You Think When You Purchase A Brand New Car That You're Not Going To Have Any Problems
Complaint
C GREENMOUNT
Country: Australia
I purchased my 2002 Astra "brand new" late June 2002. I love my little car apart from the many problems I've had along the way ... I'm not a rough driver and service my car at all it's scheduled times.
I've had my ignition replaced at only few thousand kilometers after purchase, central locking problem, but these were both easily fixed straight away under warranty.
3 years of age and only 40,000km, I had a loud rattle noise coming from my engine, took it to Holden they said it was the idle tensioner. They replaced that and I drove it away, still had the same noise and rattle. I took it back they seemed to think it was the alternator, but this was a common problem with the Astra's apparently and there wasn't any alternators anywhere in Australia at the time. What sort of manufacturer is Holden if you can't get parts? Holden quoted my a rough figure of $800 to replace the alternator. I went away and thought about it.
I started to do my own search for a new alternator as I couldn't just leave my poor car like this. I hit eBay, to my surprise there was one brand new alternator in its original box, never been used, exactly the part number I needed. I was so lucky to purchase it for only $150 to my door. Got someone to install it for me and it ran like a dream after that, quiet as anything and no noise.
Oh you can't buy wiper blades anywhere apart from your Holden dealership.
5 years old and only 65,000kms ... more problems.
The emissions light come on, got stuck, wouldn't start straight away, when it did start it was as slow as a snail, no power. I rang Holden but they couldn't look at it until the next day. Although the light was still on, it was fine to drive on the way home, weird!
Took it to Holden the next day, they said there was a fault with the crank sensor, they replaced it. But at the same time I asked them to check out a very loud tapping noise coming from the engine. This only happens when the engine is warm but at the time it didn't make the noise. But to me it sounds like it's coming from the automatic transmission because it mainly does it when it's in drive and park. Lately it's becoming more often, I took it for a drive and then went down to let them hear what I was on about, and yeah they have never heard anything like it before. Booked it in a week ago and still waiting to hear back what there going to do.
So I'm yet to see how much my car is going to cost to get fixed. Thinking a few thousand. So yeah I think I've got a bit of a lemon. You think when you purchase a brand new car that you're not going to have any problems, well at least until after 100,000km
I've had my ignition replaced at only few thousand kilometers after purchase, central locking problem, but these were both easily fixed straight away under warranty.
3 years of age and only 40,000km, I had a loud rattle noise coming from my engine, took it to Holden they said it was the idle tensioner. They replaced that and I drove it away, still had the same noise and rattle. I took it back they seemed to think it was the alternator, but this was a common problem with the Astra's apparently and there wasn't any alternators anywhere in Australia at the time. What sort of manufacturer is Holden if you can't get parts? Holden quoted my a rough figure of $800 to replace the alternator. I went away and thought about it.
I started to do my own search for a new alternator as I couldn't just leave my poor car like this. I hit eBay, to my surprise there was one brand new alternator in its original box, never been used, exactly the part number I needed. I was so lucky to purchase it for only $150 to my door. Got someone to install it for me and it ran like a dream after that, quiet as anything and no noise.
Oh you can't buy wiper blades anywhere apart from your Holden dealership.
5 years old and only 65,000kms ... more problems.
The emissions light come on, got stuck, wouldn't start straight away, when it did start it was as slow as a snail, no power. I rang Holden but they couldn't look at it until the next day. Although the light was still on, it was fine to drive on the way home, weird!
Took it to Holden the next day, they said there was a fault with the crank sensor, they replaced it. But at the same time I asked them to check out a very loud tapping noise coming from the engine. This only happens when the engine is warm but at the time it didn't make the noise. But to me it sounds like it's coming from the automatic transmission because it mainly does it when it's in drive and park. Lately it's becoming more often, I took it for a drive and then went down to let them hear what I was on about, and yeah they have never heard anything like it before. Booked it in a week ago and still waiting to hear back what there going to do.
So I'm yet to see how much my car is going to cost to get fixed. Thinking a few thousand. So yeah I think I've got a bit of a lemon. You think when you purchase a brand new car that you're not going to have any problems, well at least until after 100,000km
Comments
Under 3 years Warranty: back eletric window regulator replaced
Ignition barrel replaced
Stereo replaced.
After warranty expired 18 months later...
Ignition barrel replaced AGAIN!!! 3rd one replaced since i bought it
Air conditioner compressor is not working
other back electric window regulator.
this is NOT acceptable but i guess what can you do...i have complained to Holden and i have an ongoing dispute with the Industrial Relations but seems all these fall on deaf ears...i have read many problems with this model of holden and some of them are serious safety flaws eg brakes and drive belt...someone will die one day but i bet they wont be held accountable! All astras should be recalled they have many design flaws and i am so anti holden right now...i will never buy any holden or deal with them EVER again!! so much for being a VIP client when i bought my brand new car from them.
on top of that just to make me even more irate is that when i have to get these things fixed the amount i am quoted and amount i am made pay when i pick the car up is DOUBLE!!! what can we do there has to be a way that this company is made responsible for selling faulty cars...they know they are you go to any holden dealer and they admit it or laugh saying they hav seen it all before...
we all need to stand up and demand action...i just dont know how yet!
kiki
It's really the safety issue I am worried about I need help to get this sorted out, even though I had mechanical insurance I am not happy driving the vehile as I hod no warning the first time what happens next when I am on the motorway??????????????
overtaking on the motorway the engine popped and died in the fast lane , with no where to go but onto a narrow shoulder on the centre strip,where he sat for 1 hour until tow truck arrived,very dangerous seems alternator has burnt out,still in garage today.Should nit this vehicle have been recalled
This car is a lemon, I have spent thousands over the past years fixing problems. This is not
Right!!