A man in New Zealand has won a NZ$47,995 (US$31,653) refund after a tribunal concluded the 2015 Holden Commodore VF2 SS-V Redline purchased by the man had a worrying noise coming from the engine.
The New Zealand Herald reports that Anthony Wilson purchased the used Commodore from Value Motors Lower Hutt in June, 2019 but soon noticed that the engine made a “guttural knock” that was particularly evident when the engine was cold.
Initially, the dealership that sold Wilson the car consulted experts and claimed the noise was normal. Wilson didn’t agree and after having driven the Commodore for 1,200 km (about 750 miles), he asked the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal to order Value Motors to give him a full refund.
Watch: Holden Sets New Nürburgring Record for Trucks with VF SS V Redline Ute at 8:19.47
During investigations into the issue, Value Motors consulted Holden agent Brendan Foot Supersite and sent an audio recording of the sound to Holden New Zealand who both said there was no issue with the engine. However, Wilson spoke with Marc Mulhulland, the director of Llama Engineering that has a great deal of experience with LS engines, and who concluded the Commodore had a “high level of piston slap, with one extremely loud piston” on a cold start.
Mulholland added that the piston slap was not within “acceptable” realms and was damaging the engine. He also advised Wilson to stop driving the car and indicated that the noisy piston may have been partly collapsed.
Value Motors called on automotive engineer Karl Pemberton to make its own arguments, asserting that piston slap on these engines is common and that there was no evidence of mechanical failure.
Tribunal assessor Mr. Dixon and adjudicator J S McHerron concluded that there was an issue with the Commodore’s engine and ordered Value Motors to provide a full refund of the purchase price within 14 days. Wilson must make the vehicle available for the dealership to collect.
Note: Holden Commodore SS-V Motorsport Edition pictured.
