Updated June 2026

Chevy Traverse Timing Chain Replacement Cost: 2009-2017 by Year

The GM 3.6L V6 timing chain stretch issue affects hundreds of thousands of Traverse, Acadia, and Enclave owners. The full job runs $2,000 to $3,500 because both banks need new chains.

The short answer

A timing chain replacement on a 2009 to 2017 Chevy Traverse (3.6L V6) costs $2,000 to $3,500 at an independent shop and $3,000 to $4,500 at a dealership. The price is the same for the 2009, 2010, 2011, and later model years because the engine and the 10 to 14 hour labor job are identical. GM ran a special coverage adjustment (10 years or 120,000 miles) for the 2009 model year only, and even that has now expired. The 2010 and later Traverse were never included, so every affected Traverse is now an out-of-pocket repair.

Total Cost

$2,000 - $3,500

Independent shop

Labor Hours

10 - 14 hrs

Both banks

Parts Cost

$300 - $600

Full kit, both banks

Failure Mileage

80,000 - 120,000

With inadequate oil changes

The Problem: Chain Stretch on Both Banks

The GM 3.6L V6 is a DOHC (dual overhead cam) engine with four timing chains: two primary chains connecting the crankshaft to each bank's intake camshaft, and two secondary chains connecting each bank's intake cam to its exhaust cam. That is a lot of chain to stretch.

When the chains stretch, the camshaft timing drifts out of specification. The engine computer detects this through the cam and crank position sensors and sets P0016 (Bank 1) and P0017 (Bank 1 Sensor B) codes. You may also see P0008 and P0009 for Bank 2. Symptoms include rough idle, reduced power, and in some cases a check engine light that flashes during acceleration.

The root cause is almost always oil maintenance. GM originally recommended 7,500-mile oil change intervals via the oil life monitor, but the 3.6L engine needs changes at 5,000 miles or less with full synthetic oil. Vehicles that followed the oil life monitor recommendation and went 8,000 to 10,000 miles between changes are the ones with premature chain stretch.

Affected Vehicles

VehicleYears
Chevrolet Traverse2009 - 2017
GMC Acadia2007 - 2016
Buick Enclave2008 - 2017
Chevrolet Equinox2010 - 2017 (V6)
Cadillac SRX2010 - 2016
Cadillac CTS2008 - 2015 (V6)
Chevrolet Impala2014 - 2020 (V6)
Chevrolet Camaro2010 - 2015 (V6)

Cost by Traverse Model Year

The replacement cost does not change by model year, because every first-generation Traverse (2009 to 2017) uses the same 3.6L LLT V6 with the same four-chain layout and the same 10 to 14 hour teardown. The Traverse never switched to the later LFX variant. What changes by year is the likelihood that you will need the job and whether GM ever helped pay for it. The earlier, higher-mileage cars are the ones most associated with chain stretch, but only the 2009 model year was ever covered by GM's special coverage adjustment.

Model YearEngineStretch Risk
20093.6L LLT (DI)Highest
20103.6L LLT (DI)Highest
20113.6L LLT (DI)Highest
20123.6L LLT (DI)High
2013 - 20173.6L LLT (DI)Moderate

Across all years, budget $2,000 to $3,500 at an independent shop and $3,000 to $4,500 at a dealership.

GM Special Coverage (Now Expired)

GM acknowledged the 3.6L timing chain wear problem with a Special Coverage Adjustment (bulletin #11340, revised through 11340A/B/C). For the Traverse it covered the 2009 model year only (alongside the 2009 Buick Enclave, 2007 and 2009 GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, and 2007 to 2009 Cadillac CTS, SRX, and STS). It extended the timing chain repair to 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever came first, measured from the original in-service date and transferable regardless of ownership. Dealers replaced the chains, tensioners, and guides at no charge.

The 2010 and later Traverse model years were never included in this special coverage, and the 2009 coverage has itself expired: a 2009 placed in service that year reached its 10-year limit around 2019. So whichever year you own, assume you will pay out of pocket. It is still worth calling a GM dealer with your VIN to confirm there is no open recall or remaining goodwill before you book the repair.

Prevention: Oil Changes Are Everything

The single most important thing you can do for a GM 3.6L V6: Change the oil every 5,000 miles with full synthetic oil that meets GM's Dexos specification. Do not rely on the oil life monitor. The monitor was calibrated too aggressively for this engine.

Do

  • Change oil every 5,000 miles
  • Use full synthetic Dexos-rated oil
  • Use quality oil filter (ACDelco, Wix, Bosch)
  • Check oil level monthly

Do Not

  • Rely on oil life monitor past 5,000 miles
  • Use conventional oil
  • Extend changes to 7,500+ miles
  • Ignore oil consumption

Parts and Labor Breakdown

A complete GM 3.6L timing chain kit replaces all four chains, all four tensioners, and all chain guides on both banks. A Cloyes or Melling kit for the 3.6L runs $250 to $450. The OEM kit from AC Delco is $400 to $600.

Labor is 10 to 14 hours because the entire front of the engine must come apart. The intake manifold, valve covers, water pump, serpentine belt system, and timing cover all come off before you see the chains. At an independent shop rate of $80 to $130/hour, labor runs $800 to $1,820. At a dealership ($130 to $200/hour), labor is $1,300 to $2,800.

Bundle while they are in there: Water pump ($50 to $100), serpentine belt and tensioner ($40 to $80), thermostat ($15 to $30). These add minimal parts cost and zero extra labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a GM 3.6 timing chain replacement cost?
A GM 3.6L V6 timing chain replacement costs $2,000 to $3,500 at an independent shop and $3,000 to $4,500 at a dealership. The price is similar across every Lambda-platform vehicle that uses the engine (the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave) because they share the same four-chain LLT layout and the same 10 to 14 hour teardown to reach it. Parts for a complete kit (all four chains, tensioners, and guides on both banks) run $300 to $600. The job is labor-heavy because the intake manifold, valve covers, water pump, and timing cover all have to come off before the chains are accessible.
How much does a 2010 Chevy Traverse timing chain replacement cost?
A timing chain replacement on a 2009 to 2012 Chevy Traverse (3.6L LLT) costs $2,000 to $3,500 at an independent shop and $3,000 to $4,500 at a dealership. The cost is the same across these model years because the engine, the four-chain layout, and the 10 to 14 hour labor job are identical. GM's special coverage adjustment (10 years or 120,000 miles) only ever applied to the 2009 Traverse, not the 2010 and later model years, and even the 2009 coverage has now expired, so owners pay out of pocket.
Was the 2010 or 2011 Chevy Traverse timing chain covered by GM?
No. GM's Special Coverage Adjustment #11340 for 3.6L timing chain wear applied to the 2009 Traverse only, not the 2010, 2011, or any later model year. It gave the 2009 cars 10 years or 120,000 miles of coverage from the in-service date, and even that has now expired. If you own a 2010 or newer Traverse, you pay for the repair out of pocket, though it is still worth a VIN check with a GM dealer for any open recall or goodwill.
Why does the GM 3.6L V6 timing chain stretch?
The GM 3.6L V6 has four timing chains (two primary, two secondary) with plastic chain guides. When oil change intervals are extended beyond 5,000 miles or low-quality oil is used, the guides wear faster, allowing the chains to stretch. The problem is accelerated by GM's original recommendation of 7,500-mile oil change intervals, which proved too long for this engine. Chain stretch causes the P0016 and P0017 diagnostic codes, indicating camshaft-crankshaft timing correlation issues.
How much does Chevy Traverse timing chain replacement cost?
A full timing chain replacement on the Chevy Traverse 3.6L V6 costs $2,000 to $3,500 at an independent shop. The job takes 10 to 14 hours because both banks need new chains, tensioners, and guides. Parts run $300 to $600 for a complete kit. Dealership pricing is typically $3,000 to $4,500 due to higher labor rates and parts markup.
Can I prevent GM 3.6L timing chain failure?
The single most effective prevention is strict 5,000-mile oil change intervals using full synthetic oil that meets the Dexos specification. Do not follow the oil life monitor if it suggests longer intervals. Use quality oil filters that can handle the full interval. If you have purchased a used vehicle with unknown oil change history, consider having the oil analyzed to check for metal content that would indicate chain wear already in progress.

Cost Estimator

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P0016/P0017 Symptoms

What the codes mean

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Prevention through oil changes

Disclaimer: This site provides general cost estimates for educational purposes. Actual repair costs vary by location, vehicle condition, and shop. Always get multiple written quotes. Not affiliated with General Motors.

Updated 2026-04-27