Comments: 1-15, 16-18
Paintwork, door seals replaced, idle control valve replaced 5 times, throttle body replaced, head removed for decoke, steering column replaced, battery, remote key replaced, airconditioning broke down, hydraulic tappets failed twice, reverse lights failed, fractures in spotwelds.
Have spent over a year trying to get this car to perform as promised - it's still not right.
Three years on - it's still not right, problems with the steering continue and a few others to boot. Looking through the service history I reckon it's had nearly $15000 of warranty repairs.
It is unfortunate that a few cars that leave the factory are in such poor condition. I think for car manufacturers to allow cars to slip through quality control testing is unacceptable as they ultimately hold our lives in their hands.
I have exactly the same problems. I really think they need to do a recall. But they don't want to know!
I've had idle control valve replaced twice. Fuel inlet pipe and tank replaced as with steering column, indicator relays, door mould, steering coupling, and catalytic converter.
Cup holders that won't hold anything smaller than an espresso cup.
I seriously doubt Holden wants to admit it's got another P76 on it's hands.
p.s. What's with the year calender on the LED display. Doesn't Holden think I know what year I'm living in...
Nice car to drive. Quality a bit on the dodgy side though.
What do you expect when you get the two litre engine option, those engines were not made to pull such a big car, it's like putting a 2.5 litre V6 in a Commodore. If you wanted performance and quality, you should have got the 2.2 in a manual or a 2.5 litre V6 option. You see the problem is with the smaller engine, when it labours it rattles and shakes, and things wear quicker.
I currently lease a Vectra and am extremely disappointed in its quality. Once again (for the sixth time) I will have to return to the dealership to have idling problems resolved.
I am only glad I don't own it and can hand it back at the end of the lease...
I also currently lease a 2001 Holden (German made Opel) 2.6 litre V6 which is new for this year. I beleive Holden were aware of the Australian made Vectra and now they take Opel Vectras, Astras, and Corsas (Barinas) and badge them Holden, this I believe will give them a better reputation. Also the NEW CD VECTRA HATCH has an Opel 2.6L engine replacing the 2.5L Aussie made one, giving it nearly 170HP.
The only problems are that it has needed a new water pump, and rocker gasket at 15000km, and being a European car it has weaker air conditioning. Not a bad car for $46000NZ.
All you need to do is take a look at one of the United Kingdom's credible motoring magazines-Top Gear-any issue containing the J.D.Power quality surveys-issues 5/1999, 5/2000 & 5/2001...the rank of this model in the whole lineup says it all... You have been warned...
OK, want to know what Holden won't tell you about your idling problems? It's so stupid you wouldn't believe. Being an ex Holden mechanic and having to constantly replace Idle Air Control motors should give me some knowledge on the problem. The idle control motor or IACV as it's known to Holden (idle air control valve) controls the idle speed by allowing air into the engine. To do this it has a sleeve with holes cut into it, which slides in a tube. These holes align with other holes and when the slide moves it varies the air going into the engine. The problem is these slides get carbon in them and jam up and cannot be cleaned out. They then have to be replaced and the ECU reprogrammed. The problem is that the engines are only available in Australia and I guess NZ, but the engine management is done by Europeans. The Europeans don't want to spend possibly millions of dollars redeveloping their programming for an engine they don't even use. So basically you have to like it or lump it.
It's good to see that Holden's resolute commitment to the customer is still being upheld i.e. How do we blame the driver/owner for our fatal mistakes? I know that this is the case, as I have an acquaintance that used to work as a service advisor at a Holden dealership, & every time that he had to phone through a description of a design & manufacturing defect, the response that he received from the warranty department was, "Can we cast the blame onto the driver again?"
Good on you Holden. Keep up the good work, I hope that your negligent & conniving butt gets sued for every cent you've got!
Holden:heap of low down enginnering nonsense. the day everyone wakes up and starts buying good japanese products is when elizabeth shall have to start doing the same for its product. i won't be caught dead buying holdens ever even if they are from belgium or spain, they are nonsense, do the right thing and buy a toyota, honda or mazda instead. they are so much better, its not funny.
Holden vectra what a car, first the timing belt snap before the changing date, head had to be replace, air condition broke down, door lock failed, oil leaks, what next?
Chris.
I have a 1997 Vectra and I have the same problem with the ICV. Although does anyone else have a problem where the car will jerk and the engine warning light comes on afterwards? I have been to the mechanic and they can't work out what the problem is. Any help would be appreciated.
"does anyone else have a problem where the car will jerk and the engine warning light comes on afterwards?"
This most likely the crank angle sensor... a known problem (design fault) that has afflicted many Vectra's...