Suzuki 1.2 VVT and 1.2 Dualjet (familia K12: K12B/K12C/K12D/K12M)Oil consumption
Oil consumption: no documented pattern on the 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT
Why this rating?
Low severity: A nuisance or wear. It does not immobilise the car or damage other parts.
Frequency rare: Gebrauchtwagenberater.de highlights the low-maintenance timing chain of the Splash and does not flag oil consumption as a weakness in any of its three articles on this engine (Splash, Swift, Ignis); the fiches-auto.fr testimonies for the Swift 2, Swift 3 and Ignis do not mention it either, beyond generic maintenance advice. This is not enough to speak of a pattern.[1][2][3][4][5]
Symptoms
- This would be the expected symptom if this engine consumed oil between changes, but none of the sources consulted describe it.[3]Uses oil: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
Why it happens
There is no cause to document: we found no pattern of oil consumption and no technical explanation in the sources consulted for any of the three versions.[2][3][4]
If it is not repaired: As there is no documented pattern, there is no consequence to describe beyond checking the oil level between changes, as with any car.[3]
Affected cars and years
No version is identified as having different oil consumption; all three share the same block and cylinder head design.[6]
| Version | Years | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 VVT 86-92 hp (K12B, one injector per cylinder, 2008-2013) | 2008–2013 | K12B |
| 1.2 Dualjet non-hybrid 89-91 hp (K12B/K12C, dual injector, 2013-2020) | 2013–2020 | K12BK12C |
| 1.2 Dualjet SHVS mild hybrid 82-90 hp (K12C/K12D, since 2016) | since 2016 | K12CK12D |
Models fitted with the affected versions
Suzuki
- Suzuki Splash2008–2014
- Suzuki Swift IV2010–2013
- Suzuki Swift IV2013–2017
- Suzuki Swift V2017–2024
- Suzuki Ignis2016–2020
- Suzuki Ignissince 2020
- Suzuki Baleno2018–2020
How much it costs to repair
Includes: Oil consumption test documented by the workshop; no parts replacement applies if consumption is within normal limits.[3]
No repair cost applies because there is no excessive consumption documented as a pattern on this engine.
Prices in Spain, including VAT. A workshop hour costs on average €38–66 at independent garages and €77–134 at dealerships in Spain, depending on the region and the brand. How we calculate costs
How to check for it before buying a used car
- Check the oil level with the dipstick when you buy, and again after a few hundred kilometres.
How to prevent it
- Use the oil and the change interval specified by the manufacturer for this engine.
Recalls, campaigns and claims
As of 27 September 2026, we have no record of recalls, campaigns or extended manufacturer warranties for this fault. Check with an official dealer using the chassis (VIN) number: they will tell you whether the car has any outstanding campaign.
What owners say
Frequently asked questions
Does the Suzuki 1.2 Dualjet use a lot of oil?
Not according to the sources consulted: neither the German workshops nor the Swift, Ignis or Splash owners describe high consumption.[2][3][4]
Does the non-Dualjet 1.2 VVT use more oil than the Dualjet?
There is no data indicating a difference between the two versions in this respect.[2][3]
Should I keep a closer eye on the oil in this engine than in others?
There is no documented reason to; the usual check between oil changes is enough.[3]
What can you do now?
We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.
Other 1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVT faults
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalClutchClutch: premature wear and clutch cable anchor failureSeveral Swift and Ignis owners with a manual gearbox describe a clutch that bites abruptly and wears out sooner than expected; on the Ignis's AGS automated gearbox, gebrauchtwagenberater.de directly points to fast clutch wear in town driving. There is no manufacturer campaign for this cause.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectronicsSHVS mild-hybrid system: recalls for the starter generator belt and softwareThe 1.2 Dualjet's SHVS (belt-driven starter generator and lithium battery) had two recalls, already resolved, on the Ignis: the belt that can break (2016-2018) and a software error in the hybrid control unit (up to 2018). There is no documented ongoing battery fault.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareCoolingWater pump pulley fixing (2013-2014): recallOn cars with the 1.2 engine built in 2013-2014, gebrauchtwagenberater.de documents a possible insufficient fixing of the water pump pulley which, if it comes loose, can cause overheating; it describes this in connection with the Suzuki Splash.
- Low severityFrequency: RareIgnitionIgnition coil: no documented pattern of faultsNeither the German used-car specialists nor the testimonies from Swift, Ignis and Splash owners that we consulted describe ignition coil failures or misfires on the 1.2 VVT or the 1.2 Dualjet.
More faults with oil consumption on other engines and cars
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent2.0/2.2 D-4DWarped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4DYes: the 2.2-litre block (2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV D-CAT) has numerous documented cases of warped cylinder head gaskets and oil consumption or dilution in the Avensis, RAV4, Auris, Corolla Verso and Verso, with repairs that sometimes require replacing the engine.Appears at around 40,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.2 and 1.4 TSIPiston breakage and oil consumption in the 1.4 TSI twinchargerThe 1.4 TSI twincharger (turbo and supercharger) built up to 2012 can crack the pistons between the rings, with oil consumption, misfires and loss of compression. Volkswagen strengthened the pistons and rings on the 2012 CTHD engines.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.2 TCeExcessive oil consumption and engine failure1.2 TCe and 1.2 DIG-T engines built from 2012 to mid-2016 can burn more than 1 litre of oil per 1,000 km because the piston rings do not seal properly; carbon damages the valves and the engine can fail. There was no recall: the dealer network reprograms and replaces rings or the engine.Repair: €5,000–€10,000
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.33 Dual VVT-iExcessive oil consumption from piston wearYes: 1.33 Dual VVT-i (1NR-FE) units built before 2013 can use far more oil than normal because of a factory defect in the pistons, acknowledged by Toyota in a technical bulletin. In the most serious cases it ends in engine replacement. Toyota corrected it with revised parts from 2013.Appears at around 130,000 km
- High severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 PureTechExcessive oil consumption from carbon on the piston rings or oil separator failureThe 2014 to 2023 1.2 PureTech turbos can use too much oil: those from 2014-2018 through carbon blocking the piston rings and those from 2018-2023 through a defective oil separator. Stellantis considers more than 0.3 l per 1,000 km abnormal and includes it in its cover.
- High severityFrequency: Very frequent1.0 PureTechExcessive oil consumption through the piston ringsYes. Stellantis acknowledges that naturally aspirated 1.0 and 1.2 EB engines built between June 2012 and November 2016 can use excessive oil because of fouling of the piston rings; depending on consumption and mileage, its network replaces the water outlet housing or the whole engine.
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Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Suzuki Swift (NZ) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Suzuki Splash (2008–2014) – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Suzuki Ignis (MF, ab 2016) – Bekannte Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Suzuki Ignis : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Suzuki Swift 2 : avis, qualités et défauts des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Suzuki K engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026