT: which engine is more reliable?
According to our risk index, the 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT carries less risk than the 1.2 8v: 25/100 versus 36/100 (both moderate risk). The 1.2 8v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cylinder head gasket (coolant loss and overheating)»; the 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing belt failure due to overdue maintenance».
The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated
Is the 1.2 8v reliable?
The 1.2 8v (D7F) is a simple naturally aspirated engine of 54 to 60 hp, with a timing belt, which Renault fitted from 1996 to the Twingo, Clio II and Kangoo. No catastrophic failures are documented; what owner reviews mention most often are the sensors, the cylinder head gasket, the coil packs and the occasional oil drip.[1][2][3]
See the 5 of the 1.2 8v faultsIs the 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT reliable?
In the sources we consulted, the 2.0-litre F4R and F4RT show no engine-destroying design faults, but the timing belt must be changed on time, and the coils (RS) and the variable valve timing pulley appear as weak points. We have found no reliable sources on oil consumption or big-end bearings.[4][5][6][7]
See the 3 of the 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT faultsSide-by-side comparison
| Item | 1.2 8v | 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT |
|---|---|---|
| Technical data | ||
| Type | Engine | Engine |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Displacement | 1,149 cm³ | 1,998 cm³ |
| Timing | Timing belt (dry) | Timing belt (dry) |
| Power | 54–60 hp | 135–250 hp |
| Production | 1996–2012[8][9][10][11] | since 2000[12] |
| Reliability | ||
| Risk index (what is it?) | 36Moderate risk | 25Moderate risk |
| Documented faults | 5 | 3 |
| Of high or critical severity | 1 | 1 |
| Worst severity | High severity | Critical severity |
| Main faults |
|
|
| Most expensive documented repair | No reliable data | No reliable data |
| Which versions to buy | ||
| BuyRecommended versions | None | None |
| With cautionVersions to be cautious about | ||
| 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
Other comparisons
With the 1.2 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 PureTech
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 1.2 8v vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 1.2 8v vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B38 / B37
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B48 / B38
- 1.2 8v vs BMW B58
- 1.2 8v vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 1.2 8v vs M50 and M52
- 1.2 8v vs BMW M54
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N13
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N20
- 1.2 8v vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N43/N46
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N52 / N53
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N54/N55
- 1.2 8v vs BMW N62 / N63
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 1.2 8v vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 1.2 8v vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 1.2 8v vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 1.2 8v vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 1.2 8v vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs MZR gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Skyactiv-G
- 1.2 8v vs M111
- 1.2 8v vs M112 / M113
- 1.2 8v vs M264/M254
- 1.2 8v vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 1.2 8v vs M260
- 1.2 8v vs M271
- 1.2 8v vs M272/M273
- 1.2 8v vs M270/M274
- 1.2 8v vs M276
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 1.2 8v vs MIVEC gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche M96/M97
- 1.2 8v vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 THP
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 1.2 8v vs 0.9 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 TCe
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 16v
- 1.2 8v vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 1.2 8v vs Rover K-Series
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 Turbo
- 1.2 8v vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 1.2 8v vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs Drive-E gasolina
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0 MPI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.2 12V
- 1.2 8v vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs 1.8 T 20v
- 1.2 8v vs 2.0 FSI
- 1.2 8v vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 1.2 8v vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 1.2 8v vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 1.2 8v vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 1.2 8v vs VR6
With the 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 PureTech
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 PureTech
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 and 1.4 TSI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 TSI / 1.5 TSI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 TCe
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 EcoBoost
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.3 TCe
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 EcoBoost
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Audi 3.0 TFSI V6
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.4, 2.8 and 3.0 V6 30v
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW B38 / B37
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW B48 / B38
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW B58
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M43 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M50 and M52
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW M54
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW N13
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW N20
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs N42 and N45 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW N43/N46
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW N52 / N53
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW N54/N55
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs BMW N62 / N63
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Fire
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 T-Jet
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 0.9 TwinAir and 1.0/1.3 FireFly
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.5 EcoBoost
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCT
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 EcoBoost
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.3 EcoBoost
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0-1.6 8v Endura-E, Duratec 8v and RoCam
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec-E
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 and 1.2 de 3 cilindros (Onix and Tracker)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2 S-TEC
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Family II 2.0 and 2.4 gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTEC
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 / 2.4 i-VTEC
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Honda IMA híbrido
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 T-GDI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 GDI / T-GDI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Alpha
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 / 2.0 Beta II
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 and 1.1 Epsilon
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 / 1.6 MPI Gamma
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 / 1.25 MPi
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 / 2.0 Nu
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Smartstream 1.6 T-GDi
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs MZR gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Skyactiv-G
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M111
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M112 / M113
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M264/M254
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M266 (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M260
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M271
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M272/M273
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M270/M274
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs M276
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.5 VTi-TECH / T-GDI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs MIVEC gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Mitsubishi PHEV
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 DIG-T
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 HR12DE and 1.2 DIG-S (HR12DDR)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DE
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.5/1.6/1.8 QG
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 16v HR16DE / H4M
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 Turbo
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16v
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.2 Ecotec gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Porsche MA1 / 9A1
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Porsche M96/M97
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Porsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4/1.6 VTi
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 THP
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW7/EW10/EW12
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 and 2.0 XU
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 0.9 TCe
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 SCe (B4D)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 TCe / SCe
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 and 1.6 8v
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 TCe
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 16v
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs E-Tech Híbrido
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Rover K-Series
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.5 K15B (Jimny)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 VVT-i
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 Turbo
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.33 Dual VVT-i
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 VVT-i
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.5 Hybrid
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 Dual VVT-i
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 Hybrid
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.7 and 4.0 gasolina (2TR-FE and 1GR-FE)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 and 2.4 VVT-i
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Volvo 5 cilindros gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs Drive-E gasolina
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0 MPI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.2 12V
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.4 16v and 1.6 FSI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.8 T 20v
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.0 FSI
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs VW 2.0 TFSI EA113
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 2.3 VR5 (V5)
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 8v EA111
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs 1.6 and 2.0 8v EA827
- 2.0 16v F4R and F4RT vs VR6
Compare other engines
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiabilité Renault Clio 2 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 1993-2006 : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité Renault Twingo 2 (2007-2014) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Pannes Renault Mégane 2 (testimonios por motorización)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité occasion Renault Mégane II (2002-2009)CarVerif · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
- Renaultsport Megane checkpointsevo · Motoring press · published 20 November 2008 · consulted 5 October 2026
- RenaultSport Megane 225 buying guide, history and reviewOctane · Motoring press · published 7 February 2025 · consulted 5 October 2026
- Moteur D (Renault)Wikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in French
- Renault Clio IIWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault TwingoWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Renault Twingo IWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German
- Moteur F Renault (F4R y F4RT)Wikipedia (fr) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
- Renault Twingo (ab 1993): Schwachstellen laut TÜV-AuswertungAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published February 2002 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in German