timing chain replaced at 1500 mi

[agentsmith80]

I am wanting to buy an SRX. Tonight I looked at a 2004 that is fully loaded w/ every option including Northstar V8, in excellent condition, and a great deal because it has 87k already. I looked at the carfax and it was pretty clean, no accidents or anything, but something stood out... The timing chain was replaced when it only had 1500 miles on it! What would cause this? Should I run from this car? That was about 5 yrs ago and there was no other service listed.

[jsiddall]

Well... if the replacement timing chain has lasted 85,500 miles, it is probably OK!

Who knows what went wrong with the original, but things can break at any time. Probably nothing to worry about.

[Northern SRX]

That wouldn't stop me from buying a car. There was likely a part defect or something - in fact, a whole batch of chains for the '07 MY V6 SRXs had to be swapped under warranty because of defects. AFAIK, this problem was isolated to that MY and engine.

I drove an '04 SRX N* for 4 years and it went through a spate of problems (O2 sensors, pwr steering pump lines, torque convertor, rear wheel bearings, corroding roof rack, etc.) for about 18 months - all covered by warranty - and then solid as a rock for a couple of years. Toward the end of our lease, the load leveller was starting to go but that was about it.