1.2 8v Fire vs Honda e:HEV / i-MMD: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 1.2 8v Fire carries less risk than the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD: 20/100 (low risk) versus 25/100 (moderate risk). The 1.2 8v Fire has no documented serious faults; the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)».

Risk index

1.2 8v Fire

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

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

Reviewed on 29 October 202614 sources How we work

Is the 1.2 8v Fire reliable?

The 1.2 8v Fire is one of Fiat's simplest and most widespread petrol engines, with more than two decades in production and no serious or systemic faults documented. The sources consulted describe it as robust: its most-cited issues are isolated sensor failures (lambda sensor, crankshaft sensor), the ignition coil and somewhat high oil consumption at higher mileages; there is no pattern of timing belt breakage.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

See the 4 of the 1.2 8v Fire faults

Is the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD reliable?

The Honda e:HEV hybrid system (formerly i-MMD) has no serious, widespread faults documented in the sources consulted. The most cited issue is the 12 V battery going flat when the car stands unused and, on the 2.0, a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump.^[7][8]

See the 2 of the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 1.2 8v Fire and Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
Item	1.2 8v Fire	Honda e:HEV / i-MMD
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	1,242 cm³	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Chain
Power	60–69 hp	109–184 hp
Production	1999–2020^{[9][10][11][12]}	since 2018^[7][13]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	20Low risk	25Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	2
Of high or critical severity	0	1
Worst severity	Medium severity	High severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Sensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC) Low severity: Oil consumption or leak, in one case from the rocker cover gasket Low severity: Faulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)	High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP) Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	up to €25012 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to startPublished figure^[7]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	1.2 8v SMPI 60-65 hp (1999-2009)^[1] 1.2 8v VVT 69 hp (2007-2020)^[2][3][5][6]	e:HEV 1.5 (LEB-H5) 109-131 hp system output (Jazz IV, HR-V III)^[7][13]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	None	i-MMD 2.0 184 hp system output (CR-V V hybrid)^[7][8] e:HEV 2.0 184 hp system output (Civic XI)^[8][14]
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 8v Fire

See the 7 models with the 1.2 8v Fire

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Other comparisons

With the 1.2 8v Fire

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

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Sources

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

Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (2003-2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Panda (depuis 2012)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat 500Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Fiat Punto (Grande Punto / Punto Evo / Punto)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiat Panda III (seit 2011) – Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 21 January 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Fiat 500 (ab 2007) – alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 24 November 2023 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
Honda recalls 1.3 million cars: fuel pump fire risk (KBA 14559R)Car-Recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 17 March 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026
Fiat FIRE engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiat 500 (2007)Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiat Grande PuntoWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Ford KaWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
Guide d'achat Honda Civic (nueva campaña 6YP, 4.740 híbridos en Francia)L'argus · Motoring press · published 7 January 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French