2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 vs 1.8 T 20v: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 carries less risk than the 1.8 T 20v: 14/100 (low risk) versus 32/100 (moderate risk). The 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 has no documented serious faults; the 1.8 T 20v has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Turbo wear and oil consumption».

Risk index

2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

Low risk · 0 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

1.8 T 20v

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 30 October 202624 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 1.8 T 20v reliable?

With up-to-date maintenance, the 20-valve 1.8T has a reputation as a powerful, durable engine for its time, but owner reports document recurring faults: ignition coils (especially on 2001 to 2003 units), water pump and air mass meter, and less often the turbo -sometimes linked to growing oil consumption- and the timing chain tensioner.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}

See the 5 of the 1.8 T 20v faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12 and 1.8 T 20v
Item	2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12	1.8 T 20v
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Displacement	—	1,781 cm³
Timing	Timing belt (dry)	Timing belt (dry)
Power	135–177 hp	150–225 hp
Production	1999–2010^{[1][3][15][16]}	1996–2006^{[17][18][19][20]}
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	14Low risk	32Moderate 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	High severity: Turbo wear and oil consumption Medium severity: Water pump failure Medium severity: Timing chain tensioner noise and wear
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][21][22]} 2.0 16v VVT 140-143 hp (EW10A, RFJ, 2004-2011)^[6][7][23]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	2.0 16v VVT 177 hp (EW10J4S, RFK, 2003-2008)^[4][21][23] 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][16][24]}	1.8 T 20v 150 hp (AEB/AGU/ARZ/AUM, 1996-2005)^[10][14] 1.8 T 20v 180 hp (AUQ, 1998-2006)^[11][12] 1.8 T 20v 225 hp quattro (BAM, 1999-2006)^[12]
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

1.8 T 20v

See the 11 models with the 1.8 T 20v

Other comparisons

With the 2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12

With the 1.8 T 20v

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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 Volkswagen Golf IVFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes Volkswagen PassatFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes Audi A3Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes Audi TTFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Fiabilité et pannes Seat LeónFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
Seat Leon Mk1: Probleme, Schwachstellen, ErfahrungenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
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
List of Volkswagen Group petrol enginesWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
Audi TTWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
SEAT LeónWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
SEAT ToledoWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
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
Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 607 2000-2011 (opiniones por motorización)Fiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French