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Holden Captiva: Timing chain stretch on petrol V6 (3.2 Alloytec / 3.0 SIDI)

Timing chain stretch on petrol V6 (3.2 Alloytec / 3.0 SIDI) is a common engine fault on the Holden Captiva on the 2006–2017 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
3.2L / 3.0L / 3.6L / 2.4L / 2.5L / 2.8L / 3.5L / 3.8L / 4.3L
Years
2006–2017
Fuel
petrol
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 petrol V6 Captivas share GM's 'high feature' V6 timing chain problem: chains and guides wear and stretch, throwing codes P0008/P0009/P0016-P0019, rattling on start-up and eventually risking catastrophic engine damage if the chain jumps. The V6 has three chains and the job in the Captiva's tight bay is expensive. Oil starvation from long service intervals accelerates it, so service history matters more than mileage.

What you would notice

  • Rattle from the front of the engine on cold start
  • Check-engine light with P0008/P0016-P0019 codes
  • Rough running or misfire at idle

How to check it

Where to look. Timing chains at the front of the V6, behind the timing cover

Cold-start test and listen for chain rattle in the first 10 seconds. Have codes scanned — timing correlation codes on a V6 Captiva mean a $3,000+ job. Check oil-change receipts for 10,000km-or-better intervals.

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

  • “Have the timing chains been replaced?”
  • “How frequently has the oil been changed?”

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 Captiva petrol timing chain threads
  • Australian Car.Reviews: Holden CG Captiva (2006-11) recalls & faults
  • BPC Auto Inspect Holden Captiva reliability guide

Holden Captiva buyer questions

Is timing chain stretch on petrol v6 (3.2 alloytec / 3.0 sidi) serious on a Holden Captiva?

We rate it critical and common on the Holden Captiva. The petrol V6 Captivas share GM's 'high feature' V6 timing chain problem: chains and guides wear and stretch, throwing codes P0008/P0009/P0016-P0019, rattling on start-up and eventually risking catastrophic engine damage if the chain jumps. The V6 has three chains and the job in the Captiva's tight bay is expensive. Oil starvation from long service intervals accelerates it, so service history matters more than mileage.

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 2006–2017 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 test and listen for chain rattle in the first 10 seconds. Have codes scanned — timing correlation codes on a V6 Captiva mean a $3,000+ job. Check oil-change receipts for 10,000km-or-better intervals. Look here: Timing chains at the front of the V6, behind the timing cover