This is probably more a question for Intel or on an Intel forum instead of here, but here's the relevant output from esxcli hardware pci list:
000:000:1f.2
Address: 000:000:1f.2
Segment: 0x0000
Bus: 0x00
Slot: 0x1f
Function: 0x02
VMkernel Name: vmhba0
Vendor Name: Intel Corporation
Device Name: Cougar Point 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Configured Owner: Unknown
Current Owner: VMkernel
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x1c02
SubVendor ID: 0x103c
SubDevice ID: 0x330d
Device Class: 0x0106
Device Class Name: SATA controller
Programming Interface: 0x01
Revision ID: 0x05
Interrupt Line: 0x0a
IRQ: 10
Interrupt Vector: 0x98
PCI Pin: 0x33
Spawned Bus: 0x00
Flags: 0x0201
Module ID: 65
Module Name: ahci
Chassis: 0
Physical Slot: 255
Slot Description:
Passthru Capable: false
Parent Device:
Dependent Device: PCI 0:0:31:2
Reset Method: Function reset
FPT Sharable: false
Apparently the B2 stepping model of this type of controller was the faulty version. According to Dell Intel, the B2 stepping model has a revision ID of 04h, with 05h being the B3 and therefore working model. What I can't figure out is whether Revision ID: 0x05 == 05h. Assume it probably is.
If it is, then I'm probably barking up the wrong tree in suspecting the AHCI controller of being the root cause.