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Subaru Impreza: FB16/FB20 timing chain cold-start rattle

FB16/FB20 timing chain cold-start rattle is a common engine fault on the Subaru Impreza on the 2011 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $700 to $1,800 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 44 documented faults on the Subaru Impreza.

Vehicle
Subaru Impreza
Engine
FB16 / FB20
Years
2011 onward
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

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

All Subaru Impreza faults44 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 FB-series flat-four engines (FB16 and FB20) introduced on the GP/GJ Impreza (2011 onward) have documented timing chain rattle on cold start due to inadequate oil pressure reaching the chain tensioner before oil fully circulates. Subaru issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for updated chain guides to address this. The rattle typically disappears within 5–15 seconds of startup. Extended cold-start rattle across high mileage can cause chain stretch, guide wear, and eventual timing deviation. The problem persists on GK/GT generation with the FB16e/FB20e variants.

What you would notice

  • Rattling or clattering from engine front on cold start, lasting 5–20 seconds
  • Noise more prominent in cold weather or after the car has sat overnight
  • Check engine light with timing codes (P0011, P0014) on higher mileage cars
  • Rough cold idle

How to check it

Where to look. Front timing chain and tensioner assembly, accessed through front of engine block behind timing cover

  1. Start the engine from fully cold (ideally after overnight soak) and listen immediately for chain rattle from the front of the engine.

  2. Note how long it persists.

  3. Request any Subaru TSB history from the dealership if the car has been dealer-serviced.

  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: Have OBD codes scanned for timing advance/retard codes.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$700 to $1,800 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 under the TSB?”
  • “Does the engine rattle on cold start in winter?”
  • “Has the car always been serviced with the correct oil viscosity?”

Now check the Subaru Impreza 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.

Subaru Impreza buyer questions

Is fb16/fb20 timing chain cold-start rattle serious on a Subaru Impreza?

We rate it major and common on the Subaru Impreza. The FB-series flat-four engines (FB16 and FB20) introduced on the GP/GJ Impreza (2011 onward) have documented timing chain rattle on cold start due to inadequate oil pressure reaching the chain tensioner before oil fully circulates. Subaru issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for updated chain guides to address this. The rattle typically disappears within 5–15 seconds of startup. Extended cold-start rattle across high mileage can cause chain stretch, guide wear, and eventual timing deviation. The problem persists on GK/GT generation with the FB16e/FB20e variants.

How much does it cost to fix on a Subaru Impreza?

$700 to $1,800 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 Subaru Impreza years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011 onward Subaru Impreza. 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?

Start the engine from fully cold (ideally after overnight soak) and listen immediately for chain rattle from the front of the engine. Note how long it persists. Request any Subaru TSB history from the dealership if the car has been dealer-serviced. If a workshop inspection is possible: Have OBD codes scanned for timing advance/retard codes. Look here: Front timing chain and tensioner assembly, accessed through front of engine block behind timing cover