1.2 PureTech vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.4 and 1.6 16v carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 45/100 (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 1.4 and 1.6 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing belt breakage or premature failure».

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

Very high risk · 6 serious faults

Risk index

1.4 and 1.6 16v

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 27 September 202628 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 6 of the 1.2 PureTech faults

Is the 1.4 and 1.6 16v reliable?

The K4J (1.4) and K4M (1.6), both naturally aspirated 16-valve units, are simple and generally reliable petrol engines: no source consulted documents oil consumption or faults that destroy the block. Their most-cited weak point is the ignition coils, followed by the crankshaft sensor and, on versions with a variable valve timing unit, its pulley; a neglected belt can cause serious damage, as one case in the Renault Laguna II documents.^[6][7][8][9]

See the 5 of the 1.4 and 1.6 16v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and 1.4 and 1.6 16v
Item	1.2 PureTech	1.4 and 1.6 16v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,199 cm³	—
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	68–155 hp	75–135 hp
Production	since 2012^[10][11]	since 1998^[12][13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	96Very high risk	45Moderate risk
Documented faults	6	5
Of high or critical severity	6	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	Medium severity: Ignition coil failure High severity: Timing belt breakage or premature failure Medium severity: Crankshaft position sensor failure
Most expensive documented repair	up to €1,200Oil-bath timing belt degradationPublished figure^{[2][15][16][17]}	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	1.6 16V 105-110 hp Dacia, without variable valve timing unit (K4M, 2004-2020)^[9][18]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.2 VTi / PureTech naturally aspirated 68-83 hp (EB2, EB2F, EB2FA..., from 2012)^[1][3][19] 1.2 PureTech turbo 110 and 130 hp Euro 6.1 (EB2DT, EB2DTS, 2013-2018)^{[2][3][4][20]} 1.2 PureTech turbo 100-155 hp Euro 6.2/6.3/6d (2018-2022)^[2][4][21] 1.2 PureTech turbo 100 and 130 hp with revised belt (2022-2025)^[1][2][22] 1.2 Turbo / Hybrid third generation with chain, 100-145 hp (from 2023)^[23][24]	1.4 16V 75-100 hp (K4J, 1999-2012)^[25][26] 1.6 16V 110-135 hp with variable valve timing unit (K4M, 1998-2020)^[8][27][28]
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 47 models with the 1.2 PureTech

1.4 and 1.6 16v

See the 11 models with the 1.4 and 1.6 16v

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the 1.4 and 1.6 16v

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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.Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Mégane 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
7.Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Scénic 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
8.Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Laguna 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
9.Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Duster 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
10.Moteur EBWikipédia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
11.El Peugeot 208 estrena motor Turbo 100 con distribución por cadenaDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 16 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
12.Renault K-Type engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
13.Moteur K RenaultWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
14.Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
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.Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
19.Rappel des moteurs 1.2 Puretech 110 et 130 chFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
20.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
21.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
22.10 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
23.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
24.Fiabilité du 1.2 PuretechFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
25.Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
26.Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
27.Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Mégane 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
28.Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Scénic 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French