REDLINE ALLEYHolden Commodore Ute VT to VZ (1997 to 2007): buying guide, problems and NZ numbers
The Holden Commodore Ute VT to VZ was built from 1997 to 2007 as a ute, with a manual or automatic gearbox, rear wheel drive or all wheel drive and petrol power. Chassis codes: VT, VX, VY, VZ and VU. Redline has a curated guide to its 8 most reported weak points, from owner club and specialist sources.
Key facts
- Years
- 1997 to 2007
- Chassis codes
- VT, VX, VY, VZ, VU
- Body types
- Ute
- Gearboxes
- Manual, Automatic
- Drive
- RWD (rear wheel drive), AWD (all wheel drive)
- Fuel
- Petrol
On NZ roads
Counting every one on the NZ register. The first look can take up to 15 seconds.
Known weak points
Curated by Redline from owner club and specialist sources Commonly reported by owners and specialists for the Holden Commodore VT to VZ (1997 to 2007). Not every car has these; check this one.
3.8 Ecotec V6 head gaskets
Corroded head gaskets on the 3.8 Ecotec V6 can let oil and coolant mix.
- Where to look
- The underside of the oil filler cap, the coolant expansion tank and the head gasket joints
- How to test
- Look under the oil cap and in the coolant tank for mayonnaise or oil. Ask whether the head gaskets have been done.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost head gasket job
V6 plastic heater tap
The plastic heater tap on the V6 can leak coolant into the engine bay, and replacing it is recommended if not done.
- Where to look
- The heater tap on the heater hoses at the back of the engine bay
- How to test
- Look for coolant crust and wet hoses round the heater tap.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Low cost a cheap part
V8 lifters and cold start tick
The LS1 is a bigger reliability gamble than the earlier 5.0, with a slappy idle and lifter tick on high km engines. A cold start tick on the iron block V8 should clear within seconds.
- Where to look
- The V8 valve covers and the idle quality
- How to test
- Start from cold and listen; a tick that persists past a few seconds, or a lumpy idle, needs investigating.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost engine work
Crank angle sensor, ignition module and fuel pump
A faulty crank angle sensor or ignition module can cause stalling or no start, and in tank fuel pumps often fail around 150,000 km.
- Where to look
- The crank angle sensor, the ignition module and the fuel pump in the tank
- How to test
- Ask about any stalling or starting trouble and whether the fuel pump has been replaced on a high km car.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Medium cost sensors and a fuel pump
Rust in chassis rails and strut towers
Rust can form where the front chassis rails curve under the floor and in the front strut tower reinforcing boxes, and abused cars can crack at the strut towers.
- Where to look
- The front chassis rails under the floor, and the strut towers behind the plastic splash guards
- How to test
- Look under the car where the front rails meet the floor, and remove the splash guard to see the strut tower boxes.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- High cost rust repair or welding
Rear suspension and front links
The independent rear suspension wears the inner edges of the rear tyres, damaged front sway bar links clunk, and worn tie bar bushes cause wander. Lowering makes it worse.
- Where to look
- The inner edges of the rear tyres, the front sway bar links and the tie bar bushes
- How to test
- Look at the inside edges of the rear tyres and listen for clunks over bumps. Feel for wander on the drive.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Medium cost bush kits and links
Sources: retrorides.com.au (opens in a new tab), carsales.com.au (opens in a new tab)
VZ side airbag recall and power steering
A March 2006 recall covered seat mounted side airbags that could fire without cause, and the VZ power steering can go heavy after quick turns.
- Where to look
- The front seats, the recall record, and the steering
- How to test
- Ask for proof of the side airbag recall on Acclaim and Calais V6 models, and do a slow sharp turn to feel for heavy steering.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Low cost recall work is free
Sources: carsales.com.au (opens in a new tab)
Interior plastics, trim and air flow
The instrument surround and centre stack plastics go brittle, glued seat fabric separates, and the vacuum air flow actuators under the dash can fail.
- Where to look
- The instrument surround, centre stack, seats and air flow controls
- How to test
- Look for cracks round the gauges and run the air flow through every vent setting.
- Cost if it needs fixing
- Medium cost trim and actuators
General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection. Researched 4 November 2026.
What the cost bands mean
- Low: a small job. Typically a few hundred dollars or less at an NZ workshop, often a DIY fix.
- Medium: a proper workshop job. Typically several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
- High: a major job. Typically several thousand dollars or more, enough to change what the car is worth.
Questions to ask the seller
- Is it the 3.8 V6, 3.6 V6 or a V8, and manual or auto?
- Has the head gasket or heater tap been replaced on a V6?
- Has the fuel pump been replaced?
- Has it been lowered or modified?
- Has the side airbag recall been done on a VZ?
US recalls
Looking up US recall data.
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