2005 Chevrolet Optra 5 from North America - Comments

My repairs journey started at km 500! The engine was shutting off by itself at any random moment. I went in for repair and they gave it back to me the same way, as they couldn't figure out the problem. The same day, the engine shut off again so I brought it back. After a bit of arguing, they did further research and they changed a part. It was fine for another 20,000 km. I don't remember all the mileage on the car when things happened, but here's the list of what has gone wrong on the car.

- Coolant turned into jello; lead to car overheating.

- Engine shut off by itself (serviced 3 times for the same problem).

- The rear wiper hose broke for no reason.

- Car is overheating again. The thermostat have been changed.

- Car is not warming. They put a cardboard shield over my rad and sent the car home. Brought it back again and then they changed the thermostat a second time.

-Coolant is leaking. Been told its normal. Brought it again at km 76000 as the coolant had leaked out of the engine. They changed a gasket of some sort.

- 2 front wiper arms are very stiff, which means they don't wipe the window (very useless when it rains!) the drivers side happened earlier and got changed under warranty. The passenger side hppened this week, and they told me it was fine and got lubricated. Still not working well.

- The gearbox (manual) now feels worse than my old car. It's weak and squeaks when I put in gear. The first gear has an hard time getting in at higher than 12 km/h. I have to force it in. (I can set my old BMW over 30 easily)

- One of the projector front lights died yesterday ($$$).

Overall I like my Optra 5. It's spacious, and runs well. I like the suspension, the road control, the steering, the radio system, the look and the comfort. The controls are easy to access. The dash is well made. It's roomy. I do doggy day care and I can easily fit 5 80 pound dogs in this car without problems. The car performance is nice for its size. I like the look of it. The headlights are strong and the fogs are pretty useful. Being 6' tall, I can sit in the back comfortably. The driver's seat has a nice back support, but I feel not as comfortable on the passenger side. The car has nice equipment, too. The upholstery is nice; soft and comfy, without being weak. Easy to clean up if you have kids or dogs. The carpeting is not so easy to clean, 'tho. I like the footrest in the car, too.

BUT that car is a wreck. I bring it into service for repairs every 4 months on average. No wonder it got discontinued! I think they hate me at the garage!

I used to own a '96 Toyota Tercel that I drove for 5 years, doing only basic maintenance on the car. I got it in 2000 at 111,000 km and sold it to my sister at almost 300,000 km. It is still on the road and running well. I loved the car, and although there were some weak points out of it, this car never failed to bring me anywhere, in any weather condition, and for as far as I wanted. It's a big deception to get a bigger new car that can't even reach the old Tercel work.

I'm not safe driving the Optra further than going to work and back home. I never go more than 2 hours drive with it, as I don't know what will happened next with it. I drive 80 km per day, and it left me in trouble a couple of times. I have a love/hate relationship with this car, as I like all of it except the mechanic, which is the weakest I have ever seen.

I purchased 2005 Chev Optra 5. This car is very reliable and has more top end than my 2006 cadillac sts. Yes that's right!

My optra is far from a piece of chunk. Did you ever wonder if you simply got a lemon? They come in different makes and models you know, including optra's.

All I can say is I wish I had never bought my Optra 5. Anyone is reading this site will know not to buy an Optra; just wait, the problems will start.

I have only 44000km on mine, and I have to replace the clutch slave cylinder and NOT ON warranty.

If it's a bad lemon, there are a lot of them out there - including mine. I have taken it in 3 times with transmission problems (in 6 months) and I have another appointment for more transmission issues this week. I also have a '05 - I bought it with 102,000kms and now have 123,000kms (mostly highway). Also, each headlight has burnt out twice in the last 6 months, along with the dome light.

It's bitter sweet, because I'm a small person so it fits me great - but with all of the problems, it's not worth it. Can't wait to get rid of it.

Some aspects of my Optra 5 really frustrate me, while others still make me feel like I made a good decision to lease one.

I had the rear wiper fluid hose break for no reason (possibly just a rubber used that wasn't rated for the -40 C temperatures we have in Winnipeg in the winter), but what really grinds my gears was having to have the transmission (automatic) overhauled at 20,000 km. About another 1000 km after that repair, the Transmission Control Module went (the computer that controls the transmission. Compared to the Cobalt that the dealership loaned me during the repair, I still like my Optra 5 a lot more.

Great on gas, good pick up and lots of cargo room (2 stage speakers, 3 guitars, stands for instruments and microphones, plus 2 suitcases).

Too bad there were so many problems right across the board with this car. I could have seen it really taking some of the market away from the Rice Rockets. Oh well, maybe next time GM should concentrate on how reliable their vehicles are before they decide to import them... if there is a next time for GM. I guess we'll see.

Chevrolet Optra 5

2004 - 2005

R.I.P.

Why are you trying to get the car in first gear when it's already moving at 12km/h? Once it's moving, put it into second. The only time I ever go into first gear is to start from a stop.

Sounds like to need to change your mechanic.

Coolant leak is normal?? Ahahahahahahahaha!!! xD

The car is a lemon. I have a 2007 and the speedometer is of by up to 20%, and they say it is within legal limits, but is not as they reported to the government, that it is a 7% to 9% difference. They tested my car side by side with another car, and I have the report from the dealer to prove it.

Now a light comes on a circle! And it goes off when you turn the car off, and I was told to come back when it says on all the time. Now I step on the gas and the car doesn't move, but the rpms go high, this happened to me 3 times today. The car jumps sometimes when you just touch the gas. I think it is the transmission going, as I heard after I leased this pile of junk that people have had problems with the transmission.

Off to the garage on Monday. Glad it is a lease and I can give them this pile of junk back Jan 2011

Optra update: the transmission is being replaced after 23000KM, and also the steering sensor as well.

These cars are garbage.

I own a Chevy Optra5 (Lacetti in Europe).

Had it for 2 years, 30.000 km.

Not a single problem.

I have owned a Chevy Optra LS 2005 for 2 years, and it was fine. Recently after 120000KM, the engine starts to shut off randomly even during driving at slow speeds. I change the fuel filter, and check the electric power at a workshop; it's good.

I want to receive any advice about shutting off the engine randomly.

Thanks for any help.

ajunaid_2@yahoo.com

I am from Malaysia. I bought my Optra5 almost 2 and a half years ago. Currently at a mileage of 27k. So far so good, it does not give me a single problem.