2.0/2.2 D-4D vs 1.2 TDI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 TDI carries less risk than the 2.0/2.2 D-4D: 45/100 (moderate risk) versus 77/100 (very high risk). The 2.0/2.2 D-4D has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D»; the 1.2 TDI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing belt, water pump and high-pressure pump».

Risk index

2.0/2.2 D-4D

Very high risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.2 TDI

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 27 September 202618 sources How we work

Is the 2.0/2.2 D-4D reliable?

No: the 2.0/2.2 D-4D family is among the most problematic Toyota diesels. The 2.2 block (2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV D-CAT) has a large number of cases of warped cylinder head gaskets and oil consumption or dilution in the Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Corolla Verso and Verso; the EGR valve and injectors fail frequently across the whole family, and the D-CAT filter clogs up if the car is not driven regularly on open roads.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the 2.0/2.2 D-4D faults

Is the 1.2 TDI reliable?

A three-cylinder diesel with a single homologated output (75 hp) that Volkswagen fitted to the low-consumption versions of its smallest models between 2009 and 2014. It belongs to the EA189 family and was added to the list of engines in the emissions scandal a few days later. Its timing belt also drives the water pump and the high-pressure pump, so do not put off replacing it; also keep an eye on the turbo, the EGR and the particulate filter.^[5][6][7][8]

See the 5 of the 1.2 TDI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0/2.2 D-4D and 1.2 TDI
Item	2.0/2.2 D-4D	1.2 TDI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	1,199 cm³
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	116–177 hp	75 hp
Production	2005–2018^{[9][10][11][12][13]}	2009–2014^[7][8]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	77Very high risk	45Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	5
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D Medium severity: EGR valve clogged with soot Medium severity: Injector wear and failure	Medium severity: Manipulated emissions software (dieselgate) and the subsequent update High severity: Timing belt, water pump and high-pressure pump High severity: Failing turbo: loss of power, whistling or smoke
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	up to €2,000Blocked diesel particulate filter (DPF)Published figure^[14]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 D-4D (1AD-FTV, 116-126 hp, 2005-2018)^[1][15]	1.2 TDI common rail 75 hp (CFWA, 2009-2014)^[5][16]
AvoidVersions to avoid	2.2 D-4D (2AD-FTV, 136-150 hp, 2005-2015)^{[1][2][3][4][15][17][18]} 2.2 D-4D D-CAT (2AD-FHV, 174-177 hp, 2005-2015)^[2][15][17]	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

2.0/2.2 D-4D

See the 10 models with the 2.0/2.2 D-4D

1.2 TDI

Other comparisons

With the 2.0/2.2 D-4D

With the 1.2 TDI

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Sources

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

Toyota Avensis (2003-2009) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Avensis (2008-2018) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota RAV4 (2006-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota RAV4 (2013-2019) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Escándalo de emisiones contaminantes de vehículos VolkswagenWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Volkswagen emissions scandalWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
VW EA189Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
List of discontinued Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AvensisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota AvensisWikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Toyota AurisWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Toyota VersoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Toyota Auris (2007-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Bomba de agua del coche: la avería de más de 1.500 euros que arrastra la correa de distribuciónMotor16 · Motoring press · published 21 September 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Toyota Corolla Verso : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Toyota Verso : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French