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SsangYong Korando: G15DTP 1.5T Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle

G15DTP 1.5T Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle is a common engine fault on the SsangYong Korando on the 2019 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,300 to $2,600 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 9 documented faults on the SsangYong Korando.

Vehicle
SsangYong Korando
Engine
1.5L
Years
2019 onward
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
dct
System
Engine

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

All SsangYong Korando faults9 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 updated 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol (G15DTP) in the C-generation Korando exhibits cold-start timing chain rattle caused by chain stretch and slow tensioner pressurisation after cold soak. The rattle is most pronounced at temperatures below 10°C and typically clears within 15-20 seconds. Prolonged or worsening rattle indicates chain stretch beyond acceptable limits. Documented by NZ and AU Korando owners and is consistent with the same drivetrain pattern seen in the Tivoli G15DTF. Independent workshops report the chain tensioner is the primary failure item.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from engine front on cold start, especially in winter
  • Rattle persisting beyond 20 seconds as wear progresses
  • Cam timing DTCs stored when cold
  • Slightly rough cold-idle accompanying the rattle

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine, timing chain and tensioner behind cover

  1. Insist on a cold-start inspection.

  2. Listen immediately at the front of the engine for rattle.

  3. Note duration before it clears.

  4. Scan ECU for stored cam-timing codes — these may be present even if cleared by the seller.

  5. Check oil service history and use the correct low-viscosity oil specified.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,300 to $2,600 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

  • “Does the engine rattle briefly on cold start, especially in cold weather?”
  • “Has the timing chain or tensioner been serviced or replaced?”
  • “What engine oil specification has been used — is it the correct low-viscosity grade?”

Now check the SsangYong Korando 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.

SsangYong Korando buyer questions

Is g15dtp 1.5t cold-start timing chain rattle serious on a SsangYong Korando?

We rate it major and common on the SsangYong Korando. The updated 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol (G15DTP) in the C-generation Korando exhibits cold-start timing chain rattle caused by chain stretch and slow tensioner pressurisation after cold soak. The rattle is most pronounced at temperatures below 10°C and typically clears within 15-20 seconds. Prolonged or worsening rattle indicates chain stretch beyond acceptable limits. Documented by NZ and AU Korando owners and is consistent with the same drivetrain pattern seen in the Tivoli G15DTF. Independent workshops report the chain tensioner is the primary failure item.

How much does it cost to fix on a SsangYong Korando?

$1,300 to $2,600 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 SsangYong Korando years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2019 onward SsangYong Korando. 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?

Insist on a cold-start inspection. Listen immediately at the front of the engine for rattle. Note duration before it clears. Scan ECU for stored cam-timing codes — these may be present even if cleared by the seller. Check oil service history and use the correct low-viscosity oil specified. Look here: Front of engine, timing chain and tensioner behind cover