1.2 PureTech vs 2.0 FSI: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 FSI carries less risk than the 1.2 PureTech: 32/100 (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 2.0 FSI has no documented serious faults.

Risk index

1.2 PureTech

Very high risk · 6 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 FSI

Moderate risk · 0 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 27 September 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 6 of the 1.2 PureTech faults

Is the 2.0 FSI reliable?

The 2.0 FSI is the naturally aspirated version with which the Volkswagen Group introduced petrol direct injection in a two-litre engine, before moving on to the turbocharged 2.0 TSI. Two faults recur across several models: carbon build-up on the intake valves, inherent to direct injection, and ignition coil failure, documented from 5,000 km in one case. Gebrauchtwagenberater.de nevertheless counts it among the most reliable petrol engines in the Audi A4 B7.^[6][7][8][9]

See the 2 of the 2.0 FSI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 PureTech and 2.0 FSI
Item	1.2 PureTech	2.0 FSI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,199 cm³	1,984 cm³
Timing	Wet belt (belt-in-oil)	Chain
Power	68–155 hp	150 hp
Production	since 2012^[10][11]	2003–2009^[12][13][14]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	96Very high risk	32Moderate risk
Documented faults	6	2
Of high or critical severity	6	0
Worst severity	Critical severity	Medium 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: Carbon build-up on the intake valves Medium severity: Ignition coil 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	None
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]	2.0 FSI (EA113, 150 hp, 2003-2009)^{[6][7][8][9][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

2.0 FSI

See the 9 models with the 2.0 FSI

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 PureTech

With the 2.0 FSI

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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
Audi A3 8P: Typische Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
VW Passat B6 – Bekannte Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Audi A4 B7 (8E) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Volkswagen Golf V - pannes moteur, boîte, électronique...Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
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
Volkswagen Golf Mk5Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Volkswagen TouranWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
VW Passat B6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
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
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
Fiabilité Volkswagen Passat - pannes moteur, boîte, électronique...Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French