What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($2,122)MiddleHigher-cost states ($2,703)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $2,703 and AR the lowest at $2,122, across 51 states.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 50,000-100,000 (44%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 50,000: 21% against 60%.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 6-9 years (57%), against 23% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
640 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
What do owners say it led to?
Among the 640 owner complaints naming this part, owners most often say engine damage followed.
What owners say happened after the problem. Engine damage: 68 (11%); Loss of power: 15 (2%).
If your car shows the signs above, get it checked before it gets as far as engine damage.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 640 owner complaints naming this part, water pump is named in 6% of them, more than any other part.
Other parts named in the same complaints. Water pump: 37 complaints (6%); Engine overhaul: 30 complaints (5%).
What did owners say they paid?
Half of the 20 owners who wrote a dollar amount gave $4,000 or less; one in ten wrote more than $9,600.
These are bills owners wrote down, often covering more than this one repair. They show how far a job can run; get written quotes for your own car.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 37%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 640 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 45, followed by Crash reported at 3; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 1.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 640 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2015 is the largest at 146 (23%), followed by 2016 at 95 (15%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 2 (0%).
Do timing chain replacement problems track registered cars and trucks per resident across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about timing chain replacement run higher where registered cars and trucks per resident is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that registered cars and trucks per resident causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more registered cars and trucks per resident; higher up means more complaints for this repair than expected (1.0 is average). If the dots climb to the right, reports of this repair rise with registered cars and trucks per resident.
What it shows: States with more registered cars and trucks per resident tend to sit higher on the chart across 24 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 8 states with the most registered cars and trucks per resident (Minnesota, Kentucky, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Ohio, Washington): reports of this repair run 77% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 6 of 8 are above expected. The 8 with the least (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, California, Maryland, Illinois, North Carolina): 14% below, and 4 of 8 are above expected.
- Exceptions: South Carolina and Washington are among the highest in registered cars and trucks per resident but report below expected; North Carolina (23% above expected) is among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least registered cars and trucks per resident runs 14% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 12% above, and the third with the most 77% above. It steps up steadily.
- For registered cars and trucks per resident, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 14. Take out any single state and the registered cars and trucks per resident pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar average one-way commute and the pattern keeps about 0% of its strength, so part of it may come from average one-way commute instead of registered cars and trucks per resident.
More registered vehicles per resident means more cars on the road and more older vehicles kept in service.
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 8 foreign recall campaigns that name timing chain with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Mercedes-Benz USA in 2023-08.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-11 | Jaguar Land Rover | 258 | Field action number n634 subject 2.0 aj20 d4 diesel engine timing chains and engine oil pump make model and model year affected certain 2016 and 2017 model year land rover range rover evoque and land rover discovery sport diesel vehicles. |
| 2017-12 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 220 | Ifthis were to occur, the timing chain could become worn and elongated, causing abnormal noise. |
| 2020-11 | BMW of | 219 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety Campaign � Timing Chain Various Models and Model Years (Diesel Engine) Dear Mr. |
| 2020-08 | BMW of | 154 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety Campaign � Timing Chain Various Models and Model Years (Diesel Engine) Dear Mr. |
| 2023-08 | Mercedes-Benz | 149 | Description of Issue MBAG has determined that on certain MY18-19 C-Class (205 platform), E-Class (213 platform), E-Class Coupe/Convertible (238 platform), and CLS (257 platform) vehicles with the 4-cylinder Diesel engine OM654, individual bolts or chain links. |
| 2021-05 | BMW of | 108 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety Campaign � Timing Chain Various Models and Model Years (Diesel Engine) Dear Mr. |
| 2022-03 | Mercedes-Benz | 044 | March 25, 2022 Page 2 Description of Issue MBAG has determined that on certain "MY" 2016-2020 C-Class (205 platform), E-Class (213 platform), E-Class Coupe/Convertible (238 platform) and CLS-Class (257 platform) vehicles with 4-cylinder Diesel engine OM654. |
| 2021-02 | General Motors | 040 | The engines in these vehicles contain a engine chain guide and guide bolt that were improperly tensioned during engine assembly. |
Has the maker published a fix?
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep | Compass 2025–2027 | 09-021-26 | Aug 26, 2026 | Not applicable to vehicles built for US market. |
| GMC | Sierra 1500 2019–2025; Canyon 2023–2025 | 25-NA-076 | Mar 29, 2025 | This informational bulletin advises the technician that the gasket for the timing chain tensioner is not required. |
| Land Rover | Range Rover 2020–2022; Discovery Sport 2015–2022 and 4 more | SFCC_OCT2021_31 | Oct 15, 2021 | Timing chain replacement VVT service part incorrectly. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 1500 2020–2021; Silverado 3500 2020–2021 and 3 more | PIP5806C | Aug 16, 2021 | This preliminary information bulletin instructs to technicians to check the trigger wheel for interfering with the timing chain, and adding a shim to the camshaft position sensor. |
| Chevrolet | Blazer 2019–2021; Malibu 2016–2021 and 5 more | PIP5803A | Apr 19, 2021 | This Preliminary information communicates to technician's if they remove the front timing cover when performing a repair, they should inspect the timing chain guide upper bolt for being loose. |
| Chevrolet | Traverse 2019–2020; Impala 2019–2020 | 20NA085 | Apr 8, 2020 | This technical bulletin provides a procedure to inspect the left side timing chain guide assembly for abnormal wear and to replace the guide if found the cause of the concern. |
20 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
Manufacturer warranty extensions naming this part (4)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover | LR4 2012–2014 | Apr 6, 2022 | NAS22.02.002 | Engine timing chain and tensioner partial. |
| Audi | A6 2012 | Apr 1, 2019 | AWA 18-15-201902 | Timing chain and timing chain tensioner. |
| Volkswagen | Jetta 2008–2014; Passat 2008–2010; Tiguan 2009–2013 | Dec 3, 2018 | VWP-18 | Timing chain and timing chain tensioner. |
| BMW | 320i 2012–2015; 328i 2012–2015; 428i 2014–2015 | Jul 16, 2018 | B110317 | N20 and N26 engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Engine timing chains failed at 71,000 miles requiring a $9,700 repair.
I h e the P0016 code indicating the the timing chain that can cost up to $10k and sudden engine failure if not repaired.
The dealer diagnosed the problem as the timing chain, and replaced it and all related components at a cost of $4500.
What bothers me is I just spent $3000 less than 2 months ago to replace a cam actuator and timing chain and never once was a blown engine mentioned to me or that I should be concerned about one.
Check your car
Timing chain replacement costs $1,628–$3,256 for a V6 with two chains, with parts at $200–$500 and labor at $600–$1,100. Engine layout moves that range most, and shop type comes second.
What does timing chain replacement cost, and what does it cover?
The estimate is a V6 with a double chain, priced at the default shop setting. It covers the chain set, the labor to open the front of the engine, and a fresh seal at the timing cover.
Labor is the larger share. The chain sits behind the timing cover, so the shop has to pull belts, covers and often the front engine mount before it reaches anything. You're paying for hours, not for a $200 part.
How much does engine layout change timing chain replacement?
Count the chains, not the cylinders. Each extra chain adds parts and adds hours to reach it. The table changes one setting at a time from the default.
| Setting | Parts | Labor | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-cam, four-cylinder, one chain | $100–$250 | $400–$700 | $1,018–$1,933 |
| Default: V6, two chains | $200–$500 | $600–$1,100 | $1,628–$3,256 |
| V8 or variable-timing, several chains | $400–$900 | $900–$1,800 | $2,646–$5,495 |
| Default job at an independent shop | $180–$450 | $540–$990 | $1,465–$2,930 |
Pick your engine in the calculator rather than guessing from the table. Two trims of one model can carry different engines.
Is it the timing chain, and how urgent is it?
A short rattle from the front of the engine on a cold start is the classic sign of slack. A check engine light with a cam and crank correlation code, rough running or a hard start point the same way. Any of these can also come from a tensioner or an oil-pressure problem, so a shop should confirm it before you commit.
Treat a rattle as a few-weeks problem, not a few-months one. A chain that jumps a tooth can leave the engine out of time, and a chain that breaks can bend valves. If the engine stalls or loses power while driving, stop and have it towed.
What should you ask before approving timing chain replacement?
Ask the shop to list what's in the quote, line by line. A fair quote for this job names the chain, the sprockets, the tensioner and the guides. If it names only the chain, ask why, because the other parts wear at the same rate.
Then ask two questions that change the price:
- Is the water pump, if it sits behind the same cover, replaced while the engine is open? The extra labor is small now and large later.
- Is the work covered, and for how long? A shop that fits a quality kit should stand behind the labor.
Run your engine and shop type through the calculator first. A quote well above the top of your range deserves a second opinion, and one well below it deserves a question about which parts it leaves out.
What does the estimate leave out?
It doesn't include repairs for damage a failed chain has already done, such as bent valves or a scored cylinder. It doesn't include an oil change, coolant top-up or a new serpentine belt unless you ask for them. And it can't see corrosion or sludge on an older engine, which can add labor once the cover is off.
Quick answers
Can I drive on a stretched chain? Short trips for a diagnosis, yes. Beyond that you risk the engine, so book the repair as soon as a shop confirms the chain.
Is a timing chain meant to last the life of the engine? Makers design it to, but a failing tensioner or poor oil changes can shorten that. The records above show what owners report.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2023 Table MV-1 with Census 2023 population, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Checked against RepairPal's range ($2,120–$2,764) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology