First Holden to use a ‘Vee’ 6 engine as opposed to an inline unit. Was a harsher, thirstier unit and was somewhat unreliable (mainly the series 1). Was a new body shape as well so rust and leaks were relatively common.
Harmonic balancer failure
Coolant leaks
Radiator failure
Rear main seal leaks oil
Sump gasket breaks causing oil leak
Throttle body issues
V6 exhaust manifolds cracking
Fuel tank and fuel pump issues
Catalytic converter issues
Gearbox rubber mount works its way loose
Inadequate handbraking power
ECU issues
Coil pack failure
Crank angle sensor
Water enters tail lights due to poor sealing. Can cause fading of the lenses and shorting of the circuit if water gets into the tail light harness
Wiper arms known to break
Steering rack and sway bar link issues
Air conditioner compressor bearing failure
Window winding mechanism prone to breaking
Exterior door handles prone to breaking
Grills prone to breaking
Front bumper clips known to break near the sides
Rust can be prevalent around the rear windscreen
Water can leak into the boot via the rear quarter window
Bonnet release cable can stretch making it ineffective
Headlight switch and wiper switch are known to fall off