Comments: 1-15, 16
Battery failed after two weeks.
Throttle position valve misfunction, as the result, car sometimes jerks when shift from R to D.
Interior color is light, easy to get dirty.
Annoying tickling noise coming from inside the door panel of driver side.
Most probably due to some loose nuts or bolts.
Bad after sales service, they don't know much of the car. Also car manual not updated, some of the things mentioned different from actual.
Nice to drive and comfort.
Superior handling capabilities.
Good over-taking speed, excellent pick-up.
I bought a chevrolet optra 1.6 last Feb-2004. Within 4 months, fornt brake disc were badly worn. After complaining to dealer, The franchise holder did not replaced, but scheme the disc's.It was OK only for 2 months where the problem got worse. Then they agree to replace the whole disc brake, but after 1 month from the date of complain they only acted on it, that also due to pressure from me. In between, other problem arise, undercarriage was noisy, first they suspected absorber. They only change the abosrber after 1 month of complaining. The noise got even worse. Now, they say it is all the front bushing and it is not covered by warranty. FINAL CONCLUSION-PLEASE DON'T BUY ANY CHEVORLET CAR. IT PRODUCT AND SERVICES ARE LOUSY. I AM ALMOST BEGGING TO GET THINGS DONE. CALLS AFTER CALLS ARE ALMOST IGNORED AND THE FRANCHISE HOLDER IN MALYSIA ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING.
I'm sorry of what you had to go through. But I won't agree with that the car is lousy. Mine is fine and so so many others. You just had some small minor problems and the root cause of your main problem is bad after sales service. I do hope somebody could notify HICOM about this.
Maybe it's just bad luck that you got a car that has a lot of defect and plus the fact that the service personnel lacks the experience in dealing with the problems of your car. I also had a similar problem with my car and after just a few months I felt there was a problem. There's an engine knock noise you can hear if the car is going up an inclined plane, it's a sound similar if your car is over heating already or the timing is not properly tuned in or should I say "advance". It also has a unstable idling, engine shakes at times and sometimes the idle is too high (more than 1000 rpm) that makes it consume more gas. I've tried to bring the car to the dealer, but they can't seem to find the problem... poor me!!!
Hi,
Saw all the comments about the car.
1) The engine noise is due to a technical terms called 'Advance Pulley Setting'.You may retard the setting, but the performance will be less effective.Anyhow, this Holden engine is tough and rough. Use X1-R will lessen the engine noise (Change it every 15000km).It even crank 1 time only to start the engine.
2) Engine Knocking is due to poor petrol quality. Beware of certain Petrol station mix 'something' in the petrol. To overcome this either use RON98 onwards or a bottle of octane booster.
I owned Optra1.8LT and satisfied with the quality. However I hope HICOM will take into consideration when promoting Optra. The term 'Quiet' for Optra car not suitable enough since is has tyre noise and wind noise at drivers door. Tyre may not come under warranty, but HICOM must seek 'silence tyre'.This matter may be small problem, but it affect other consumers towards the 'quiet' product. I may solved this minor problem by changing to Michelin tyre and re-glued the door trim, but not many customer has the knowledges.
I don't know about you people, but I love my car. I got it a year ago July and its going strong. I just wished it had an overdrive for better fuel economy on the highway.
Hi, I'm from Singapore. Just got my Optra on 1 Aug 2006. GM really needs to look deeply into the quality on some of its parts and also the overall built quality. In the 1st month, I travelled about 3000km.
1st problem: Loud squeaking noise from the lower arm bushing (warranty part). 1st treatment - oiling, 2nd treatment - claimed to change bushing. Now, sound is back again.
2nd problem: Fuel gauge goes up and down itself. 1st treatment - Change resistor to the fuel gauge. 2nd treatment - Change entire front dashboard. Now, same problem.
3rd problem: Odometer and trip meter backlit keeps blinking. Treatment - Change dashboard together with the fuel gauge problem. Now, problem solved.
4th problem: Steering column assembly has loud knocking sound when turning or when engaging auto gear. Treatment - Still waiting for parts before I get replacement (warranty). I have been waiting for the last 1 month+ and I travelled 3500km already.
All this time, when talking to Alpine Service consultants, I was told so many things and assuring me that everything was fine. My faulty steering column is getting louder by the day and is it really still safe? Would greatly appreciate them not assuming we know nothing about cars.
I knew what the problems were and the solutions before they even told me.
Anyways, still waiting for other things to pop up. Is this the excitement we get when we purchase a GM car?
My next car, which I am already planning for, would be hopefully better. Could be another Chevy, but you guys need to really buck up.
So GMODC, are we really picky customers or is there really a problem with the cars you produce that is diluting the brand name and brand positioning of GM in Asia.
You guys should set up a sub-committee and really look into this if you haven't done so yet. I would be worried if I need to ensure sales for the coming years and have bad press at the same time.
One complain is one too many in my view, especially when trying to get a foothold in the Asian market.
Good luck guys at GMODC, remember, the harder you work, the luckier you get.
I am facing the problem in the absorbers (weird noise), tyre noise, wind noise, under power, What to do? Friends, face the truth, ask yourself why you want to buy Optra instead of Altis. It is because it is RM 20k cheaper than Altis. Right? So, pay cheap thing, use cheap thing. It is Fair...
It is Korean car, GM just want to grab some market in Asia, then just simply buy Daewoo and put GM on it. That's all, do not expect too much.
Anyway, I feel hopeless with Optra...
Is that a new car or a second hand car?.A good second hand car normally have service history. An appointed dealer will send the report to GM or appointed GM distributor which has technical support staff.
A new car only has minor problem. When I bought a new car, I immediately change to a good tyre and silent as well. Wind noise is another minor problem, but I re-glued the panel and now it is OK.
It is cheaper than Altis. I bought because of traction control which altis don't have. Only Camry 2.4 have. Also due to well known Holden tough engine. I am still driving 1.8LT and so far no major problem. Consistent servicing.Using GM Automatic Gear Oil imported from Germany.1 litre RM95.00.
It has been 2 1/2 years and my absorber still OK.
Current mileage is 61000km.The only thing I sent back for repair is due to engine light illuminates. The workshop check wiring harness and clean up the connector at a reasonable labour charges only. It happens due to climate factor.Now back to normal.
I bought my Chevrolet Optra 1.6 in September 2006. Since then I have experienced the following problems:
1) I have hear a squeaking noise coming from the area near the front right tire.
2) Car has slowly loose power while driving causing the vehicle to shut down. Engine light (Malfunction Indicator light) comes on and stays on. Light then comes off on it's own. I was told this was due to a loose clip within the engine.
3) Gear cannot change when car is left in park position for more than 10 minutes. Gear changes when car is turned off and restarted. However the engine light comes on and stays on. Then it comes off on its own. I was told that the electrical wire were not grounded.
I am currently waiting to see what will happen next.
Some jokers said, lately Chevrolet Optra is offering 1.8L at RM63K only, this is a limited offer while stock last. I believe they are clearing their old stocks (due to design flaws) and moving on to a new model. Whatever it is, it is selling like hotcake now due to this offer period. To me, car investment is a long term deal, it is not like buying a shirt or pants, you can just dump it away and get a new one.
Hi every one.I'm using optra 1.8 since 2004 and since than I never got problem I did travel a lot with it I'm already 50 000 km, but last year I got problem with batterie I change it 3 times with in 3 months than after that I got problem with the break. and noise from inside the door. and now I have problem with gear box and the engine.and when I sent it to the service they said there is no problem.what can I do?help.
Hi, I got a Chevrolet Optra 1.6 LS AT gas. and cosuming about 23 liter per 100 km... Living in the Philippines, Chevrolet ignore how to fix the problem... Can someone help??
Agree with that, I also live in the Philippines and drive a 1.6 LS AT Chevrolet Optra, which I got brand new. I think all american cars, especially the 2004 Optra 1.6 LS AT model, consume a lot of gas (between 6~6.5 km/L - city driving, depending on your driving habit).
Nonetheless, here's what I did: Shift the gas from RON 93 to RON 95 (I got an average of 7 km/L). Then, I stumbled on a thread on the Internet that says a 7.5 ~ 8 km/L city driving can be achieved by re programming the ECU and replacing the spark plugs to 1.8 (I don't recommend this), which I did during my last PMS check-up of the car.
Anyway after two months, problems came cropping out such as: power is being compromise during acceleration and now engine idling becomes unstable during cold start when shift from "P" to "D" position.
Now I have to return this to the dealer to check what went wrong and try to "undo" their recommendation.
I'm from the philippines. we also have a 2004 chevy optra 1.6 ltr.AT.. I got it 2 years ago. its not that bad.. because teh after sales department here in the philippines had a better way on fixing the problems.
I bought my Optra 1.6 last year. Same problem here. Less than six months, the battery goes dead. To make it cheaper, they used a NON-maintenance free battery, which is so unlike their peers.
Brakes were also a problem. There is some slippage on the pedal. And all the service center could offer was cleaning. that's crazy. I don't drive in the Mohabi desert. How can it be that dirty in one year?
The Optra's engine is defintely NOT quiet. Last month, when I started the car, the whole body shook and the smell of gas filled the air. The vibration continued and I had to bring it to the service center. But that's less than 2 years.
It scares me to think what would happen when the warranty runs out. These guys are so confident about their warranties that they forget that the buyer does not want to use the warranty.
Overall, I think the Optra is a poor buy. Caveat Emptor.