2005 Vauxhall Corsa SRi review from UK and Ireland

Where do I start?

On the day of collection, a horrible resonance while braking in reverse. Booked into Vauxhall for a check, re-booked in for rear discs and pads, took the car back in for the repair, no parts had arrived, so they replaced the front discs and pads instead. Fault still apparent, took it back again, rear discs and pads were then fitted eventually.

After a short while, a knocking noise started, booked in, checked over, no fault was found even though noise was apparent. Re-booked in and took a technician out for a road test, he put it on his ramp and diagnosed a steering rack fault. Re-booked again, 2 days without car while rack was replaced.

Went on a long journey, the cruise control stopped working, booked in for check, cruise control switch replaced.

Steering goes stiff in one direction, another steering rack diagnosed, re-booked to have it changed, took the car back straight after collecting it as the steering wheel was not straight.

Cruise control failed again on a long journey, booked in, no fault found. Now this is what really made the whole Vauxhall experience get to me, I am a technician for Mercedes Benz, so I know what I am talking about, I knew there was a fault, so I diagnosed it myself, had a row with the Vauxhall dealer service manager and went down to the dealership, with the fault code that was stored in the ECU and gave it to them. Re-booked again, 2 days without car for diagnostic work, ECU was replaced, but wasn't advised that both keys needed to be coded to the ECU, so when we went to get in it later with the key that Vauxhall didn't have, we couldn't unlock or start the car, so we had to return to Vauxhall again with the main key to get it programmed to the car.

After the ECU fault, the O/S/F headlamp decided to adjust itself so it constantly pointed into space, and a horrible strained noise coming from the headlamp, a faulty adjuster motor was diagnosed and replaced.

Clutch pedal occasionally stiff to push down, this is an ongoing fault.

Wheel bearing noise, took 1 whole day to investigate, was told that it was a 3/4 worn tyre causing the noise, so we replaced the tyre, and the noise was the same, it was re-booked again, where they decided it wasn't the tyre, but the O/S/F wheel bearing that we told them it was in the first place. Bearing and hub flange replaced.

Another long journey, another cruise control fault, it stopped working again. 1 more day diagnosis, and 1 more ECU, but as they ordered it and kept the car over, they didn't have both keys, so it had to go back again to have the main key programmed. Also ABS recall carried out at the same time.

Steering heavy again, diagnosed as steering rack (no4 since the car was new!) and a electric power steering pump assembly, re-booked again for repair, and after collection has got to go back again to have steering wheel set straight.

We have complained time and time again about this vehicle, and I believe it is dangerous as the last steering problem almost caused an accident, and even after explaining this to Vauxhall the just dismiss it and say there is nothing they will do for us.

The car currently has a seat frame that is wearing through the leather seat base, a horrible rattle from the drivers door, erratic idle, sticking throttle, poor starting and a horrific suspension noise when going over bumps.

Since complaining about the car, Vauxhall are also refusing to do any more warranty work due to a technicality, funny how we had no problem getting warranty work carried out before we complained.

This car has had approx 25 main dealer visits in 20 months.

General comments...

Well its my other half's car, she hates it now, I never liked it.

Its uncomfortable, not particularly quick for what it is, unreliable and noisy at speed.

The whole experience of Vauxhall has been a severe let down, even to the point that they don't even seem to be concerned with their customers safety.