What a head gasket repair costs in NZ, by model

141 documented head gasket faults across 87 models. Half of them start at or below $2,000, and half top out at or below $4,500. Every fault below shows its own range, from the cheapest fix recorded to the worst case. Figures are approximate, at New Zealand independent workshop rates.

The head gasket seals the joint between the engine block and the cylinder head, keeping coolant, oil and combustion apart. When it fails, coolant can leak into the cylinders or oil, and the engine overheats. Some engines are well known for it.

What the price covers

The job means taking the top of the engine off. The price includes the gasket set, machining the head flat if it has warped, and a lot of labour. The top of each range is usually where overheating has already damaged the head or block.

How to check before you buy

Check the coolant level with the engine cold, and look for oil in the coolant or milky residue under the oil filler cap.
Watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and look for white exhaust smoke that smells sweet.
Ask whether the gasket has been replaced, especially on engines with a known history.

Costs by model

Model	Documented fault and its repair range
Toyota Hilux	1KZ-TE head gasket & head cracking (endemic) $3,500–$9,000 1KD-FTV Head Gasket Failure $3,360–$6,720 Head gasket failure at cylinder 6 (4.0 V6 1GR-FE) $3,000–$5,500 2KD-FTV Head Gasket Failure from EGR Overheating $1,500–$4,500 and 1 more on the model page
Suzuki Swift	M13A cooling-system overheating (sticking thermostat / weak water pump / head gasket) $180–$2,200
Toyota RAV4	2AZ-FE Head Gasket Failure $1,800–$4,500
Nissan X-Trail	QR25DE Head Gasket Failure and Overheating $1,800–$4,000
Subaru Forester	EJ253 Internal Head Gasket Failure – Combustion Gas or Coolant Bypass $2,200–$5,000 EJ25 Head Gasket Failure Between Coolant and Combustion $2,000–$5,000 EJ20 Head Gasket Failure at Coolant Passages $2,200–$4,800 EJ20 Head Gasket Failure (Single-Layer MLS) $1,800–$4,500 and 2 more on the model page
Toyota Prado	1KZ-TE Head Gasket Failure (3.0L Turbodiesel) $3,500–$7,500 1KD-FTV Head Gasket Failure $2,800–$5,500
Nissan Navara	ZD30DDTi Cracked Piston and Head Gasket Failure $7,000–$18,000 ZD30DDTi Head Bolt Stretch and Head Gasket Failure $3,000–$8,500 D40 YD25DDTi Head Gasket Failure Between Bores $2,800–$5,500
Toyota Vitz	1SZ-FE Head Gasket Failure $1,200–$2,800
Toyota Wish	1AZ-FSE Head Gasket Failure & Coolant Loss $2,500–$5,500
Subaru Legacy	EJ20/EJ25 head gasket failure $2,500–$4,800 EJ25 DOHC External Head Gasket Coolant Leak $2,200–$4,500 EJ253 head gasket external leak (2.5i, BL/BP and BM/BR) $2,500–$4,500 EJ251/EJ254 2.5 external head gasket coolant leak (BE/BH) $2,200–$4,500 and 3 more on the model page
Subaru Impreza	EJ20 Turbo Head Gasket Failure — Coolant/Oil Cross-Contamination $2,200–$4,800 EJ25 SOHC head gasket external leak (2.5i GD/GH) $2,500–$4,500 EJ25 Phase 2 head gasket external coolant/oil seep $1,800–$3,800 EJ20/EJ25 head gasket weep at 80-120k km $1,600–$3,500 and 2 more on the model page
Nissan Patrol	ZD30DDTi Head Gasket Failure and Piston Cracking $2,800–$9,500 RD28T Head Gasket Failure Between Cylinders $2,500–$7,000 TB48DE Rear Cylinder Head Gasket Failure $2,500–$6,000 TB45E petrol head gasket failure $2,500–$5,000 and 1 more on the model page
Subaru WRX	EJ25 STI Head Gasket Failure $3,200–$7,500 EJ207 Head Gasket Failure Between Coolant and Oil $2,000–$6,000 EJ20/EJ25 Head Gasket Failure $1,800–$4,500 EJ20 Phase 1 Head Gasket Failure (GC/GF 2.0T) $1,800–$3,800 and 1 more on the model page
Toyota HiAce	1KD-FTV Head Gasket Failure (HiAce Application) $3,640–$7,280 1KD-FTV cracked cylinder head and head gasket failure $3,000–$7,000 1KZ-TE Head Bolt Stretch & Head Gasket Failure $2,200–$5,500 2KD-FTV Head Gasket Failure at High Mileage $1,800–$3,800 and 1 more on the model page
Subaru STI	EJ25 STI Head Gasket Failure $3,200–$7,500 EJ207 Head Gasket Failure Between Coolant and Oil $2,000–$6,000 EJ20/EJ25 Head Gasket Failure $1,800–$4,500 EJ20 Phase 1 Head Gasket Failure (GC/GF 2.0T) $1,800–$3,800
Toyota Land Cruiser	Head Gasket Failure Due to Head Bolt Torque Loss (1HD-FTE 4.2L) $3,500–$7,500 Head Gasket Failure Under Towing Load (1HD-T 4.2L Turbo Diesel) $2,800–$6,500 1FZ-FE 4.5 Petrol Cracked Cylinder Head and Head Gasket Failure $3,000–$6,500 1HZ 4.2 Diesel Head Gasket Failure at High Mileage $2,500–$5,500
Toyota Hilux Surf	1KZ-TE head gasket & head cracking (endemic) $3,500–$9,000 3VZ-E 3.0L V6 Head Gasket Failure and Cylinder Head Cracking $2,500–$5,500 5VZ-FE Rear Cylinder Head Gasket Coolant Seep $1,800–$3,500
Ford Focus	Internal coolant loss - head gasket erosion or cracked head (Focus ST 2.0 EcoBoost) $4,000–$12,000 Head gasket failure from wrong factory gasket - coolant loss and white smoke (Focus RS, 2.3 EcoBoost) $3,500–$8,000
Honda Accord	J30A V6 Head Gasket Failure (CF/CL) $1,500–$3,500 K24A i-VTEC Head Gasket Seep at Cyl 2-3 $1,400–$3,200
Land Rover Discovery	4.0 V8 head gasket failure and slipped cylinder liners after overheating $3,000–$9,000 4.0 V8 Head Gasket Failure – Both Banks $2,800–$6,500
Nissan Frontier	ZD30DDTi Head Bolt Stretch and Head Gasket Failure $3,000–$8,500 D40 YD25DDTi Head Gasket Failure Between Bores $2,800–$5,500
Subaru Outback	EJ25 Head Gasket External Coolant Seepage $1,600–$3,800 FB25 Head Gasket External Oil Seep $1,200–$2,800
Toyota Alphard	2AZ-FE Head Gasket / Water Jacket Spacer Failure $1,800–$4,500 1MZ-FE Head Gasket Failure and External Coolant Seep $2,200–$3,800
Toyota Estima	2TZ-FE Head Gasket Failure (Mid-Mounted Engine) $3,150–$6,300 2AZ-FE Head Gasket Inter-Cylinder Seepage (Cyl 2-3) $1,600–$3,800
Toyota Land Cruiser 100	Head Gasket Failure Due to Head Bolt Torque Loss (1HD-FTE 4.2L) $3,500–$7,500 Head Gasket Failure Under Towing Load (1HD-T 4.2L Turbo Diesel) $2,800–$6,500
Toyota LC80	1HZ Diesel Head Gasket Failure $2,500–$5,000 1FZ-FE Head Gasket Failure at High Mileage $2,200–$4,800
Toyota Prius	Head gasket failure driven by EGR system carbon clogging (1.8 2ZR-FXE) $2,500–$5,500 Head Gasket Failure — 1NZ-FXE $1,500–$3,200
Toyota Supra	2JZ-GTE Head Gasket Coolant Weep on High-Mileage Boosted Units $3,200–$7,500 2JZ-GE naturally-aspirated head gasket failure from overheating $2,500–$5,500
Alfa Romeo 147	Twin Spark Head Gasket Failure Cylinders 2-3 and 3-4 $2,000–$4,500
Chrysler PT Cruiser	2.4 head gasket failure $1,200–$2,800
Daihatsu Boon	EJ-DE Head Gasket Failure Following Overheating $800–$2,200
Daihatsu Move	EF-DE Head Gasket Inter-Cylinder Failure $800–$1,800
Daihatsu Sirion	EJ-DE Head Gasket Failure Following Overheating $800–$2,200
Daihatsu Storia	EJ-DE Head Gasket Failure Following Overheating $800–$2,200
Ford Courier	2.6 petrol overheating and head gasket failure at high kilometres $1,500–$3,500
Ford Escape	2.0 EcoBoost coolant intrusion into cylinders — head gasket and engine failure $6,000–$14,000
Ford Falcon	Barra 4.0T Head Gasket Failure $2,450–$4,900
Ford Mustang	Head gasket failure and coolant loss (3.8 Essex V6, 1994-1998) $2,500–$5,500
Ford Territory	Barra 4.0T Head Gasket Failure (Territory Turbo AWD) $2,660–$5,320
Ford XR6	Barra 4.0T Head Gasket Failure $2,450–$4,900

Show 47 more models

Model	Documented fault and its repair range
Holden Rodeo	Overheating under load leading to blown head gasket or cracked head or block (2.8 4JB1-T, TF) $1,800–$7,000
Holden Vectra	2.2 head gasket failure $1,000–$3,000
Honda Civic	D13 / D15 / D16 Head Gasket Failure and Coolant Loss $1,200–$2,600
Honda Stream	Head gasket failure and overheating (1.7 D17) $1,800–$3,500
Hyundai Elantra	Head gasket failure on late XD cars — coolant loss with nothing on the ground $1,200–$3,000
Hyundai Terracan	2.9 CRDi (J3) head gasket failure — coolant vanishing with nothing on the ground $1,800–$5,500
Jeep Wrangler	3.6 Pentastar Head Gasket Failure & Coolant Erosion $2,800–$5,500
Kia Carnival	Rocker cover gasket oil leaks onto coil packs, and head gasket history (3.5/3.8 V6) $400–$3,500
Land Rover Defender	300Tdi Head Gasket Failure and Oil/Coolant Cross-Contamination $1,800–$4,500
Land Rover Discovery 2/3/4/5	4.0 V8 Head Gasket Failure – Both Banks $2,800–$6,500
Land Rover Freelander	K-series head gasket failure (1.8 petrol, Freelander 1) $1,500–$4,000
Mazda Bongo	WL-T overheating leading to head gasket failure and a cracked head $2,500–$6,500
Mazda BT-50	WLAT 2.5 Diesel Head Gasket Failure $1,800–$3,500
MG MG3	1.5 petrol oil leaks, head gasket failures and cooling system faults $400–$3,500
Mitsubishi Challenger	Coolant loss, overheating and head gasket blow-by, service campaign 020116 (2.5 4D56 diesel, built before March 2014) $2,200–$8,000
Mitsubishi Delica	4M40 head gasket failure at high mileage $1,800–$4,000
Mitsubishi Delica D:5	4M40 head gasket failure at high mileage $1,800–$4,000
Mitsubishi Evo X	4B11T Head Gasket Failure Under Boost $1,500–$5,000
Mitsubishi Galant	6A12 V6 Head Gasket Weep Between Cylinders 4-5 $1,400–$2,800
Mitsubishi Pajero	4D56 2.5L Diesel Head Gasket Failure and Head Bolt Stretch $1,800–$4,500
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport	Coolant loss, overheating and head gasket blow-by, service campaign 020116 (2.5 4D56 diesel, built before March 2014) $2,200–$8,000
Mitsubishi Triton	4D56 Cylinder Head Gasket Failure $2,660–$5,320
Nissan Bluebird	CA18DE Head Gasket Failure $1,120–$2,240
Nissan Cube	CGA3DE / CR14DE Head Gasket Failure $770–$1,540
Nissan Pathfinder	YD25DDTi Head Gasket Failure $2,800–$5,500
Nissan Presage	KA24DE 2.4L Head Gasket Failure (U30 Presage) $1,200–$2,800
Nissan Pulsar	GA16DE Head Gasket Failure $980–$1,960
Nissan Sentra	GA16DE Head Gasket Failure $980–$1,960
Nissan Vanette	LD20 head gasket failure and a warped head — overheating that costs the engine $1,500–$4,500
Renault Megane	F4Rt 2.0T Cylinder Head Gasket Failure (RS/Sport Variants) $2,200–$4,500
SsangYong Musso	OM602 Cylinder Head Gasket Failure $1,800–$5,500
Subaru Liberty	EJ251/EJ254 2.5 external head gasket coolant leak (BE/BH) $2,200–$4,500
Subaru Tribeca	EZ30 head gasket seepage $1,500–$5,000
Subaru XV	FB20 head gasket external oil seep at cylinder deck $1,300–$2,600
Suzuki Jimny	K6A Cylinder Head Gasket Failure from Overheating $900–$2,200
Toyota Alphard twin	2AZ-FE Head Gasket / Water Jacket Spacer Failure $1,800–$4,500
Toyota Auris	2ZR-FXE EGR/intake clogging, oil consumption and head gasket failure (Auris hybrid = Prius Gen 3 drivetrain) $400–$5,500
Toyota Caldina	3S-GTE Turbocharged Engine Head Gasket Failure (T190 GT-T) $1,500–$3,500
Toyota Celica	Head gasket failure — ST205 GT-Four (3S-GTE turbo) $2,000–$5,000
Toyota Cresta	1G-FE Head Gasket Seepage at High Mileage $1,600–$3,800
Toyota Harrier	1MZ-FE Rear Cylinder Bank Head Gasket Seepage $1,800–$3,800
Toyota LC Prado	1KD-FTV Head Gasket Failure $2,800–$5,500
Toyota Mark II	JZX90 Head Gasket Seepage on High-Mileage Engines $1,300–$2,800
Toyota MR-S	1ZZ-FE head gasket failure — coolant loss & white smoke $2,600–$5,800
Toyota MR2	1ZZ-FE head gasket failure — coolant loss & white smoke $2,600–$5,800
Toyota Starlet	4E-FTE turbo cars: neglected cooling ends in a head gasket or a cooked turbo $1,800–$4,500
Toyota Vellfire	2AZ-FE Head Gasket / Water Jacket Spacer Failure $1,800–$4,500

About these figures

Each range is the one documented against that fault in the KickTyres catalogue, at independent workshop rates in New Zealand. Dealer labour, genuine parts and damage found along the way push a real bill higher; a reconditioned part or an early catch can bring it lower. Get a written quote for the car you are looking at, and use these figures to judge it.

Looking at a car with one of these?

Type the plate for the free basics and the faults that apply to that exact car, then price the risk into your offer.

Check a plate

Questions

How much does a head gasket repair cost in NZ?

It depends on the fault. Across the 141 documented head gasket faults on 87 models, half start at or below $2,000 and half top out at or below $4,500. The table gives each fault its own range, from the cheapest fix recorded to the worst case. These are approximate figures at NZ independent workshop rates; a dealer, genuine parts or damage found along the way cost more.

Are these quotes?

No. They are the documented repair ranges held against each fault in the KickTyres catalogue. Get a written quote from a workshop for the car in front of you, and use these figures to judge whether it is reasonable and to price the risk into your offer.