2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 vs 1.4 and 1.6 16v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 1.4 and 1.6 16v: 14/100 (low risk) versus 45/100 (moderate risk). The 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults; the 1.4 and 1.6 16v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Timing belt breakage or premature failure».

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.4 and 1.6 16v

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 9 October 202626 sources How we work

Is the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 reliable?

The EW10 (2.0) and EW12 (2.2) are naturally aspirated 16-valve petrol engines with a timing belt, which PSA fitted between 1999 and 2010 to the 206, 307, 406, 407, 607, 807, C4, C5 and C8, among others. According to owners there are no frequent internal failures: the most-cited problems are the ignition coils (the only fault also reported by the press), the exhaust and, on the 2.2, oil consumption.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

See the of the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 fault

Is the 1.4 and 1.6 16v reliable?

The K4J (1.4) and K4M (1.6), both naturally aspirated 16-valve units, are simple and generally reliable petrol engines: no source consulted documents oil consumption or faults that destroy the block. Their most-cited weak point is the ignition coils, followed by the crankshaft sensor and, on versions with a variable valve timing unit, its pulley; a neglected belt can cause serious damage, as one case in the Renault Laguna II documents.^{[9][10][11][12]}

See the 5 of the 1.4 and 1.6 16v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 and 1.4 and 1.6 16v
Item	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12	1.4 and 1.6 16v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	—
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	135–177 hp	75–135 hp
Production	1999–2010^{[1][3][13][14]}	since 1998^[15][16][17]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	14Low risk	45Moderate risk
Documented faults	1	5
Of high or critical severity	0	1
Worst severity	Medium severity	High severity
Main faults	Medium severity: Faulty ignition coils	Medium severity: Ignition coil failure High severity: Timing belt breakage or premature failure Medium severity: Crankshaft position sensor failure
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	2.0 16v 136 hp (EW10J4, RFN/RFR, 1999-2005)^{[1][2][4][5][18][19]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[6][7][20]	1.6 16V 105-110 hp Dacia, without variable valve timing unit (K4M, 2004-2020)^[12][21]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[4][18][20] 2.0 HPi 140 hp direct injection (EW10D, RLZ, 2001-2004)^[5][7] 2.2 16v 158-163 hp (EW12J4, 3FZ/3FY, 1999-2010)^{[5][6][8][14][22]}	1.4 16V 75-100 hp (K4J, 1999-2012)^[23][24] 1.6 16V 110-135 hp with variable valve timing unit (K4M, 1998-2020)^[11][25][26]
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

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

See the 13 models with the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

1.4 and 1.6 16v

See the 13 models with the 1.4 and 1.6 16v

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

With the 1.4 and 1.6 16v

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Sources

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

PSA EW/DW engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 2 November 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
Peugeot 407 problems (reseña de Graham Smith)CarsGuide (Australia) · Motoring press · published 17 March 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 307 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 406 1995-2004 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 407 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C5 2001-2008 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C8 2002-2015 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Mégane 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Scénic 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Laguna 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Duster 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Peugeot 406Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
Peugeot 307 2.0 16V 140 ch: courroie de distribution (intervalo, tiempo y riesgo)Mecazen · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Renault K-Type engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Moteur K RenaultWikipedia (francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Anexo:Motores de RenaultWikipedia (español) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 206 1998-2006 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën Xsara Picasso 1999-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Citroën C4 2004-2010 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Dacia Logan 1Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Clio 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes de la Renault Mégane 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes du Renault Scénic 2Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French