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Volvo/Ford engine reliability?

The Ford/PSA 1.6 diesel engine fitted in the Mazda, Ford Focus and Volvo V50, to name a few, is regularly slammed in Volvo owner reviews as clattery, likely to destroy bearings after 3 years, and prone to turbo destruction, (see owner views on your own site for examples).

However, the same engine does not get this type of review by Ford or Mazda owners. My question, as I am considering buying a V50, is this, is this engine as bad as Volvo owners would have us believe, should I avoid it, and how come its only a problem with Volvo?

Asked on 19 August 2013 by Mylor

Answered by Honest John
The problem engine was the 16v 1.6TDCI 110 from 2005 to 2010. The later 8v 1.6TDCI 115 with 6 speed rather then 5 speed transmission has been fine. I ran one fora year and 11,000 miles in a Mazda 5 and the combination was brilliant.
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