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Problems with the ignition coils: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 30 faults with the ignition coils in 30 engines, affecting 152 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: ignition coil failure (1.4 and 1.6 16v, 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec, 1.4 Turbo and 1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSI and others), injector, ignition coil and NOx sensor failures (N43) (BMW N43/N46) and ignition coils that fail and cause jerking (1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €120 to €600 depending on the engine or car.[1][2]

Documented faults
30
1 of high or critical severity
Engines
30
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
152
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€120–€600
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

5 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Ignition coils and spark plugs

On petrol engines, each coil generates the spark for its spark plug. Heat and vibration can make them fail, and the result is a cylinder that does not burn properly: jerking, uneven idle and the engine warning light, which flashes if the misfire could damage the catalytic converter.

What to do

If the engine warning light flashes, ease off and take it to a workshop: unburnt fuel overheats the catalytic converter. A diagnosis with an OBD reader shows which cylinder is misfiring. Change the spark plugs at their interval: worn plugs put extra strain on the coils.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the ignition coils. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the ignition coils by engine

From most to least important (severity × frequency). Each page details the affected versions and years, symptoms, cost and how to check for it.

  1. 1Medium severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequent1.4 and 1.6 16vIgnition coil failureThe individual ignition coils are the most-cited fault of the K4J/K4M in the European Renault versions: they fail frequently and cause jerking, loss of power and the engine warning light coming on. It is a cheap electrical part to replace, not internal engine damage.Appears at around 30,000 km
  2. 2Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Injector, ignition coil and NOx sensor failures (N43)On the direct-injection BMW N43, failures of the injectors, ignition coils (mainly in 2007-2008 units, now rare after a BMW service action) and the NOx sensor of its lean-burn combustion have been documented. The indirect-injection N46 does not have that sensor and does not suffer these failures.
  3. 3Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.0/1.2/1.4 EcotecIgnition coil failureThe ignition coils on this engine fail fairly often in the Corsa, Astra, Meriva and Adam, causing jerking, the engine warning light and, in the clearest cases, the engine running on one cylinder fewer; the garage fixes it by replacing the affected coil.Repair (garage): €150–€480Appears at around 15,000 km
  4. 4Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 TurboIgnition coil failureThe ignition coils of the 1.4 Turbo fail fairly often on the Mokka and Meriva B, with jerking, occasional loss of power and the engine warning light on; the garage fixes it by replacing the affected coil or coils.Repair (garage): €400–€600Appears at around 47,000 km
  5. 5Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5Ignition coils that fail and cause jerkingThe ignition module -a rail with two twin coils, no distributor- is the electrical fault owners cite most across all models with this engine: it usually fails between 40,000 and 150,000 km and causes jerking, an unstable idle or the engine warning light coming on.Appears at around 40,000 km
  6. 6Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.2 16vIgnition coil failure (misfires, engine warning light)The ignition coil is the engine fault that recurs most on the 1.2 16v: it appears independently on the Renault Clio II and Clio III, with misfires, jerking or the engine warning light coming on.
  7. 7Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSIIgnition coil failureIgnition coils are the fault that recurs most in owner reports for this engine, across all its versions. A weak coil causes misfires, jerking and the engine warning light; replacing it is a minor repair compared with the engine's other faults.
  8. 8Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common2.0 FSIIgnition coil failureIgnition coils are the engine fault that owners of this 2.0 FSI report most often, in models as different as the Golf V, Passat B6, Leon II and Altea. They cause an unstable idle, the engine running on fewer cylinders and, at times, difficulty starting.
  9. 9Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.0 EcoBoostMisfires and engine warning light caused by the wiring harnessFord documented in a technical service bulletin that the engine wiring harness can rub against the exhaust heat shield on the 2018-2019 automatic EcoSport, which turns on the engine warning light with misfire fault codes. Spark plugs and coils are also common wear items on this turbocharged three-cylinder.
  10. 10Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.4 T-JetMisfires and ignition coil faultsOn the Alfa Romeo MiTo there are reports of misfires that owners attribute to the coils, spark plugs and the MultiAir itself all at once, with the engine light on; we do not find the same pattern with the same clarity on the other models with this engine.
  11. 11Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.2 / 1.4 / 1.8 i-VTECSpark plug working loose on the 1.4 i-VTEC engineSeveral 1.4 i-VTEC owners, in both the Civic VIII and the Civic IX, document a spark plug working loose in its seat (in one case it was ejected from the cylinder head while driving); the cases are few, but the same symptom recurs in two different generations.
  12. 12Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi PHEVSpark plugs and petrol engine software on the Outlander PHEV (campaign R3033111)The DVSA records a recall (R/2017/183) of 14,242 UK Outlanders (PHEV, judging by the defect) built between October 2013 and June 2015: the petrol engine may run poorly and, in the worst case, fail to start in order to charge the traction battery. It is fixed with software and new spark plugs.
  13. 13Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional2.0 and 2.2 16v EW10/EW12Faulty ignition coilsIgnition coils are the fault reported by the press (gebrauchtwagenberater.de, CarsGuide) and by 16 of the 170 owner reviews of the 2.0 EW10; they also appear on the 2.2. A weak coil causes misfires, jerking and the engine warning light coming on.
  14. 14Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.0 SCe (B4D)Jerking, rough idle or warning light from sensors and ignition coilsThe 1.0 SCe can jerk, run unevenly or light up the engine fault warning light because of sensor faults (lambda sensor), ignition coils or injection management. It is a recurring but minority issue in the sources consulted, unrelated to a mechanical problem with the engine block.
  15. 15Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.4 and 1.6 8vIgnition coil failureThe ignition coils fail in a minority of reports for the Clio II and the Dacia Sandero I with this engine, in a considerably smaller proportion than on the 16-valve evolution of the same block. They cause jerking and the engine warning light, but do not damage the engine.
  16. 16Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional2.0 16v F4R and F4RTF4RT ignition coil failureIgnition coils are a recurring weak point of the Mégane RS 2.0 turbo F4RT: when they fail there is hesitation, rough running and misfires. It is an electrical part fault, not internal engine damage.
  17. 17Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSubaru bóxerShort-circuiting ignition coils on the Forester, XV and Impreza (2016-2019)Two British campaigns (2020 and 2021) affect 2,338 Forester, XV and Impreza cars built from September 2016 to October 2019: one reprograms the control unit because the coil stays powered after the engine is switched off, and the other replaces all the coils, which can short-circuit and leave the car unable to start.
  18. 18Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.2 TurboManufacturing defect in the ignition coils (early units)Yes: the first 1.2 Turbo units, built up to mid-2018, had a manufacturing defect in the ignition coils that caused misfires. Toyota corrected it in production; there are documented cases of several coils being replaced under warranty.
  19. 19High severityRareFrequency: RareM264/M254Engine control unit: misfire-detection software (loss of propulsion)Mercedes-Benz recalled the four-cylinder petrol engines with 48 V (C-Class 205, E-Class 213 and 238, GLC 253, CLS 257, from May 2019 to October 2023): the software could detect non-existent misfires when leaving coasting mode and cut the injection. It is corrected with a software update.Repair: €0
  20. 20Low severityCommonFrequency: Common1.2 12VIgnition coil failureThe 1.2 12V ignition coils fail relatively often, with misfires, hesitation and the engine light coming on. It is the engine's most cited electrical fault, documented on several cars and brands.
  21. 21Low severityCommonFrequency: Common1.8 T 20vIgnition coil failureYes: the ignition coils (one per cylinder) are among the most cited faults of the 1.8T, especially on engines built between 2001 and 2003. They cause hesitation, a rough idle and the engine warning light coming on; usually it is enough to replace the coil of the affected cylinder.
  22. 22Low severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.2 8v FireFaulty ignition coil (misfire, engine warning light)The 1.2 8v Fire's ignition coil can fail and switch on the engine warning light, with rough running; there is one documented case replaced at 40,000 km in the Fiat 500. It is one of the issues that recurs most in the sources consulted for this engine, though always in a minority of cases.
  23. 23Low severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.25/1.4/1.6 Ti-VCTMisfires from coils or spark plugsThere are documented cases of ignition coils replaced several times on the Ford Focus II (1.6 Ti-VCT) and of spark plugs changed at 60,000 km on the Ford Fiesta 1.25, which points to earlier-than-expected ignition system wear on some units.Appears at around 60,000 km
  24. 24Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMZR gasolinaMisfires from spark plugs and ignition coils in petrol MZR enginesSpark plugs appear among the fault points of the Mazda2 DE in the ADAC statistics cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, and fiches-auto.fr attributes the misfires of the Mazda3 1.6 to coils, spark plugs or sensors.
  25. 25Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalM112 / M113Ignition coil failure and misfiresYes: an engine rebuilding workshop cites the ignition coils among the two weak points of the M113, and CarWiki records worn coils and spark plugs with misfires on the M112. With two spark plugs per cylinder, a failing coil can go unnoticed.
  26. 26Low severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.6 and 1.8 Ecotec 16vIgnition coil failuresOn the Astra H, Zafira B and Insignia A, several owners of this engine (both the 1.6 and the 1.8) describe ignition coil failures, with loss of power and the engine warning light on. It is a cheap repair and there is no sign that it damages the rest of the engine.
  27. 27Low severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.6 Dual VVT-iIgnition coil failureOn the Verso with this engine, several owners document the failure of an ignition coil between 36,600 and 45,000 km, with the engine warning light on and jerking or loss of power; it is an isolated fault that is cheap to repair, not a problem that compromises the engine.Appears at around 36,600 km
  28. 28Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo 5 cilindros gasolinaFaulty ignition coils with misfiresOn the five-cylinder T5 of the Volvo C30, Total Renting attributes jerking and misfires to the coils and puts replacement at between 120 and 300 € including labour (in Spain).Repair (garage): €120–€300
  29. 29Low severityRareFrequency: Rare1.6 16v HR16DE / H4MNo documented pattern of chain, catalytic converter or coil failuresUnlike other turbo engines from the same alliance, the sources consulted do not document a pattern of timing chain, catalytic converter or ignition coil failures for this naturally aspirated block: across more than 100 combined accounts, these sections appear empty or, at most, with an isolated case.
  30. 30Low severityRareFrequency: Rare1.2 Dualjet and 1.2 VVTIgnition coil: no documented pattern of faultsNeither the German used-car specialists nor the testimonies from Swift, Ignis and Splash owners that we consulted describe ignition coil failures or misfires on the 1.2 VVT or the 1.2 Dualjet.

Engines with faults with the ignition coils

Problems with the ignition coils by make

Problems with the ignition coils in your car

39 cars have several documented faults with the ignition coils. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Citroën 3
Dacia 4
Fiat 1
Ford 3
Opel 7
Peugeot 2
Renault 7
Seat 3
Škoda 4
Toyota 1
Volkswagen 4

How much it costs to repair a fault with the ignition coils

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

OBD fault codes with the ignition coils

The codes the ECU usually stores when this part fails: what they mean, causes and what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Which engines have the most faults with the ignition coils?

By severity and frequency, the 1.4 and 1.6 16v (ignition coil failure, medium severity), the BMW N43/N46 (injector, ignition coil and NOx sensor failures (N43), medium severity), the 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec (ignition coil failure, medium severity), the 1.4 Turbo (ignition coil failure, medium severity), the 1.4 and 1.6 TU3/TU5 (ignition coils that fail and cause jerking, medium severity) and the 1.2 16v (ignition coil failure (misfires, engine warning light), medium severity). In total we have documented 30 engines with faults with the ignition coils.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the ignition coils?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €120 to €600; at a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 4 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is ignition coil failure (1.4 Turbo).

What symptoms does a fault with the ignition coils cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: engine fault warning light (check engine), jerking or juddering when accelerating, gradual loss of power, hard starting or engine will not start, increase in fuel consumption and sudden loss of power (limp mode).

Sources

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

  1. 1.Problemas Volvo C30Total Renting · General press · consulted 8 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. 2.Opel Mokka : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. 3.Opel Corsa 4 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. 4.Mercedes-Benz: Probleme mit der Software des MotorsteuergerätesÖAMTC · Consumer association · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German
  5. 5.Antriebsverlust wegen Softwarefehler – Rückruf für 59.906 FahrzeugeMBpassion · Motoring press · published 31 July 2025 · consulted 9 October 2026 · in German