Holden Cruze 2010 Problems

The best option would be to contact Holden (1800 033 349) and ask them to fix it. They will most likely come to the party for at least part of the cost, which would be much cheaper than if you were to have it fixed yourself.

No, it’s not fair to ask you to undertake a diagnostic check at your expense. The transmission is known to be faulty, and as long as you haven’t abused it in any way, they should be replacing it free of charge without question.

You’re not alone; the auto transmission in that model is well known to give trouble. As the car is now seven years old and has done 116,000 km it is well outside the warranty on both counts, so you’re not likely to get much of a hearing from Holden. But it is worth approaching the company about replacing the transmission for you free of charge, or at the very least, at a discount. Tell then that you know there is a problem with that transmission, and that you understand that they have replaced transmissions free of charge in the past.

That model Cruze was plagued with gearbox problems like yours. Holden was replacing the gearbox free of charge as a gesture of good will, and you might be able to convince them to do the same for you, but as yours is seven years old you might have trouble mounting a compelling case.

If Holden refuses your request you could take your case to the ACCC.

Had you done your homework you would have found that the gearbox in that model Cruze is a lemon. The price you have been quoted to replace the gearbox seems reasonable. You could try negotiating with the company that issued the warranty, but I doubt you have a realistic chance of getting any help.

The problem could well be a radiator problem, one not related to the incident with the kangaroo. It’s not uncommon for the transmission oil cooler in the radiator to fail. To try and determine the cause have the appraised by an independent assessor.

Your plan to go to court over the matter is the correct course of action. The auto transmission in your model has been very troublesome and many owners have had problems with them. The only way to fix it is to replace the transmission, which was done once before on your car, and you will potentially have to replace again some time in the future.

Do not buy a Cruze, or buy a European brand. They will prove costly. It's best to go for the cars that are well proven over many years. The Lancer is a good one, but so too is the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 or 3, or Mitsubishi Colt.

It is quite common for a carmaker to offer to pay for parts, i.e. the transmission, and charge the owner for the labour. While you would like to think Holden would pay for everything the car is eight years old and well beyond its warranty period. If you would like to pursue Holden for the total cost contact its customer service (18000 033 349).

You’re right, there have been a lot of problems with the Cruze gearbox, and Holden have replaced a number over the years. That said you can try to get some help in replacing the transmission by calling Holden Customer Care on 1800 033 349.