GWM Haval H6: common faults & what to check

Which GWM Haval H6 are you looking at?

3 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

1 variant documented

2021–now2021–nowGeneration2.0 turbo petrolPetrolDocumented issues4 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Elizbeth smith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Hybrid

2 variants documented

2021–now2021–nowGeneration1.5 hybridHybridDocumented issues6 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Elizbeth smith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

2021–now2021–nowGeneration1.5 plug-in hybridHybridDocumented issues6 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Elizbeth smith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this GWM Haval H6

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a GWM Haval H6 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Costly issue

  Drive a stretch of open road with lane-keep and adaptive cruise active, including a moderate bend — note any unexpected braking or steering tugs.

  See why

  Overzealous ADAS: phantom braking, grabby lane-keep and driver-monitoring false alerts

  H6 driver-assist systems are documented as over-calibrated for AU/NZ roads: intrusive lane-keep steering inputs, driver-monitoring nagging within minutes of setting off, and CarsGuide owner reports of adaptive cruise unexpectedly braking mid-corner at highway speed. In September 2024 GWM publicly confirmed its Chinese engineers were rewriting ADAS/DMS software for New Zealand and Australia, with free updates promised for existing owners — so update status varies car to car. Not a safety recall, but an unsettling fault for buyers, and pre-update cars behave noticeably worse.

  What you would notice

  • Steering tugging at lane markings on narrow roads
  • Fatigue/attention warnings minutes into a drive
  • Adaptive cruise braking unexpectedly on bends
  • Constant warning chimes for non-existent violations

  Typically $0–$600 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Test drive in slow urban traffic with multiple stop-start cycles.

  See why

  7-Speed Wet DCT Clutch Judder and Low-Speed Engagement Issues

  The GWM 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission fitted to the third-generation Haval H6 (2021-on) has documented clutch pack wear and judder, particularly in low-speed manoeuvring and city traffic. Early production units exhibit difficulty engaging from rest and shuddering at 20–40 km/h. GWM issued TCU software updates but mechanical clutch wear is also reported on higher-mileage units. Documented extensively across AU and NZ owner communities.

  What you would notice

  • Shuddering or vibration when pulling away from rest
  • Hesitation and lurch when engaging first gear from a standstill
  • Transmission hunting between gears at low speed in traffic
  • Judder during slow-speed manoeuvring in car parks

  Typically $2,000–$5,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Start the engine cold (overnight preferred) and listen immediately for a metallic chattering from the front/top of the engine.

  See why

  GW4C 2.0T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start

  The GW4C 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine used in later B01 H6 models is prone to timing chain rattle during cold starts, particularly in cooler climates. The chain tensioner loses oil pressure momentarily at start-up before oil circulation is established, allowing the chain to slap against the guide rail. Continued operation without repair risks chain skip and potential valve-to-piston contact. Oil quality and service interval adherence have a significant influence on progression rate.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling from the front of the engine for the first 3-10 seconds after cold start
  • Rattle diminishes or disappears once oil pressure builds
  • Occasionally accompanied by a brief check engine light

  Typically $1,800–$3,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect transmission fluid condition and level.

  See why

  7DCT Gearbox Oil Overheating Warning in Sustained Traffic

  Both B01 and B06-generation H6 models equipped with the 7-speed DCT can trigger a gearbox over-temperature warning after extended periods of slow stop-start driving or steep incline manoeuvring. The dry and wet DCT variants both exhibit marginal heat rejection when the clutch packs are repeatedly slipping in traffic. The system may command the vehicle into a limp-home mode limiting speed to protect the transmission. Gearbox oil condition is a key factor as degraded fluid substantially reduces the overheating threshold.

  What you would notice

  • Transmission over-temperature warning on dashboard in heavy traffic
  • Vehicle enters limp mode, restricting speed to approximately 40-60 km/h
  • Sluggish or unresponsive gear changes after prolonged city driving
  • Harsh gear engagement after warning has been triggered

  Typically $300–$1,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Cold-start the engine after a cool soak and listen immediately for chain rattle from the top of the engine.

  See why

  GW4B15A 1.5T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start

  The GW4B15A 1.5-litre turbocharged engine in early third-generation Haval H6 units has documented timing chain tensioner rattle on cold start. The tensioner does not maintain adequate chain tension until oil pressure builds, producing a brief but audible metallic rattle. In higher-mileage units or those with extended oil change intervals, the rattle persists longer and chain wear is cumulative. Documented by AU and NZ owners and independent workshops.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from engine bay on cold start, usually fading within 30 seconds
  • Rattle worsening over time or taking longer to fade after warm-up
  • Check engine light with camshaft position or VVT-related codes
  • Reduced engine performance if chain stretches significantly

  Typically $1,000–$3,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Scan for active or historic battery thermal fault codes.

  See why

  PHEV High-Voltage Battery Cooling Loop Blockage

  Early B06-generation Haval H6 PHEV models have produced reports of the high-voltage battery thermal management cooling loop becoming partially blocked, reducing coolant flow through the battery pack. This triggers battery temperature fault codes and causes the vehicle to restrict charge acceptance or electric-only driving range. The root cause is attributed to debris or contaminant ingress during assembly of early-production units. A coolant flush and loop inspection is recommended as a precautionary check on any pre-owned PHEV H6.

  What you would notice

  • Battery temperature warning on dashboard
  • Reduced electric-only driving range
  • Charge acceptance limited by BMS
  • Cooling fan running at elevated speed while stationary

  Typically $600–$2,800 to put right.

GWM Haval H6 service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the GWM Haval H6. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the GWM Haval H6’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost
• DSG and Dual-Clutch Gearbox Repair Cost

Buying guides that cover the GWM Haval H6

• How Chinese brands took a quarter of the market in four years

Other GWM models