D5 5 cilindros vs 1.4 TDI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.4 TDI carries less risk than the D5 5 cilindros: 38/100 versus 39/100 (both moderate risk). The D5 5 cilindros has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it»; the 1.4 TDI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Timing belt and water pump».

Risk index

D5 5 cilindros

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Risk index

1.4 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 5 October 202614 sources How we work

Is the D5 5 cilindros reliable?

Volvo's five-cylinder D5 (2.4 D3/D4/D5 and 2.0 D3/D4) has no documented systemic fault, but it does carry one serious risk: several owners report that a snapped auxiliary belt took the timing belt with it. The rest is EGR, DPF and the odd turbo.^[1][2][3]

See the 4 of the D5 5 cilindros faults

Is the 1.4 TDI reliable?

It depends on the generation. The unit-injector one (1999-2010) calls for watching the timing belt - which also drives the unit injector pumps - the water pump, the turbo and the EGR, with a DPF only on the last BlueMotion/Ecomotive versions. The later EA288 (2014-2019) is not singled out by dieselgate, which according to the sources consulted was limited to the EA189, but it shares the need to watch the belt, turbo, EGR and DPF.^[4][5][6]

See the 4 of the 1.4 TDI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of D5 5 cilindros and 1.4 TDI
Item	D5 5 cilindros	1.4 TDI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	2,400 cm³	1,422 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	126–215 hp	69–90 hp
Production	2001–2015^{[7][8][9][10]}	1999–2019^[5][6]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	39Moderate risk	38Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	4
Of high or critical severity	1	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it Medium severity: EGR valve and EGR cooler clogged with carbon Medium severity: Clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF)	High severity: Timing belt and water pump High severity: Failing turbo: loss of power, whistling or smoke Medium severity: Clogged particulate filter (DPF)
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,400Turbocharger failurePublished figure^[3]	up to €2,000Clogged particulate filter (DPF)Published figure^[11]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.4 TDI common rail EA288 (2014-2019)^[4][5]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.4 D and D5 of 130-163 hp (D5244T, 2001-2009)^[1][2] 2.4 D5 of 175-215 hp and D4 of 181 hp (D5244T4/T10/T11/T14/T15, 2005-2015)^[1][2] 2.0 D3/D4 five-cylinder (D5204T, 2011-2016)^[2][10]	1.4 TDI unit injector, 3 cylinders (1999-2010)^[12][13][14]
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

D5 5 cilindros

See the 10 models with the D5 5 cilindros

1.4 TDI

See the 10 models with the 1.4 TDI

Other comparisons

With the D5 5 cilindros

With the 1.4 TDI

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Sources

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

Fiabilidad Volvo S60 (2010-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Volvo XC60 (2008-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Problemas Volvo XC90 D5Total Renting · General press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Escándalo de emisiones contaminantes de vehículos VolkswagenWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
VW EA288Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
List of discontinued Volkswagen Group diesel enginesWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Volvo D5 de 185 CV para S60, V70, XC70 y XC90Autopista · Motoring press · published 27 July 2005 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Volvo V70 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volvo S80 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volvo V60 (motorizaciones de la primera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Cuánto cuesta sustituir el filtro de partículas de un coche diéselDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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
Cuánto cuesta válvula EGRDiariomotor · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Cómo saber si el turbo está roto o a punto de romperseMotor.es · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish