Holden Commodore 2011 Problems

The Alloytec V6 was known to have problems with the timing chain. There is no warranty on repairs as such, and with four years having lapsed since the work was done any warranty that might have existed has long since passed. You could contact Holden’s customer service (1800 033 349) and lodge your concerns with them.

If you are not sure about the van you're buying then back out of the deal while you have the chance. The next time you decide on a van have it checked by a mechanic.

It does sound like the engine might be terminal, but you should have a mechanic properly diagnose the problem before you do anything. If a new engine is required you should be able to get a reconditioned one, which would save you a lot of money.

There was a problem with the torque converters in some 2012 Commodores that led to shuddering. It is possible that your car is affected. It is a pity you didn't act on it earlier when you first observed the shuddering, but it's not too late to do it now. Go back to the Holden dealer and ask him to make a request to Holden to fix it. If you get no satisfaction with the dealer go directly to Holden and make the request yourself.

Trust me on this, and take a test drive in a Skoda Superb. It's a silly name but it's in that price bracket and it's a truly great car. It will also have similar cabin space to your Commodore.

Hopefully you will receive the attention you need to fix the oil consumption problem. It's good to hear of a satisfactory outcome.

It's always a good idea to read the fine print so you know what it and what isn't included in the servicing schedule. I would expect that the brake fluid would be changed as a regular part of the servicing and shouldn't be an extra cost. Doing the power steering fluid is being over-serviced. Draining the transmission oil and replacing it isn't hugely expensive, but changing the oil, which includes draining the torque convertor, is more expensive and amounts pretty much to a full service. It's still worth doing and 100,000 km is probably a suitable point in time to do it. As for your diff noise, you could try asking your dealer people to go for a ride with you to assess it. Changing the diff oil can help quieten the noise.