1.5 dCi vs D5 5 cilindros: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the D5 5 cilindros carries less risk than the 1.5 dCi: 39/100 (moderate risk) versus 63/100 (high risk). The 1.5 dCi has 4 documented serious faults, the main one being «Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings»; the D5 5 cilindros has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it».

Risk index

1.5 dCi

High risk · 4 serious faults

Risk index

D5 5 cilindros

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 202626 sources How we work

Is the 1.5 dCi reliable?

The post-2010 1.5 dCi engines, especially the 90 hp, have a good record. The Euro 3 and Euro 4 units (2001-2010) carry serious faults: big-end bearings that can wreck the engine, a Delphi pump that fills the injection system with metal filings and, in some 105/110 hp versions, a timing belt and dual-mass flywheel that fail early.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 8 of the 1.5 dCi faults

Is the D5 5 cilindros reliable?

Volvo's five-cylinder D5 (2.4 D3/D4/D5 and 2.0 D3/D4) has no documented systemic fault, but it does carry one serious risk: several owners report that a snapped auxiliary belt took the timing belt with it. The rest is EGR, DPF and the odd turbo.^[5][6][7]

See the 4 of the D5 5 cilindros faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.5 dCi and D5 5 cilindros
Item	1.5 dCi	D5 5 cilindros
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	1,461 cm³	2,400 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	55–116 hp	126–215 hp
Production	since 2001^{[1][8][9][10][11][12][13]}	2001–2015^{[14][15][16][17]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	63High risk	39Moderate risk
Documented faults	8	4
Of high or critical severity	4	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Wear and seizure of the big-end bearings Critical severity: Premature timing belt failure High severity: Delphi high-pressure pump that sheds filings and damages the injection	Critical severity: Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it Medium severity: EGR valve and EGR cooler clogged with carbon Medium severity: Clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF)
Most expensive documented repair	up to €2,000Premature dual-mass flywheel failure and clutch problemsPublished figure^[18][19]	up to €1,400Turbocharger failurePublished figure^[7]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.5 dCi Energy Euro 6 with NOx trap (90 and 110 hp, 2015-2018)^[20][21][22] 1.5 dCi in Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti (OM 607 / OM 608, 2012-2020)^[13][23]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	1.5 dCi Euro 4 (68/70, 85/86 and 105/106 hp, 2005-2010)^{[1][2][3][10]} 1.5 dCi Euro 5 with particulate filter (75, 90, 95 and 110 hp, 2010-2015)^[1][3][24] 1.5 Blue dCi with SCR and AdBlue (85, 95, 100 and 115 hp, from 2018)^[21][25][26]	2.4 D and D5 of 130-163 hp (D5244T, 2001-2009)^[5][6] 2.4 D5 of 175-215 hp and D4 of 181 hp (D5244T4/T10/T11/T14/T15, 2005-2015)^[5][6] 2.0 D3/D4 five-cylinder (D5204T, 2011-2016)^[6][17]
AvoidVersions to avoid	1.5 dCi Euro 3 (65, 80/82 and 100 hp, 2001-2005)^[1][4]	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

1.5 dCi

See the 46 models with the 1.5 dCi

D5 5 cilindros

See the 10 models with the D5 5 cilindros

Other comparisons

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With the D5 5 cilindros

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Sources

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

Fiabilité du 1.5 dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Renault Clio 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 November 2012 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Maxi-fiche fiabilité : que vaut le Renault Scénic 3 en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 February 2016 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Maxi-fiche occasion : que vaut le Renault Scénic 2 en seconde main ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 29 October 2014 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Volvo S60 (2010-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilidad Volvo XC60 (2008-2017): averías y testimoniosFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
Problemas Volvo XC90 D5Total Renting · General press · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Renault K-Type engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
Moteur K RenaultWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Renault Mégane 3 : que vaut le modèle en occasion ?Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 25 November 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Mercedes abandonne le 1.5 dCi Renault pour un moteur maison, qui émet plus de CO2 !Caradisiac · Motoring press · published 26 October 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Nissan : le Qashqai reçoit un nouveau moteur dCiCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 14 September 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Estos son los motores Renault que usa MercedesDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 22 December 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Volvo D5 de 185 CV para S60, V70, XC70 y XC90Autopista · Motoring press · published 27 July 2005 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in Spanish
Volvo V70 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volvo S80 (motorizaciones por generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volvo V60 (motorizaciones de la primera generación)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
Volante bimasa, averías y precio de sustituciónDiariomotor · Motoring press · published 3 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
Diesels : volant moteur défectueuxFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · published 17 October 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité du Renault Kadjar : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 November 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité du Dacia Duster 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 27 April 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité du Renault Captur : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 2 March 2018 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité des 180d / 180 CDI MercedesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité du Nissan Qashqai 2 : la maxi-fiche occasion de CaradisiacCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 22 December 2017 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité du 1.5 Blue dCiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published 18 May 2022 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
Maxi-fiche fiabilité - Renault Clio 5 : loin d'être irréprochableCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 19 April 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French