Holden Cruze 2011 Problems

The symptoms are exactly as reported by other Cruze owners and the first step is to get it to an authorised Holden dealer to have the diagnosis confirmed and reported to Holden. At the same time you should contact Holden customer service at Fishermans Bend and report the problem with full vehicle details.

Firstly I'm surprised an auction house gave you a warranty, it's usually a case of buyer beware. The transmission problem is well known; that you had the secondhand transmission fail doesn't surprise me. Go back to the seller's warranty document and thoroughly read it to understand what it entitles you to claim. Holden won't help, given that the car is well out of the new car warranty and the transmission that was fitted was a secondhand one. You need to go back to the seller and try to negotiate a resolution with them.

There have been some gearbox troubles with the Cruze so keep an eye on that. Otherwise it should be fine, particularly with the whole-of-life service package now from Holden.

The most common transmission problem that affects the Cruze relates to the automatic transmission, not the manual. As yours is a manual it isn’t affected by these issues. I would suggest you have a mechanic check your car to diagnose the problem for you before you go any further with a claim against Holden. If the noise you are hearing happens while you have the clutch pedal depressed in the process of changing gears it could be a worn clutch throw-out bearing, but if it is a crunching noise when selecting gears it could be either the clutch isn’t fully disengaging, or it could a synchromesh problem.

I have a friend who swears by Toyo tyres. Perhaps not as much grip but smooth and quiet, and remember any low-profile tyre will be harsh and prone to noise on coarse-surface roads.

I agree with you, it should have been replaced earlier, and under warranty. The automatic transmission in the Cruze has a troubled history, as we have consistently reported. Present your dealer with your car's history of failure and make a formal request that the transmission be replaced at no cost to you. If the dealer won't agree take your case directly to Holden's Customer Care service (Ph: 1800 033 349).

It’s good that you queried the advice, because I think it’s poor advice. It’s not standard to replace the rotors every time the pads are replaced. The rotors should be checked for wear when the pads are changed, and they might well need changing if they are worn out, but it’s not the standard practice to replace whenever the pads are changed. Have the dealer show you that the rotors are worn out. As for the light bulb quote, it’s probably not too bad given that the dealer is probably charging you $150 per hour. Think yourself lucky that you don’t own a Mercedes-Benz, I’ve heard of quotes of $400-plus to replace a front park light.

You should take it to the Holden dealer for the diagnostic check, and to find out how much Holden is prepared to contribute to the cost of repairs. I would guess because you have been doing the servicing yourself that Holden will offer you a lesser amount. But once you know how much they are prepared to pay you can decide on what to do.

Your problem sounds like many others reported to CarsGuide. You should immediately request a replacement via both your Holden dealer and Holden headquarters in Melbourne.

You're a member of a large club. The Cruze was a dud back then, the transmission problems have been well publicized. Holden has been replacing transmissions at its own expense, so I would be hopeful that they will come to the party with your car. You are absolutely right that a major problem like this should not happen to a car that is so new and done so few kays. Keep calling Holden until you get an answer, and if it's in the negative, call again. You could consider getting a lawyer to send the company a letter demanding action.