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Holden Captiva: Timing chain stretch and failure (2.2 diesel)

Timing chain stretch and failure (2.2 diesel) is a common engine fault on the Holden Captiva on the 2011–2018 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 18 documented faults on the Holden Captiva.

Vehicle
Holden Captiva
Engine
2.2L
Years
2011–2018
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the Holden Captiva as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Holden Captiva faults18 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The 2.2 turbo-diesel in CG2 Captivas is infamous for stretched timing chains, often well before 150,000km. A stretched chain rattles, sets timing correlation codes and, if ignored, can jump or snap — destroying the engine. The job is buried at the transmission end of a transverse engine, so labour is heavy and quotes of $2,500-4,500 at independents are normal. This is one of the main reasons the Captiva is among AU/NZ's most complained-about used cars.

What you would notice

  • Diesel rattle from the engine that's loudest on cold start
  • Check-engine light with timing/correlation codes
  • Rough running and poor starting as stretch worsens

How to check it

Where to look. Timing chain at the transmission end of the transverse engine

Cold-start the engine (feel the bonnet — it must be stone cold) and listen for a heavy rattle in the first seconds. Ask for proof the chain kit has been replaced; on a 150,000km+ diesel with no receipt, price the job into your offer.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the timing chain kit been replaced, and at what mileage?”
  • “Any timing fault codes logged?”

Now check the Holden Captiva you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • Whirlpool Forums 'Holden Captiva Diesel Timing Chain Replacement'
  • AutoGuru Holden Captiva timing chain replacement guide
  • CarsGuide FAQ: timing chain problem in 2016 Holden Captiva

Holden Captiva buyer questions

Is timing chain stretch and failure (2.2 diesel) serious on a Holden Captiva?

We rate it critical and common on the Holden Captiva. The 2.2 turbo-diesel in CG2 Captivas is infamous for stretched timing chains, often well before 150,000km. A stretched chain rattles, sets timing correlation codes and, if ignored, can jump or snap — destroying the engine. The job is buried at the transmission end of a transverse engine, so labour is heavy and quotes of $2,500-4,500 at independents are normal. This is one of the main reasons the Captiva is among AU/NZ's most complained-about used cars.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Captiva?

$2,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Holden Captiva years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2018 Holden Captiva. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the engine (feel the bonnet — it must be stone cold) and listen for a heavy rattle in the first seconds. Ask for proof the chain kit has been replaced; on a 150,000km+ diesel with no receipt, price the job into your offer. Look here: Timing chain at the transmission end of the transverse engine