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Nissan Qashqai: MR20DD Timing Chain Stretch and Cold-Start Rattle

MR20DD Timing Chain Stretch and Cold-Start Rattle is a common engine fault on the Nissan Qashqai on the 2013–2019 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,800 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 28 documented faults on the Nissan Qashqai.

Vehicle
Nissan Qashqai
Engine
MR20-DD
Years
2013–2019
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
cvt
System
Engine

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

All Nissan Qashqai faults28 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 MR20DD 2.0-litre engine uses a single-row timing chain that is prone to stretch as mileage accumulates, particularly when oil change intervals are extended. The variable valve timing (VVEL) system places high demand on the chain tensioner, which loses hydraulic pressure when cold, allowing chain slack to rattle against the guide. Left unaddressed the chain can jump a tooth or break, causing piston-to-valve contact and catastrophic internal engine damage.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling or chattering noise from the front of the engine on cold start, fading within seconds as oil pressure builds
  • Check engine light with camshaft position timing over-advanced codes (P0011, P0021)
  • Rough idle or misfires following the rattle episode
  • Visible oil sludge on dipstick or inside oil filler cap
  • Engine hesitation or loss of power under load at higher mileage

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine block, timing chain cover on the right-hand (passenger) side

  1. Cold-start the engine from fully cold and listen at the front of the engine for a metallic rattle in the first 3-5 seconds.

  2. Check oil level and condition — dark sludgy oil accelerates chain wear.

  3. Inspect for any P0011/P0021 camshaft position fault codes.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,800 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 or tensioner ever been replaced, and do you have the invoice?”
  • “Can you show me the full service history including oil change intervals — were they done within 10,000 km?”
  • “Has the engine ever thrown a check engine light related to the camshaft position sensors?”

Now check the Nissan Qashqai 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Qashqai buyer questions

Is mr20dd timing chain stretch and cold-start rattle serious on a Nissan Qashqai?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Qashqai. The MR20DD 2.0-litre engine uses a single-row timing chain that is prone to stretch as mileage accumulates, particularly when oil change intervals are extended. The variable valve timing (VVEL) system places high demand on the chain tensioner, which loses hydraulic pressure when cold, allowing chain slack to rattle against the guide. Left unaddressed the chain can jump a tooth or break, causing piston-to-valve contact and catastrophic internal engine damage.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Qashqai?

$1,800 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 Nissan Qashqai years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2019 Nissan Qashqai. 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 from fully cold and listen at the front of the engine for a metallic rattle in the first 3-5 seconds. Check oil level and condition — dark sludgy oil accelerates chain wear. Inspect for any P0011/P0021 camshaft position fault codes. Look here: Front of engine block, timing chain cover on the right-hand (passenger) side