1995 Vauxhall Vectra LS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Clutch slave cylinder failed.

Clutch master cylinder failed.

Gear-box seals failed.

Hand brake cable faulty, subjected to a recall.

Electronic control unit failed.

Multi function display continues to fail.

Air bag sensor failed and unable to repair.

Rear driver's side door hinge broke.

Starter motor burnt out.

Vehicle continues to stall.

Battery failed.

This is the worst car either my wife or I have owned.

The dealer has tried to correct the numerous faults, (at our expense) but has continued to deny there is a fundamental problem with the vehicle. The main problems with the vehicle have centered on the electronics causing the vehicle to stall and stutter, this has also caused the dials and display to stop working even when the car is being driven.

At one point we were told there was nothing wrong with the car as the vehicles "brain " said that there was no fault recorded. Then the fault occurred when the dealer had driven the car and they then plugged it into the computer and again the computer told them nothing was wrong even with the warning lights in the vehicle on. They told us the electronic control unit needed replacing and that's £500, thank you. The problem still persists.

As for the handling, it is okay but the front end does not hold the road as well as my 10 year old Cavalier, never mind the Mondeos and Focus's I drive at work.

The car is nice looking and comfortable inside, but the catalogue of faults has left us with huge repair costs, and a bitter taste in our mouths.

Looks like the Vectra is a load of rubbish. It's a nice looking car, and I was going to buy one; but I saw sense and purchased a Nissan Primera instead! Vectras seem to be dreadfully unreliable, but I know people who have had no problems atall from their Vectras. It is pot luck if you buy one. Stick to Japanese or German - Better build quality, better dealerships, better reliability and no regular trips to the local garage.

I am now on my third company Vectra, a catalogue of problems has accompanied each one. I have also found that independent garages have given a more thorough and reliable service. A diesel Vectra was off road for 8 weeks after a dealer fitted the wrong cylinder head after a cam belt breakage!! an independant fixed it after 3 days and it is still in the fleet with 185,000 miles on the clock. Shop around and find a good independant dealer.

Just wanted to add a note to the comment from the 15th of may 2002: "just stick to Japanese or German", can I tell you that "Vauxhall" is in fact "Opel" which is a German brand...

My friend has a vectra 2 litre gls and so do i.

I have had a few thing go wrong like cambelt sensor went and radiator, display inside (time date thing) and still have a problem with the brake when the pedel goes down, but brakes work and just past another m.o.t.and vauxall said its all OK, its had 2 new master cylinders etc. its only done 620000 and 2 owners 1995.ex vauxall demo.

My friend has had his alternator go and that made all the clocks not work and weird things on the electrics, but all OK now, new alternator sorted it out.

Opel are German, yes. But the Vectra was built in Luton using mainly locally sourced parts. You can't call a Vectra a German car. A German car is from a German company built in Germany. Vauxhall/Holden/Opel are GM, who are American. (No the Vectra is not American!) I have a Meriva. This was desiged by Opel, but built in Spain...

I bought a 97 vectra 1.8ls 16 valve in december 05, the worst car I have ever bought in my life! 500 miles of trouble free motoring, and then the list began- new airflow sensor, new head gasket (head skimmed), new cam snsor, new idol valve, new water pump (which took out cam belt and all 16 valves). OH THE JOYS OF VECTRAING!!!. looks nice, but costs a small fortune, next time its got to be a japanese, and with luck some trouble free motoring.

I bought my 1996 Opel Vectra CD 16V (Metallic Green) about a month ago in very nice condition all round with MP3 player and alloy wheels, and so far no trouble. After reading all the reviews on here about this car, I am a bit worried to say the least that it might cost me a bomb later on!

I can say that some of the pixels on the on-board computer are missing and hard to read. I get a DISK PAD replace reading, but I think it's a faulty sensor or the sensor was not replaced after new pads were fitted by the previous owner. Anyway it passed the Finnish MOT so it must be the sensor.

The only other small fault I can find is the two front door courtesy lights that should come on when you open the doors, don't, but the back doors lights come on OK! This car has done over 300.000km so I got it cheap at €2000 (£1.500) I was told that for a 2.0i engine it can take high mileage OK and more!

Cheers, Peter.

The dials going all funky then dying are caused by an over-charging alternator. £35 from a breakers and an hour under the bonnet.

But yes, I agree that my Vectra was a heap and swiftly moved on.