Holden Problems

If you can't reach a satisfactory solution to your problem going to VCAT is a way of resolving it. I couldn't predict the outcome, but as Holden has had the car for extensive periods of time trying, without success it seems, to fix it, you would seem to be justified in making a claim against them.

Go back to the dealership you bought it from and ask them to repair it, and seeing that it is a common problem with that model suggest they approach Holden to cover the costs of the repairs. It’s hard to say what your chances are because you bought it secondhand, but you did buy from a Holden dealer, which makes me a little more optimistic about your chances.

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.

It could be, but it would be a big and expensive job, not something I would recommend. If you want a petrol version, it would be much simpler to go and buy one.

It’s not a myth, it’s the law. It’s also why Ford is stamping a 10-year supply of Falcon and Territory body panels this month in Geelong before closing down that part of its local production operation.

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.

In a word, don’t take any notice of the dealer telling you the CVT is troublesome, he’s only trying to put you off and get you to sign up for his car. The CVT is new to the 2016 Spark, so there’s been to time for it to acquire a reputation for trouble. Everything suggests the Spark is a good car.

When it loses power like you describe it’s usually because it has gone into limp-home mode due to some problem related to the car’s computer or associated sensors. By turning the ignition off and on again you are, in effect, rebooting the computer. The only way to find out what is causing it is to have a mechanic use his diagnostic equipment to identify the fault.

Hyundai spokesman Bill Thomas replies on behalf of South Korean brands: "Hyundai uses only the finest grades of steel in the construction of its cars — in fact, we are the only car maker on earth that makes its own steel, so we can control its quality to very fine tolerances. It's not thinner or lighter, it's just very high quality. The new Elantra, for example, uses 53 per cent advanced ultra-high-strength steel in its body construction, which makes it 30 per cent stiffer than the model it replaces. It's also worth noting that Hyundai uses a huge amount of Australian iron ore in the construction of our steel, from Western Australia, so there's a bit of Australia in all of our cars."