Oil is seeping from the front of the engine, or the shop says your timing cover is leaking. The gasket itself is cheap, but the labor is not, so here is what the job really costs and how to stop it leaking again.
So how much does it cost to replace a timing cover gasket? Owners told NHTSA, the US road safety agency, they paid or were quoted $940 to $2,468.51 in complaints filed since 2023, most of them at dealers.
With Chrysler’s own parts and job time for its 3.6 liter V6, the job comes to $1,025.42, and $778.80 of that is labor.
In this guide I will show you what owners paid, what Chrysler’s parts and time come to, what to fix at the same time so the new seal lasts, and when the carmaker may pay part of the bill.
What Owners Paid
Here is what owners told NHTSA they paid or were quoted, with a link to each complaint:
- A new crankcase breather, purge valve and upper timing cover gaskets on a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan cost $940 at a VW dealer, $333.67 in parts and $606.33 in labor, filed in March 2025.
- A VW dealer quoted $1,600 to fix a 2021 Tiguan whose failed oil separator damaged the upper timing cover and the oil pan, and VW paid half, filed in June 2025.
- A Kia dealer’s estimate for a 2019 Optima listed a $1,819.12 timing cover oil seal repair, filed in September 2026.
- A timing cover gasket replacement on a 2017 GMC Acadia at 68,567 miles was put at about $1,847, filed in February 2023.
- A 2021 Tiguan owner got a bill of $2,000 or more because the PCV was faulty and the timing cover had failed, filed in July 2025.
- A Subaru dealer resealed the leaking front timing cover of a 2014 Forester for $2,468.51, filed in September 2024.
So owners paid or were quoted $940 to $2,468.51. The parts on these bills are a small share, and the hours to reach the cover make up the rest.
What Chrysler’s Parts and Time Come To
Chrysler found that some 2017 Jeep Wrangler and 2018 Dodge Challenger, Charger and Chrysler 300 models with the 3.6 liter V6 could weep oil from the right front engine cover.
It pays its dealers 5.9 hours to inspect and replace that cover gasket, and its parts list shows how much comes apart: both valve cover gaskets, six intake gaskets, the thermostat seal, the oil and the coolant.
With every part on Chrysler’s list from a dealer parts website, checked October 13, 2026, and $132 an hour, Tekmetric’s US average from June 2026:
So the job comes to $1,025.42 on these V6 models, $246.62 in parts and $778.80 in labor. Chrysler pays 0.9 hour just to check the cover with leak dye first.
Fix the Cause So It Does Not Leak Again
A faulty PCV or breather system lets crankcase pressure build up and forces oil past seals that were fine, Luxury Auto Works, a repair shop in Austin, explains.
That is what the Tiguan bills above show. The $940 repair replaced the crankcase breather and the purge valve along with the timing cover gaskets. If your shop finds a bad breather, replace it at the same time as the cover gasket.
Some timing covers have no paper gasket at all. Subaru seals its chain covers with liquid gasket, and its 2024 bulletin tells technicians how to find the exact leak and reseal the cover’s mating surfaces.
If your engine also needs a timing chain, do both in one visit. The Austin shop typically replaces the timing cover gasket along with a timing chain, so you pay for opening the front of the engine only once.
Ask the Carmaker for Help
Carmakers sometimes pay when a cover fails early. GM covered 100% of a timing cover replacement on a 2020 GMC Acadia found during a transmission repair, filed in November 2025.
VW paid half of the $1,600 Tiguan repair above because the warranty had ended only 17 days earlier. If your car is just out of warranty, ask the dealer to request help from the carmaker before you pay.
Signs of a Leaking Timing Cover
Look for fresh oil spots where you park and an oily film on the front of the engine, around the timing cover. Oil can also soak the ignition coils or spark plugs and cause a rough idle or misfires.
A big leak drains the engine. One Tiguan owner found the oil low without any warning light, and driving low on oil can ruin an engine in minutes, the Austin shop warns. Check the dipstick until the leak is fixed.
Oil also runs along covers, so the stain can sit far from the real leak. Ask for a dye test like Chrysler’s before anyone opens the timing cover.
Timing Cover Gasket Questions You Might Have
How much does it cost to replace a timing cover gasket?
Owners paid or were quoted $940 to $2,468.51 in complaints filed since 2023. With Chrysler’s own parts and 5.9 hours for its 3.6 V6, the job comes to $1,025.42.
Why is a timing cover gasket so expensive to replace?
The gasket costs little, but much of the front of the engine comes apart to reach it. Chrysler’s parts list includes the valve cover gaskets, six intake gaskets, the thermostat seal, oil and coolant.
How long does it take to replace a timing cover gasket?
Chrysler pays its dealers 5.9 hours on the 3.6 V6 in some Wrangler, Challenger, Charger and 300 models, and 0.9 hour just to check the leak with dye.
Can I drive with a leaking timing cover?
Check the oil often and have the leak traced soon. Catching a seep before it becomes a drip saves money, an Austin shop says, and driving low on oil can ruin an engine.
Should I replace the PCV valve at the same time?
If it is faulty, yes. Crankcase pressure from a bad PCV or breather forces oil past seals, and the Tiguan repairs above replaced the breather with the timing cover gaskets.
Where These Prices Come From
- Chrysler bulletin 09-006-17 (October 2017) and Subaru bulletin 02-192-24R (April 2025), on NHTSA’s website.
- Part prices, checked October 13, 2026: MoparPartsGiant 68228480AA, 5184596AE, 5184595AE, 5184562AC, 5184894AA, 68082860AB, 68518202AB, 68163848AC, 5010042AD and 6510755AA.
- Luxury Auto Works, Oil Leak Repair (February 23, 2026) and Timing Chain Replacement (September 10, 2026), Austin, Texas.
- Tekmetric, Average Auto Repair Labor Rates by State, June 30, 2026, and the owner complaints to NHTSA linked above, read October 13, 2026.
I hope this helps you fix the leak once, at a fair price, and keep your engine full of oil. If you have any questions, you can email me at costcheckr@gmail.com.
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