1.2 TCe vs 2.0 TSI / TFSI: which engine is more reliable?

The 1.2 TCe and the 2.0 TSI / TFSI tie on our risk index: 54/100 (high risk). The 1.2 TCe has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Excessive oil consumption and engine failure»; the 2.0 TSI / TFSI has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «High oil consumption».

Risk index

1.2 TCe

High risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

2.0 TSI / TFSI

High risk · 2 serious faults

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

Reviewed on 26 September 202618 sources How we work

Is the 1.2 TCe reliable?

Only with reservations: 1.2 TCe and 1.2 DIG-T engines built between 2012 and mid-2016 can burn a lot of oil because of poor piston ring sealing, with a risk of damaging the valves, stretching the chain or destroying the engine. Renault and Nissan dealt with it through technical notes and case-by-case assistance, without a recall; later production incorporates the fix.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

See the 2 of the 1.2 TCe faults

Is the 2.0 TSI / TFSI reliable?

It depends above all on the generation. The earliest units (2008-2012, without Valvelift) have more oil consumption complaints and somewhat more chain and tensioner wear; from 2012 the Valvelift design reduced oil consumption but kept carbon build-up on the intake valves as a weak point until, around 2016, supplementary indirect injection was added. The thermostat housing with the integrated water pump leaks coolant in several generations.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

See the 5 of the 2.0 TSI / TFSI faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 TCe and 2.0 TSI / TFSI
Item	1.2 TCe	2.0 TSI / TFSI
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,197 cm³	1,984 cm³
Timing	Chain	Chain
Power	100–130 hp	170–320 hp
Production	2012–2018^{[1][2][5][11][12]}	since 2008^[6][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	54High risk	54High risk
Documented faults	2	5
Of high or critical severity	2	2
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Excessive oil consumption and engine failure High severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage	High severity: High oil consumption Critical severity: Timing chain and tensioner wear Medium severity: Carbon build-up on the intake valves
Most expensive documented repair	up to €10,000Excessive oil consumption and engine failurePublished figure^{[1][2][14][15]}	up to €4,000High oil consumptionPublished figure^[16]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.2 TCe 100-130 / 1.2 DIG-T 115 (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, built from mid-2016)^[2][5]	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 3B / evo, with added indirect injection (2016 onwards, 190-320 hp)^[6][10][17]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.2 TCe 115-130 / 1.2 DIG-T 115 (H5Ft / HRA2DDT, built up to mid-2016)^[2][3][15]	2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 1, without Valvelift (2008-2012, 170-220 hp)^{[7][8][17][18]} 2.0 TSI/TFSI Gen 2/3, with Valvelift and direct injection only (2012-2016, 180-230 hp)^[7][8][17]
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 TCe

See the 16 models with the 1.2 TCe

2.0 TSI / TFSI

See the 37 models with the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 TCe

With the 2.0 TSI / TFSI

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.

Moteur 1.2 Renault - 400 000 voitures en dangerUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 24 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Casse moteur Renault 1.2 TCe : 107 000 Renault concernéesL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 March 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Renault 1.2 TCe et Nissan 1.2 DIG-T : des moteurs gourmands en huileL'argus · Motoring press · published 12 October 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Moteur 1.2 Renault - Les constructeurs minimisentUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 31 July 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Moteur H Renault-NissanWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Volkswagen EA888 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Fiabilité Volkswagen (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Audi (datos de propietarios por modelo)fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Motores TFSI: características, ventajas e inconvenientesAutofácil · Motoring press · published 18 May 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Motor 2.0 TFSI 190 CV (ficha técnica)km77 · Technical documentation · published 13 May 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Nissan HR engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
H-Typrenaultfans.info · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
Audi TTWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Posibles fallos en algunos motores de gasolina de Renault, Dacia y NissanOCU · Consumer association · published 4 June 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Problème moteur Renault-Dacia 1.2 TCe, Nissan 1.2 DIG-T et Mercedes - Vos questions, nos réponsesUFC-Que Choisir (Que Choisir Ensemble) · Consumer association · published 24 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Tu coche quema aceite: 6 señales de alarma y la solución definitiva para salvar tu motorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published 19 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Témoignages fiabilité Audifiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Témoignages fiabilité Volkswagenfiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French