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Problems with the timing chain: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 47 faults with the timing chain in 46 engines, affecting 309 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts (1.5 BlueHDi), timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111) (1.2 and 1.4 TSI) and rear timing chain stretch and breakage (BMW N47). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €350 to €7,000 depending on the engine or car.[1][2][3]

Documented faults
47
40 of high or critical severity
Engines
46
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
309
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€350–€7,000
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

19 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Timing chain

The timing chain does the same job as the belt, but it is made of metal, lubricated by the engine oil and in theory lasts the life of the car. In practice, some engines suffer from chain stretch or wear in the tensioners and guides, and the typical warning is a metallic rattle during the first seconds after a cold start.

What to do

Never ignore a chain noise on start-up: if the chain jumps, the engine can be wrecked. Change the oil on time and to the correct specification, because the hydraulic tensioner depends on it. On engines with known failures, ask for the invoice if the kit has already been replaced.

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 timing chain. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the timing chain 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. 1Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.5 BlueHDiWear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshaftsIn 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between October 2017 and January 2023, the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break, causing serious engine damage. Stellantis has recalled them and covers the fault for 10 years or 240,000 km.Repair (garage): €730–€820
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 and 1.4 TSITiming chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)On the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 (2006-2015) the chain can stretch and the tensioner fall short; if the chain jumps a tooth, the valves hit the pistons. Volkswagen admitted the defect in 2012 and revised the chain and tensioner between 2010 and 2011.Repair (garage): €700–€1,400Appears at around 30,000 km
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentOM651Timing chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the OM651 timing chain can stretch prematurely, above all on units built up to 2013, and in 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz recalled around 114,000 vehicles in Germany over a defective sealing ring in the tensioner. A metallic rattle on a cold start is the first sign.Repair (garage): €2,000–€3,500Appears at around 120,000 km
  5. 5Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent2.0 Ingenium diéselTiming chain stretchYes: the timing chain on the 2.0 Ingenium diesel can slip or stretch prematurely and put the engine out of time, with a risk of serious failure. It is documented on the Evoque, Discovery Sport, XE, E-Pace and F-Pace, with engine failures between 90,000 and 130,000 km in several owner reports.Repair (garage): €4,000–€7,000Appears at around 90,000 km
  6. 6Critical severityFrequency: Common1.3 MultijetTiming chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the timing chain's hydraulic tensioner can lose pressure and let the chain slacken; if it skips teeth or breaks, it can destroy the engine. It is a documented problem on Fiat, Opel, Suzuki and Ford cars with this engine, mainly linked to long oil change intervals.Repair (garage): €350–€550Appears at around 70,000 km
  7. 7Critical severityFrequency: Common1.6 CRDiTiming chain stretchThe two timing chains of the U2 D4FB (one of which also drives the high-pressure pump) tend to stretch at around 120,000-150,000 km, with a characteristic metallic rattle. If left unattended, the chain can jump teeth and cause the pistons and valves to collide.Appears at around 120,000 km
  8. 8Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N13Timing chain and tensioner wearYes: in 2013 BMW issued a technical bulletin on timing chain and tensioner wear on the N13, an engine related to PSA's 1.6 THP. The chain proved more durable than on the N43 it replaces, but the German workshops we consulted still point to it as a weak point.
  9. 9Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N20Timing chain guide and tensioner wear (2011-2015)Yes: on BMW N20s built mainly between 2011 and 2015, the timing chain guides and tensioner wear out early; if the chain jumps teeth it can put pistons and valves out of sync and cause catastrophic damage. BMW revised the design in 2015, without a formal recall.Appears at around 129,000 km
  10. 10Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Wear and breakage of the timing chain guidesYes: both the N43 and the N46 can stretch the timing chain and wear its plastic guides and tensioner. On the N43, English-language Wikipedia documents that a broken guide can release fragments that block the oil strainer and cause serious damage through lack of lubrication.
  11. 11Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N57Rear timing chain wearThe N57 inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, next to the gearbox, which complicates any repair. Unlike the N47, there is no documented campaign or wave of mass claims, and cases of serious wear appear mainly above 200,000 km.
  12. 12Critical severityFrequency: Common2.3 MZR DISI TurboTiming chain stretch and VVT actuator failure on the 2.3 DISI TurboThe 2.3 DISI Turbo's timing chain and its tensioner wear sooner than expected, especially on pre-2010 units: a rattle when cold is the warning, and if it fails it can damage the engine.Appears at around 100,000 km
  13. 13Critical severityFrequency: CommonMZR-CDTiming chain stretch on the 2.2 MZR-CDThe 2.2-litre redesign (2008-2013) replaced the 2.0's belt with a timing chain that, according to fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de, stretches more than expected on the Mazda6 and Mazda3, and, being the same engine, presumably on the CX-7 too; a rattle when cold is the first warning.
  14. 14Critical severityFrequency: CommonM271Timing chain stretch and wear of the camshaft sprocketsYes: the M271 timing chain can stretch prematurely and wear the teeth of the camshaft sprockets, with a risk of damaging the engine. A specialist source describes this weak point as persistent throughout production, including the EVO turbo revision.
  15. 15Critical severityFrequency: CommonOM654Timing chain wear or breakage (2016 to 2021 units)Yes: Mercedes-Benz recalled OM654 units built between January 2016 and February 2021 because the timing chain can wear and even break, risking engine damage. The campaign has already been carried out at official workshops; you should check whether the vehicle received it.
  16. 16Critical severityFrequency: Common2.5 dCi YD25Timing chain wear and failureThe single chain at the bottom of the YD25 (the one that drives the injection pump) is the engine's weak point: it stretches and, if it jumps or breaks, the engine usually ends up rebuilt or replaced. It is heard as a rattle.Appears at around 100,000 km
  17. 17Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0/1.2/1.4 EcotecTiming chain stretch and breakageOn the Corsa C, D and E, the Astra H and the Meriva A, this engine's timing chain tends to stretch prematurely because the tensioner does not always hold up; in the worst cases, documented across several models, the chain has jumped or snapped and forced a complete engine replacement.Repair (garage): €900–€1,400Appears at around 70,000 km
  18. 18Critical severityFrequency: Common1.6 THPTiming chain and tensioner stretch (turbo versions, before 2012)Yes: on the turbo versions of the 1.6 THP, built mostly before 2012, the timing chain and its tensioner wear out prematurely; if the chain jumps teeth, the engine can go out of time or seize. BMW, co-designer of the block, issued a technical bulletin on this fault in 2013.
  19. 19Critical severityFrequency: Common1.2 12VTiming chain stretch and tensioner wearThe 1.2 12V timing chain can slacken and the tensioner lose effectiveness with wear; if it is not detected in time, the engine can lose compression, throw the timing out or suffer valve-to-piston contact that destroys it. It is the most cited fault of this engine, across several cars and brands.Appears at around 87,000 km
  20. 20High severityFrequency: CommonPorsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)Timing chain stretch on the Cayenne VR6 V6 enginesAutoScout24 says the 250 hp 3.2 VR6 often suffers from defective chains, and Gebrauchtwagenberater warns that the smaller V6 engines have problems too. A French report describes a displaced chain on a 3.6 that forced a crankshaft replacement.
  21. 21Critical severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 TSI / TFSITiming chain and tensioner wearOver the years, the chain can stretch and the hydraulic tensioner can stop keeping it taut, especially on first-batch units (2008-2012). If the chain jumps a tooth, it can slam the valves into the pistons.
  22. 22Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N62 / N63N63 timing chain stretch and guide breakageOn the N63 the timing chain can stretch and the sliding guide can break, leaving plastic debris in the sump and risking serious engine damage. We have found no European recall for this reason.
  23. 23Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 / 2.2 i-DTECTiming chain wear or breakage at high mileageThe i-DTEC uses a timing chain, not a belt, a design that in most cases lasts the life of the engine. Even so, Fiches-auto.fr records documented cases of chain breakage in the Honda CR-V from 145,000 km, with internal damage that in one case forced an engine replacement.Appears at around 145,000 km
  24. 24Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOM642Rear timing chain wear and tensioner failureThe OM642's timing chain, at the rear next to the gearbox, usually lasts a long time: normal stretch begins at around 300,000-350,000 km. On older units (up to 2009) cases of premature tensioner failure have been documented, uncommon but serious if the chain skips.Repair (garage): €3,500–€5,000Appears at around 300,000 km
  25. 25Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.4/1.6 VTiWear of the timing chain and tensionerYes, although with fewer documented cases than on the turbocharged 1.6 THP: a German garage says the timing chain and its tensioner can wear in any version of the Prince family, including the naturally aspirated one, although the most reported cases in forums are on the turbo engine.
  26. 26Critical severityFrequency: Occasional0.9 TCeTiming chain or tensioner failureThe 0.9 TCe's timing chain tensioner can lose effectiveness over time. It is a minority of cases, but when the chain jumps the damage is serious: there is a documented case with a complete engine replacement at 80,000 km.
  27. 27Critical severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 dCiTiming chain wear or breakageThe 2.0 dCi timing chain can stretch or, in the worst cases, break earlier than expected: there are documented cases between around 60,000 and more than 200,000 km in several models that use it. As the engine is an interference design between piston and valves, a breakage usually brings serious internal damage.
  28. 28High severityFrequency: Occasional1.2 TCeTiming chain stretch and breakageThe 1.2 TCe chain has no scheduled replacement, but in engines that burn oil the low level makes the camshaft phaser vibrate and the chain stretches until it becomes noisy or breaks. The dealer network replaces the tensioner if compression is good; if not, the short block or the engine.
  29. 29High severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 dCiOil leak from the timing chain coverThe 1.6 dCi uses a timing chain, not a belt, but several Kadjar and Espace V owners describe oil leaks around the chain cover or casing, in some cases serious enough to require removing part of the engine.
  30. 30High severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi 3.0 TFSI V6Timing chain stretch and tensioner wearA German workshop describes chain stretch and marginal tensioners in the first supercharged 3.0 TFSI engines (2011-2014), with noise on cold starts and codes P0016-P0018; other guides consider it rare in this V6. There are no reliable statistics.
  31. 31High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW B47Timing chain wear (improved, but is it really at the front?)BMW improved the chain's tensioner, guides and oil supply compared with the N47, and failures take much longer to appear. But a specialist workshop insists the chain is still at the rear of the block, not at the front as is often claimed, so repairing it still means removing the engine or the gearbox.
  32. 32High severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 CDTINoise and early wear of the timing chain and its tensionerThere are verifiable reports of chain noise and timing tensioner replacement on the 1.6 CDTI, in one case at only 9,200 km. There is no manufacturer campaign or official failure statistics, so it is a real risk but not precisely quantified.
  33. 33High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)Timing chain and tensioner wear on the 4.8 V8A German workshop and several guides cite chain stretch and wear of the tensioners and guides in the Cayenne and Panamera V8 engines; the workshop recommends replacing the kit preventively between 120,000 and 180,000 km. There are no failure statistics.
  34. 34High severityFrequency: Occasional3.0 TDI V6Timing chain stretch and tensioner wearOn the 3.0 TDI V6 the timing chain is at the gearbox end and its tensioner can lose tension: it rattles on a cold start and, if the chain stretches, the timing goes out and the engine is at risk. Replacing it means opening the engine and costs several thousand euros.
  35. 35Critical severityFrequency: Rare2.2/2.5 dCiTiming chain wearThe 2.2 dCi's timing chain is one of the engine's strong points: the reliability reports consulted record very few cases of wear, far below the other faults we document for this engine.
  36. 36Critical severityFrequency: Rare2.0 MR20DE / 2.5 QR25DETiming chain stretch on the 2.0 MR20DEThe MR20DE has a timing chain and a German buying guide records Qashqai I 2.0 cases in which the chain stretched and ended up damaging the engine. It is uncommon: other sources consider it durable and none of the 123 testimonies reviewed cites the timing.
  37. 37Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 DIG-TTiming chain wear and noiseThe 1.6 DIG-T's timing chain (Qashqai, Juke, Pulsar) can become noisy with the years. It is the most repeated mechanical fault in the owner reviews consulted for this engine, although in a minority of cases and with no manufacturer recalls or studies describing it as a widespread failure.
  38. 38Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.8 T 20vTiming chain tensioner noise and wearAt least one owner documents the timing chain tensioner of this engine left unreplaced, with the resulting chain noise, on a Passat with 184,000 km; another report from a 180 hp Audi TT points to a timing problem at 90,000 km.
  39. 39High severityFrequency: Rare1.2 PureTechTiming misalignment from the camshaft sprocket bolts (chain-driven generation)On the third-generation 1.2 (chain-driven) built up to 17 February 2024, the camshaft sprocket bolts could be incorrectly fitted and throw the timing out: engine warning light, loss of power and, in the worst case, contact between pistons and valves.
  40. 40High severityFrequency: RareBMW B48 / B38Timing chain on the early units (2014-2018), redesigned in the B48TUWe have found no documented cases of timing chain breakage on the B48. The one concrete fact that does exist is that BMW redesigned the chain as a single piece in the 2018 B48TU update, which points to an area for improvement in engines built before that date.
  41. 41High severityFrequency: RareBMW B57Timing chain wear on the gearbox sideDasercars states that the B57 does not repeat the N47's premature chain wear, but that the chain is still on the gearbox side, so any work on it is expensive. A brief rattle when cold should be checked soon.
  42. 42High severityFrequency: Rare2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II)Timing chain stretchThe chain can stretch if oil changes are stretched out or the car only does short trips. The German guide to the Sorento XM 2.4 describes it as a not widespread problem and the ix35 one finds no cases; if the chain jumps or breaks, the engine is damaged.
  43. 43Medium severityFrequency: Rare2.0 and 3.0 Ingenium gasolinaTiming chain and VCT unit noise on the 2.0 petrolSome 2.0 Ingenium petrol engines have shown a rattle around the timing chain, linked according to manufacturer technical information to the variable valve timing unit. It is a little-documented problem and far less widespread than on the diesel.
  44. 44Medium severityFrequency: RareM270/M274Timing chain and tensioner: a strong point compared with earlier enginesGenerally no: unlike earlier Mercedes engines, the M270/M274 timing chain is not a common source of faults. The specialist workshops consulted agree that it hardly gives any trouble now, with only isolated cases cited online.
  45. 45Low severityFrequency: 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.
  46. 46Low severityFrequency: Rare1.0 SCe (B4D)Chain-driven timing: no documented pattern of faultsUnlike engines with a timing belt, the 1.0 SCe barely records any mentions of the timing in the sources consulted: 1 case out of 117 combined reviews of the Sandero II, the Logan II and the Twingo III, with no further detail. It is not a fault that we can document as a pattern on this engine.
  47. 47Low severityFrequency: Rare1.0 and 1.4 BoosterjetTiming chain: no documented pattern of failuresThe 1.0 and 1.4 Boosterjet use a timing chain, not a belt. We have not found a single documented case of chain stretch or breakage on these engines in the technical press, the German TÜV inspection reports or the owner testimonies we consulted.

Engines with faults with the timing chain

Timing chain: compare prices in shops

Search for the part using the make, model and engine of your car: in the shop, the registration plate or VIN filters the parts that fit.

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Problems with the timing chain by make

Problems with the timing chain in your car

113 cars have several documented faults with the timing chain. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Audi 8
BMW 20
Citroën 5
Dacia 2
DS 1
Infiniti 1
Jaguar 3
Land Rover 6
Mazda 2
Mercedes-Benz 14
MINI 6
Nissan 6
Opel 7
Peugeot 9
Porsche 3
Renault 7
Seat 2
Škoda 2
Smart 2
Volkswagen 7

How much it costs to repair a fault with the timing chain

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 timing chain

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 timing chain?

By severity and frequency, the 1.5 BlueHDi (wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts, critical severity), the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI (timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111), critical severity), the BMW N47 (rear timing chain stretch and breakage, critical severity), the OM651 (timing chain stretch and tensioner failure, critical severity), the 2.0 Ingenium diésel (timing chain stretch, critical severity) and the 1.3 Multijet (timing chain stretch and tensioner failure, critical severity). In total we have documented 46 engines with faults with the timing chain.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the timing chain?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €350 to €7,000, including VAT, based on the 8 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is timing chain stretch (2.0 Ingenium diésel).

What symptoms does a fault with the timing chain cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: metallic timing noise on start-up, noise when starting the car (squeal, knock or clicking), engine fault warning light (check engine), engine stalls or cuts out while driving, deep metallic engine knock and abnormal vibrations or unstable idle.

Sources

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

  1. Fiat 1.3 Multijet: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalrenting · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Fiabilité Land Rover Discovery Sport, pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité Jaguar F-Pace, pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Mercedes OM642 : fiabilité, pannes fréquentes et coûts d'entretienAutoCopilot · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. Mercedes OM651 : injecteurs, chaîne, fiabilitéAutoCopilot · Motoring press · published 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  6. Mercedes OM651: Typische Probleme und HaltbarkeitGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in German
  7. Motor N47 - precio cambio cadena BMWTaller Barcelona (Dasercars) · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Precio sustitución cadenas motor N47 BMW MINIArroyo Auto, Especialista BMW MINI · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Motor BMW N47 - Reparación EspecializadaDasercars · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Rotura cadena distribución y rotura motor N47OCU · Consumer association · published 2 September 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Problema cadena BMW motor N47, qué hacer y solucionesRecomotor Blog · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  12. Coste de cambiar la cadena de distribución: guía VW Audi TSISkanyx · Other source · published 25 June 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  13. Problemas en la cadena de distribución: casos y costeGT Autos (Málaga) · Other source · published 22 December 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Opel Corsa 4 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  15. Kit cadena 8mm YH01 PSA 1.5 HDi / BlueHDi reforzadoRectificados Hermanos Hurtado · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Moteur diesel 1.5 BlueHDi de Stellantis : la grogne monteUFC-Que Choisir · Consumer association · published 10 January 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  17. ¿Estás cobrando lo justo en tu taller? Así está la mano de obra por hora en 2025Infotaller · Motoring press · published 9 September 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  18. Stellantis llama a revisión al motor diésel 1.5 BlueHDi: ¿cuál es el problema y cuál la solución?coches.com · Motoring press · published 28 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  19. ¿Cuál es el precio de la mano de obra en los talleres de las 10 marcas más vendidas en España?km77 · Motoring press · published 30 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish