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Problems with the timing belt: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 29 faults with the timing belt in 29 engines, affecting 213 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: oil-bath timing belt degradation (1.2 PureTech), degradation of the timing belt running in oil (1.0 EcoBoost) and degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue) (1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €400 to €1,500 depending on the engine or car.[1][2][3][4][5]

Documented faults
29
26 of high or critical severity
Engines
29
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
213
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€400–€1,500
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

10 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Timing belt

The timing belt synchronises the crankshaft with the camshafts so that the valves open and close at exactly the right moment. It can be dry (outside the engine) or run in oil, a design intended to reduce friction and noise that requires the exact oil the manufacturer specifies. If it snaps or skips a tooth, on most engines the pistons hit the valves and the repair is very expensive.

What to do

Respect the replacement interval in both kilometres and years, whichever comes first, and replace the tensioners, rollers and, if the belt drives it, the water pump at the same time. On belts that run in oil, use only the approved oil and watch for rubber debris in the filter or the sump. When buying a used car, ask for the invoice for the last belt change.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the timing belt. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the timing belt by engine

From most to least important (severity × frequency). Each page details the affected versions and years, symptoms, cost and how to check for it.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 PureTechOil-bath timing belt degradationThe oil-bath belt on the 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) can swell and shed debris that blocks the oil pump pick-up; without lubrication, the engine can be destroyed. Stellantis covers it up to 10 years or 180,000 km and asks for it to be changed every 100,000 km or 6 years.Repair (garage): €400–€800
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 EcoBoostDegradation of the timing belt running in oilYes: the 1.0 EcoBoost's timing belt runs in oil and can degrade over the years, shedding bits of rubber that block the oil pump and seize the engine without warning. The NHTSA is investigating the case in the United States and Ford has shortened the recommended replacement interval.Repair (garage): €800–€1,200
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: Common1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlueDegradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)Yes: the 2.0 EcoBlue debuted a timing belt that runs bathed in oil on Ford's diesels. Over the years it can degrade and shed debris that affects the lubrication circuit, with a risk of seizure. A roundup by Autopista.es places it in the Focus, Kuga, Transit and Transit/Tourneo Custom.
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 / 1.5 VTEC TurboEngine failure caused by the wet timing beltYes: the 1.0 VTEC Turbo (P10A2) uses an oil-bath timing belt that degrades over time, blocks the lubrication circuit and can destroy the engine completely. Fiches-auto.fr documents several cases in the Honda Civic between 72,000 and 114,000 km.Appears at around 72,000 km
  5. 5Critical severityFrequency: CommonD4/D5Auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing belt with it (5-cylinder)Yes: on the 2.4/2.0 5-cylinder (D5244T/D5204, 2001-2016), several owners describe the auxiliary belt breaking and taking out or damaging the timing belt, with the engine destroyed. It happens in the S60 and XC60 between 74,000 and 119,000 km, and in one case not even the extended warranty covered it.
  6. 6High severityFrequency: Very frequent1.6 HDiTiming belt failure and premature wearOn the 8-valve 1.6 HDi/e-HDi 112/115 built between October 2010 and September 2011 the belt could break and leave the car stranded. PSA covered the repair and in 2014 preventively replaced the belt and crankshaft sprocket on those that had passed 120,000 km.
  7. 7Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.0 PureTechDegradation of the oil-bath timing beltThe 1.0 VTi/PureTech 68 uses the same oil-bath timing belt as the 1.2. Over time it can degrade and shed debris that blocks the oil pump strainer, with a risk of serious failure. It has not had a recall, but it falls under Stellantis's extended warranty.Repair (garage): €400–€800
  8. 8Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.5 dCiPremature timing belt failureOn the 85, 105 and 110 hp 1.5 dCi engines built up to late 2010, especially in the Mégane III and Scénic III, the timing belt could break early, sometimes before 50,000 km, and damage the engine. Renault opened a workshop action in 2013.
  9. 9Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet IIEarly tensioner wear and risk of timing belt failureYes: the tensioner can lose tension before the official 120,000 km interval, with a flapping noise that, if ignored, can end in the belt snapping and the valves hitting the pistons. Several garages recommend bringing the change forward to around 90,000 km in mixed use.Repair (garage): €420–€550Appears at around 90,000 km
  10. 10Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.8 TDCiBreakage of the timing belt or of the high-pressure pump's belt (running in oil)Yes: the 1.8 TDCi combines a dry belt for the camshafts with a second belt, running in oil, that drives only the Delphi high-pressure pump. If the tensioner fails or replacement is neglected, the engine can cut out suddenly or suffer serious internal damage.Appears at around 110,000 km
  11. 11Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalD5 5 cilindrosAuxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing with itOn Volvo's five-cylinder D5, several XC60 and S60 owners report that the auxiliary belt snapped between 74,000 and 119,000 km and damaged the timing, leaving the engine immobilised.
  12. 12High severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 TDITiming belt and water pumpThe 1.6 TDI drives its timing with a toothed belt. It is common for the water pump to be changed together with the kit: if the pump seizes first, it can drag the belt with it, with a risk of breakage and serious cylinder head damage.Repair (garage): €400–€1,500
  13. 13High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 HDiTiming belt and water pumpThe 1.4 HDi uses a timing belt (with an additional short chain on the 16-valve version), and Fiches-Auto documents some of its failures, along with the water pump, at around 100,000 km. We have not found the manufacturer's official change interval in a reliable source.
  14. 14High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 and 1.6 8vTiming belt breakage or failureThe K7J/K7M timing belt is a dry type, but several sources document breakages or failures well before a very high mileage, including a case in the Renault Mégane I with contact between the broken belt and the valves. Sticking to the replacement interval is the best prevention.
  15. 15High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 and 1.6 16vTiming belt breakage or premature failureThe K4J/K4M's timing belt is a dry type (not running in oil), but several sources document breakages before high mileage is reached, including one case in the Renault Laguna II with valve-to-piston contact. Sticking to the replacement interval is the best prevention.Appears at around 89,000 km
  16. 16High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo 5 cilindros gasolinaFront camshaft seal leak wetting the timing beltWith the crankcase ventilation blocked, the pressure can force the front camshaft seal and the oil reaches the timing belt. It is a serious risk, because if the belt fails the valves bend, but the sources give no case figures.
  17. 17High severityFrequency: Occasional1.2 TDITiming belt, water pump and high-pressure pumpOn this engine, a single toothed belt drives the camshaft, the water pump and the common-rail high-pressure pump. If the water pump seizes, it can drag the belt with it and cause it to jump a tooth or break, with the risk of serious engine damage.Repair (garage): €400–€700
  18. 18High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 16v and 1.6 MPI/FSITiming belt and water pumpThe 1.4 16v and the 1.6 MPI (BSE/BSF) drive the valvetrain with a toothed timing belt, and in many of these engines the water pump is driven by that same belt. If the pump seizes, it can drag the belt until it jumps a tooth or snaps, with the risk of the valves hitting the pistons.Repair (garage): €400–€700
  19. 19High severityFrequency: Occasional1.4 TDITiming belt and water pumpThe 1.4 TDI drives its timing with a toothed belt; on the unit-injector generation, that belt and its camshaft also drive the unit injector pumps. It is advisable to change the water pump along with the kit: if it seizes first, it can drag the belt with it, risking breakage and serious damage.Repair (garage): €400–€700
  20. 20Critical severityFrequency: Rare1.2 and 1.4 TSICamshaft adjuster and belt failure (EA211, 2013-2015)On some 1.2 TSI EA211 engines built mainly in 2014, the camshaft adjuster bolts came loose, jammed the wheel and snapped the belt, causing serious engine failure. Volkswagen recalled units from late 2013 to 2015 (action 15H2).
  21. 21Critical severityFrequency: Rare2.2 TD4 / SD4Timing belt failure and water pump failureThe 2.2 is an interference engine: if the timing belt breaks, serious damage is likely. The water pump is driven by the belt, so they are replaced together. Totalrenting sets the change at 125,000 km or 10 years.
  22. 22Critical severityFrequency: Rare1.7 CDTITiming belt: risk of serious failure if not changed on timeThe 1.7 CDTI has a timing belt (not a chain), with a replacement interval of 150,000 km or 6 years according to the buying guide consulted. We have not found documented cases of breakage on this engine, but going beyond that interval exposes you to a serious failure if the belt does give way.
  23. 23Critical severityFrequency: Rare2.0 CDTITiming belt risk (unlike the other Opel diesels of the era)Unlike the 1.3 and 1.6 CDTI of the same period, which have a chain, the 2.0 CDTI (A20DTH/A20DTJ/B20DTH) uses a toothed timing belt. There is no published official interval or failure statistics, but if it is neglected it can end in engine failure like the one documented in an Insignia at 145,000 km.
  24. 24Critical severityFrequency: Rare2.0 16v F4R and F4RTTiming belt failure due to overdue maintenanceIf it is not changed on time, the timing belt on the F4R/F4RT can snap and wreck the engine. Evo and Octane recommend checking the documented belt change before buying a Mégane RS.
  25. 25High severityFrequency: Rare1.5 BlueHDiWater pump sprocket slipping and belt misalignment (2026 recall)In 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between October 2025 and February 2026, the water pump sprocket can slip and misalign the timing belt, causing a loss of power or the engine stopping. Stellantis replaces the water pump kit free of charge in about 2.5 hours.Repair: €0
  26. 26High severityFrequency: Rare2.0 CRDi (D4EA)Timing belt: 120,000 km interval and a case of early breakageThe 2.0 CRDi D4EA uses a dry timing belt (not a chain or a wet belt) that the manufacturer says to change every 120,000 km; an owner of a Hyundai Santa Fe has documented its breakage after four years of use, before that interval was reached.
  27. 27Medium severityFrequency: Rare1.2 16vTiming belt: preventive maintenance and the odd failureThe 1.2 16v has a timing belt (not a chain), a wear part that has to be changed as preventive maintenance. Documented failure cases are a minority: under 4% of the owner reports analysed on the Clio II and Clio III.
  28. 28Low severityFrequency: Rare1.2 8v FireTiming belt: preventive replacement, no documented breakage patternThe 1.2 8v Fire has a timing belt, which must be replaced preventively according to the interval set by the manufacturer of the specific car. The reliability sources consulted document no case of premature breakage for this engine: it is scheduled maintenance, not a recurring fault.
  29. 29Low severityFrequency: Rare1.0 MPITiming belt with no fixed replacement intervalThe 1.0 MPI uses a dry timing belt which, according to the manufacturer, has no fixed replacement interval: it only calls for a visual inspection from 210,000-240,000 km. The sources we consulted document no failure pattern for this belt on any car with this engine.

Engines with faults with the timing belt

Problems with the timing belt by make

Problems with the timing belt in your car

80 cars have several documented faults with the timing belt. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Audi 2
Citroën 10
Dacia 3
DS 2
Ford 10
Opel 3
Peugeot 11
Renault 12
Seat 5
Škoda 5
Volkswagen 6
Volvo 11

How much it costs to repair a fault with the timing belt

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

OBD fault codes with the timing belt

The codes the ECU usually stores when this part fails: what they mean, causes and what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Which engines have the most faults with the timing belt?

By severity and frequency, the 1.2 PureTech (oil-bath timing belt degradation, critical severity), the 1.0 EcoBoost (degradation of the timing belt running in oil, critical severity), the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue (degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue), critical severity), the 1.0 / 1.5 VTEC Turbo (engine failure caused by the wet timing belt, critical severity), the D4/D5 (auxiliary belt breakage that takes the timing belt with it (5-cylinder), critical severity) and the 1.6 HDi (timing belt failure and premature wear, high severity). In total we have documented 29 engines with faults with the timing belt.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the timing belt?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €400 to €1,500; at a dealer, from €0 to €1,200, including VAT, based on the 9 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is timing belt and water pump (1.6 TDI).

What symptoms does a fault with the timing belt cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: engine stalls or cuts out while driving, metallic timing noise on start-up, gradual loss of power, coolant loss with no visible leak, oil pressure warning light on and engine fault warning light (check engine).

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.2 PureTech: precio y cambio de correa de distribuciónAutopista · Motoring press · published 2 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Stellantis reacciona a los motores PureTech defectuosos: amplía la garantía de manera retroactiva a 10 añosXataka · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. La correa bañada en aceite: cámbiala cada 60.000 km y evita una avería de 3.000 eurosMotor16 · Motoring press · published 27 August 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  4. Moteur PureTech. Stellantis généralise sa garantie de 10 ans ou 180 000 kmL'argus · Motoring press · published 26 May 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. Bomba de agua del coche: la avería de más de 1.500 euros que arrastra la correa de distribuciónMotor16 · Motoring press · published 21 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  6. Alerta Ford: la correa de distribución del 1.0 EcoBoost puede romper el motor y la NHTSA ya investigaMotor16 · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Motor ZMZ EB0 Citroën Peugeot C3 II 208 I 1.0 VTi 68 CV usado y reconstruidoFair Motors · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Fiat Tipo: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalrenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Llamada a revisión de Stellantis a estos coches diésel por avería graveAutofácil · Motoring press · published 9 April 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi : de la casse de chaîne au souci de courroieAutomag · Motoring press · published 9 April 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French