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1.2 PureTech vs 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 36/100 (moderate risk) versus 96/100 (very high risk). The 1.2 PureTech has 6 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil-bath timing belt degradation»; the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)».

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

96

Very high risk · 6 serious faults

Risk index

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

36

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

23 sourcesHow 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 6 of the 1.2 PureTech faults

Is the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power reliable?

There is still little reliability data: the three-cylinder 1.5 VC-Turbo only generates electricity and no mechanical faults are known in Europe. The documented weak points are in the e-Power electronics: battery campaigns and isolated cases of immobilisation.[6][7][8]

See the 4 of the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
1.2 PureTech1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement1,199 cm³1,497 cm³
TimingWet belt (belt-in-oil)—
Power68–155 hp190–213 hp
Productionsince 2012[9][10]since 2022[11][12][13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)96Very high risk36Moderate risk
Documented faults64
Of high or critical severity63
Worst severityCritical severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Oil-bath timing belt degradation
  2. Critical severity: Loss of braking assistance from vacuum pump damage
  3. High severity: Excessive oil consumption from carbon on the piston rings or oil separator failure
  1. High severity: Safe mode due to battery controller calibration (loss of propulsion)
  2. High severity: Fuel line that slips out of its clip and may leak
  3. Medium severity: e-Power warning and limited mode due to incorrect state-of-charge reading
Most expensive documented repairup to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure[2][15][16][17]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • 1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)[1][3][18]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)[2][3][4][19]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)[2][4][20]
  • 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)[1][2][21]
  • 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)[22][23]
  • 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 190 hp (Qashqai J12, since 2022)[6][7][8]
  • 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power 204 hp (X-Trail T33, front-wheel drive, since 2022)[6][11]
  • 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power e-4ORCE 213 hp (X-Trail T33, all-wheel drive, since 2022)[11][13]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

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

1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the 1.5 VC-Turbo e-Power

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Stellantis 1.2 Puretech engine: list of belt and chain modelsItalPassion · Motoring press · published 2 February 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026
  6. Fiabilidad y averías del Nissan Qashqai 3 (2021)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
  7. Nissan Qashqai: richiamo per la batteria del sistema ibridoalVolante · Motoring press · published 4 August 2026 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Italian
  8. Nissanowski SUV z usterką systemu zarządzania akumulatoremAutokatalog.pl · Motoring press · published 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
  9. Moteur EBWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  10. El Peugeot 208 estrena motor Turbo 100 con distribución por cadenaDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 16 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Nissan X-Trail - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
  12. Nissan KR engine - WikipediaWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
  13. Nissan X-Trail (T33) - Wikipedia (versión alemana)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
  14. Nissan z novim Qashqaijem uvaja e-Power v EvropiRTV Slovenija · General press · published 19 February 2021 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in another language
  15. 1.2 PureTech: precio y cambio de correa de distribuciónAutopista · Motoring press · published 2 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French