Skyactiv-D vs D5 5 cilindros: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the D5 5 cilindros carries less risk than the Skyactiv-D: 39/100 (moderate risk) versus 55/100 (high risk). The Skyactiv-D has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations»; the D5 5 cilindros has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with it».

Risk index

Skyactiv-D

High risk · 3 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 202619 sources How we work

Is the Skyactiv-D reliable?

The Skyactiv-D is a modern and generally reliable diesel, but across its three displacements (1.5, 1.8 and 2.2) it shares oil dilution with diesel fuel during diesel particulate filter regenerations, which means you need to watch the oil level and not stretch oil changes, especially on short journeys; the older 2.2s (2012-2014) also accumulate more turbo and carbon build-up cases.^[1][2][3][4]

See the 4 of the Skyactiv-D 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 Skyactiv-D and D5 5 cilindros
Item	Skyactiv-D	D5 5 cilindros
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Diesel	Diesel
Displacement	—	2,400 cm³
Timing	Chain	Timing belt (dry)
Power	105–184 hp	126–215 hp
Production	since 2012^[1][8][9]	2001–2015^{[10][11][12][13]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	55High risk	39Moderate risk
Documented faults	4	4
Of high or critical severity	3	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	High severity: Oil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations High severity: Turbo wear or failure from lack of lubrication Critical severity: Oil pump chain breakage and camshaft wear	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	No reliable data	up to €1,400Turbocharger failurePublished figure^[7]
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	None	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175 (SH-VPTS, 2012-2017)^[2][14][15] 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150/175/184 (SH-VPTS, 2017-2021)^[3][16] 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 (S5-DPTS, 2015-2018)^[4][17] 1.8 Skyactiv-D 116 (S8-DPTS, 2018-present)^[4][18][19]	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][13]
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

Skyactiv-D

See the 7 models with the Skyactiv-D

D5 5 cilindros

See the 10 models with the D5 5 cilindros

Other comparisons

With the Skyactiv-D

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.

SkyActivWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 (2012-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda 6 (2012-2022)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda CX-3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 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
Mazda CX-5Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Mazda3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
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
Aviso a todos los propietarios de Mazda CX-5 Dieselkm77 · Motoring press · published 22 May 2013 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Mazda6Wikipedia (alemán) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2013-2019)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda CX-30Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Mazda 3 (2019-)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French