Commodore (VN-VZ) / HSV

1988-2006 / Sedan / Estate / Australia

All Commodore (VN-VZ) / HSV problems All workshop issues

Common Suspension and Steering

IRS Bush Wear (VN onwards)

Symptoms

Clunking from the rear over bumps. Rear-end wander, particularly under braking. Uneven rear tyre wear. The car feels vague in the rear.

Cause

The independent rear suspension uses rubber bushings in the trailing arms, lower control arms, and differential mount that deteriorate with age. Road conditions, load, and spirited driving all accelerate wear. This is the most common suspension issue on all Commodores from the VN onwards.

Fix

Replace the rear bushings.

A full IRS bush kit (all trailing arm bushings, diff mount bushings, and lower control arm bushings) costs $200-500 in parts.

Labour: 4-8 hours.

Nolathane and SuperPro both offer polyurethane bush kits that last significantly longer than rubber.

Whiteline offers a complete rear bush kit that's popular with enthusiasts.

Cost mentioned in fix

$200-500 in parts

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// More Commodore (VN-VZ) / HSV problems

Other known issues

Common Suspension and Steering

Power Steering Rack Leak (VT-VZ)

Power steering fluid on the garage floor, heavy steering at parking speeds, whining from the power steering pump.

Common Suspension and Steering

Front Strut Top Mount Failure (VT-VZ)

Clunking noise when turning the steering wheel, particularly at low speeds and full lock. A "crunching" sensation felt through the steering wheel.

Common Engine, V6 (Buick/Ecotec 3.8L, VN-VY)

Intake Manifold Gasket Leak

Coolant leak at the junction of the intake manifold and cylinder heads. May present as coolant loss without a visible external leak (coolant enters the intake ports), or as a coolant stain on the side of the engine. Engine may run rough or misfire if coolant enters the combustion chamber.

Critical Engine, V6 (Buick/Ecotec 3.8L, VN-VY)

Harmonic Balancer Failure (Ecotec, VS onwards)

A wobbling pulley on the front of the crankshaft. Knocking or rattling noise from the front of the engine. The drive belt may track poorly or come off.

Common Engine, V6 (Buick/Ecotec 3.8L, VN-VY)

Supercharger Bypass Valve Failure (L67 supercharged V6)

Loss of boost, rattling from the supercharger, reduced performance. The supercharger may make a whining noise that changes with the valve's operation.

Critical Engine, V6 (Alloytec 3.6L, VZ)

Timing Chain and Guide Failure

Rattling noise on cold start that may persist after warm-up. Check engine light with codes related to camshaft timing. Rough idle, misfiring, loss of power. In severe cases, the engine won't start or runs extremely poorly.

View all 20 Commodore (VN-VZ) / HSV problems