1997 Vauxhall Vectra LS from UK and Ireland - Comments

First there were noises and rattles, after numerous returns to the dealer I decided to live with them.

Then ignition faults, a new ignition system was fitted.

Shortly after the catalytic converter needed replacing.

Then the gearbox was unable to select gears, a new gearbox was fitted.

Reverse gear switch needed to be replaced.

Now the cam belt has gone at 71,000 miles, dread to think what the repair bill will be.

The car has always been fully serviced and repaired regardless of cost, but how much more can I take, I have probably spent half of the original cost of the car in repair bills!!

This car must have been jinxed as I have never experienced such faults on a three year old car before. Would like to purchase a new Zafira but will think long and hard beforehand.

I happen to be an expert engineer, I am afraid what you said about the Vectra 1996 LS car you had is just not true. It is a superb car, you ought to trace where and how its been used previously!

In fact the 4X4 is superb, especially in rear wheel drive mode.

You may be an expert engineer, but the vectra is still a pile of junk! Read all the other reviews, how can all these unsatisfied customers be wrong?! (look at all the blue faces!) Vauxhall are well behind Nissan, Toyota, VW, etc.

I wish I had connected to this site before I purchased my vectra 2.0 gls auto.

In 10.000 miles the alternator /air-con failed, Now the car is cutting out whilst driving with the effect that power steering is lost.

The car has only done 31.000 miles and the price you pay for parts is a joke.

I Feel like selling it and buying an old banger as there is just too many reasons not to trust this car to get you from A to B.

I originally went to buy a Ford Mondeo, but came back from the garage with a 1997 P Vectra LS. This was at the beginning of July. In the space of three weeks, I have had to spend near on £500. First the car kept cutting out. (£236 to put right), then it would rumble in 2nd/3rd gear with again the ecu light coming on again. This was due to crankshaft sensors going (£97), then my temperature gauge packed up. The garage did this free of charge dues to seeing me so many times in the short space of time.

Ah Crankshaft sensors, Both mine and Brother-in-laws failed within 3 months of each other. both are just over 3 years old. My revers switch has just gone.

1997 vectra 1.6 GLS, in first year the engine had to be reamed 3 times and gearbox replaced twice. Along with numerous other faults I would strongly advise people to avoid this car unless they have plenty of time to go back and forth to garage and bottomless wallets.

Our 1997 2.0 Vectra has caused us many of the aforementioned problems - had to replace gear box at beginning of year (after 45,000 miles!) and we are about to return to garage for the third time this year to rectify problem with engine cutting out - when power steering goes, car can become extremely dangerous to handle.

Why you lot don't pay the extra and buy a Vectra through Vauxhalls Network Q is beyond me. I had an R reg 1.6 16v Vectra Hatchback and had nothing but trouble with it.

The total cost of repairs in just seven months ownership, was 2000 pounds, but it didn't cost me a penny, because the warranty covered it. I now own a vectra Estate, which is very reliable and better to drive, and it's a Network Q job as well, HA, HA.

The biggest problem seems to be the contacts on the engine management wiring loom oxidizing with this model: if you have engine management problems buy some contact cleaner from a good electrical store and clean contacts before replacing components, particularly those to the main ECU.

If you need to buy components, then go to AutoVaux on the web: they do so many parts at half to one third of dealer part costs.

Otherwise a reliable car (no other problems after 85,000 miles) and very economical (41 mpg) on long runs at between 75 - 80 from a 2 litre petrol car!

Every fault on this web site, every one, has happened to my Vectra CDX R Reg, as well as rattly roof. This car is a nightmare, if not death trap. Need to be on £30,000 a year to own one of these babies, yet have lots of free time to pay visits to a local garage.

I have the 1997 Vectra Estate 2.5 V6, put it in for a service and got a bill for £510.00. The little engine light was eliminated on the dash. I wanted it fixed, turned out to be a petrol valve, cost? £250.00. Plenty of other little bits to with more to come latter. I wan a little annoyed, but as the car is so lovely to drive and the performance is so good, I decided it was worth it. I would recommend the Vauxhall Vectra 2.5 V6 Estate to anyone. Lovely car. If you own a car expect to pay out.

I have just bought a 97 P 1.8LS 16v for £2750 lovely looking car and nice to drive... looking at all these comments I am hoping I don't get all the probs I have got a years warranty with it so that should help. i have noticed that the cars have a lot of the same problems so have vauxhall rectified these on newer models as all the probs seem to be on mid to late 90's models.

Hi all, I bought a '97 P Vectra 1.6 Arctic for what seemed like a very reasonable £1700 with a years MOT. I had been told high mileage models were OK and as I had a 100,000 N-reg Astra before, wasn't put off by the 103,000 on the clock. However, I've had nothing but grief with it. After about a week the engine management light came on. Diagnosed as a duff ignition coil, I had it replaced at £180 but the light was back the next day. Since then, the engine has good days and bad days. On a good day nothing happens, on a bad day the car jerks so much at 2500-3500rpm doing 70-80mh that anyone asleep in the back after a long day is woken up thinking that there's been a crash! Today, it started making a high-pitched hissing coming from somewhere behind the manifold. If anyone's got any ideas they would be much appreciated, cheers, Neil.

Just found this site, jury out on whether made right move in buying 98 vectra 1.8LS 35k on clock. lots of power, car loves the open road, however in 2 weeks since buying car it has died 4 times at junctions and pulls to left constantly (was main dealer serviced 2k miles B4), been back into local supplying garage to clean out idle valve, then to top it all we have just been down to devon and car ran rough, sounded like a helicopter, so popped into local main dealer in Exeter to ask if they could look at it, however told too busy go away!.went to Newton Abbot main dealer who said come in next day and will look at it. 2 hours later car towed into said garage by RAC. diagnosis, broken waterpump belt / pump / cambelt tensioners / rollers (this dealership deserves praise as VERY helpful and got car back on road next day. Always ensure if cambelt changed (as was done so by garage I got car from) that tensioners etc are changed as well(these were not,garage picked up £320 bill) now waiting for garage to replace idle valve and see what effect this has as hoping this car will do as well as our old Nova that gave up at 177K.

Good site, info valuable as steering also has clunks on lock, but could be shims, and will indeed get tracking re checked as described on another customers comments.

Ref Vectra engine cutting out at junctions etc. I had similar problem with my 1997 2.0 litre CDX. I have cured this problem by unblocking the small vent tube orifice on the fuel carburetor. The small vent tube runs from the camshaft cover to the carburetor unit, clean out the pipe and also the small opening at the cam cover end and also the very small opening at the carburetor unit. Flush through complete run with dry cleaning fluid (aerosol). Also clean out larger vent pipes. Idle valve should have an "x" at the end of its part number, this one is OK, this valve and its housing should also be cleaned. This problem will reoccur so will need re-cleaning approx every 4-6 months.