1.2 PureTech vs BMW N52 / N53: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW N52 / N53 carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 48/100 (moderate risk) versus 96/100 (very high risk). The 1.2 PureTech has 7 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil-bath timing belt degradation»; the BMW N52 / N53 has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «N53 piezoelectric injector failure».

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

Very high risk · 7 serious faults

Risk index

BMW N52 / N53

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

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 202624 sources How we work

Is the 1.2 PureTech reliable?

The belt-driven 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) has a problem acknowledged by Stellantis: the oil-bath timing belt can degrade, block lubrication and, on the 2013-2018 turbos, damage the brake servo vacuum pump. The 2014-2023 turbos can also use oil. Stellantis offers 10 years or 180,000 km of cover; the chain-driven generation (from 2023) no longer uses that belt.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 7 of the 1.2 PureTech faults

Is the BMW N52 / N53 reliable?

The BMW N52 (2004-2015, port injection) is considered very reliable for a BMW, with known weak points (electric water pump, oil seals, valve cover). The N53 (2007-2013, direct injection) adds piezoelectric injectors prone to failure, which make it more expensive to maintain.^[6][7][8]

See the 6 of the BMW N52 / N53 faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and BMW N52 / N53
Item	1.2 PureTech	BMW N52 / N53
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,199 cm³	2,996 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Chain
Power	68–155 hp	174–272 hp
Production	since 2012^[9][10]	2004–2015^[8][11][12]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	96Very high risk	48Moderate risk
Documented faults	7	6
Of high or critical severity	7	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	High severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation Critical severity: Loss of braking assistance from vacuum pump damage High severity: Excessive oil consumption from carbon on the piston rings or oil separator failure	High severity: N53 piezoelectric injector failure Medium severity: Electric water pump and thermostat failure Medium severity: Oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure^{[2][13][14][15]}	up to €600Electric water pump and thermostat failurePublished figure^[16]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)^[1][3][17] 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)^{[2][3][4][18]} 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)^[2][4][19] 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)^[1][2][20] 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)^[21][22]	N52B25 2.5 (2004-2015)^[6][23] N52B30 3.0 (2004-2015)^[6][23] N53B25 2.5 (2007-2010)^[8][24] N53B30 3.0 (2007-2013)^[7][8][24]
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

1.2 PureTech

See the 49 models with the 1.2 PureTech

BMW N52 / N53

See the 9 models with the BMW N52 / N53

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the BMW N52 / N53

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Sources

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

Stellantis ofrece medidas a los afectados por los motores PureTech tras miles de demandaskm77 · Motoring press · published 28 November 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Moteur PureTech. Stellantis généralise sa garantie de 10 ans ou 180 000 kmL'argus · Motoring press · published 26 May 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Safety Gate, alerta A12/01505/20: Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, 3008, 5008 y Partner (copia en PDF)Comisión Europea – Safety Gate · Official body · published November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Stellantis 1.2 PureTech. De nouvelles solutions contre la consommation d'huileL'argus · Motoring press · published 23 June 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Stellantis 1.2 Puretech engine: list of belt and chain modelsItalPassion · Motoring press · published 2 February 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
These BMW N52 Years Have The Most ProblemsJalopnik · General press · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N53 Engine ProblemsBMW Tuning · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Der BMW N53 Motor: Technische Daten, Probleme, Haltbarkeit & FahrzeuglisteCarWiki · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
Moteur EBWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
El Peugeot 208 estrena motor Turbo 100 con distribución por cadenaDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 16 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
BMW N53Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N52Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
1.2 PureTech: precio y cambio de correa de distribuciónAutopista · Motoring press · published 2 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Stellantis reacciona a los motores PureTech defectuosos: amplía la garantía de manera retroactiva a 10 añosXataka · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
La correa bañada en aceite: cámbiala cada 60.000 km y evita una avería de 3.000 eurosMotor16 · Motoring press · published 27 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Problemas BMW N52Total Renting · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot-Citroën-DS-Opel. Nouveau rappel de grande ampleur pour le moteur 1.2 PureTechL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 January 2023 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot, sobre los motores PureTech: «Reconocemos que hemos hecho las cosas mal»Xataka · Motoring press · published 4 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
10 años o 175.000 km de garantía para los modelos de Stellantis con motor PureTechAutofácil · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Confirmado: Stellantis llama a revisión a más de 200.000 coches con el motor gasolina sucesor del 1.2 PureTech: «Y también se hará en España»Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
BMW N52 Engine ProblemsBMW Tuning · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
BMW N52 and N53 24 Valve Six Cylinder EnginesUnixnerd · Technical documentation · consulted 5 October 2026