People really depend on their Vauxhall Vivaro, because if there’s one vehicle in the world that owners want to be as reliable as possible and as cheap to run as it can be, it's a van.
Vans tend to get a pretty hard time, starting up at the crack of dawn (and often before) and not stopping their wheels turning until long after nightfall. And those are hard miles too, with lots of stops and starts, U-turns, swerves, bumping up and down kerbs.
A tough gig, we think you’ll agree, and one almost guaranteed to generate problems at some point in your van’s life.
So how can you keep down the cost of fixing your van after it’s done a hard week’s work? Well, repairing any faults yourself is definitely the best way because it lets you skip the costly labour charges and means you don’t have to wait for an appointment. So you’re back on the road, earning cash instead of losing money waiting for a dead van to be fixed by someone else. Winner, winner.
What recalls has the Vauxhall Vivaro been subject to?
Vans are designed to be as robust and reliable as possible, so it’s good to see that that Vauxhall Vivaro Mk2 has been recalled only a few times in its life.
However, loose rear suspension is a fairly serious thing to be recalled for – but that’s what happened to 2601 examples.
Then it was found that the bonnet catch could fail on some Vivaros, so 7866 were dragged back to dealers for the catch to be adjusted, or have the mounting bolts renewed.
A small number of Vivaros were recalled to have a faulty passenger airbag replaced, and vans with a front dual passenger seat were recalled because the frame welds were not to specification, and could fail in a crash; the seat was replaced.
Lower wishbone bolts that were done up to the correct torque caused another recall, and a parking brake cable that could suddenly fail caused another trip back to dealers.
What common problems does the Vauxhall Vivaro Mk2 have?
The Vauxhall Vivaro can, unfortunately, leak. The problem occurs if a roof rack has been fitted because the bolts aren’t properly sealed.
Some Vivaro Mk2s have been fitted with driver’s seatbelts that are too short for some people, so the owners either needs to replace them or go on a crash diet.
At times, the Vauxhall Vivaro Mk2 can also have some faults that cause its malfunction indicator light (MIL) to become illuminated. One is a faulty air temperature sensor, and the other is a faulty mass airflow meter.
And finally, the Vivaro has what is not strictly a fault, but which is worth noting – the information on the oil filler cap of a number of models is wrong.
Does the Vauxhall Vivaro have seatbelt problems?
Someone at Vauxhall clearly believed that the average driver would be slimmer than they really are, because a number of models have driver’s-side seatbelts that are too short.
The only solution is to remove and replace the entire belt, which is a pretty simple-enough task that requires you to undo a few bolts and swap the belt for a new one. Just make sure you disconnect the battery first, in case you disturb any side airbag components.
This task is explained in the Haynes Vivaro Autofix online tool, so don’t hesitate to get the spanners out.
Does the Vauxhall Vivaro Mk2 have data problems?
It seems like such a small thing, but the Vauxhall Vivaro Mk2 has a problem in that the information on its oil filler cap is incorrect, because it displays the incorrect grade of oil required for top-ups and oil and filter changes.
If you’re changing the oil and filter on your Vauxhall Vivaro, the best thing to do is follow the information and procedures contained within your Haynes Vivaro Autofix. Not only will this detail exactly how to go about the procedure, but it will also give you the correct specification of oil for your Vivaro. If you’re in any further doubt, use the information on oil grade contained in your Vivaro’s owner’s manual. Whatever you do, do NOT follow the information on the oil cap.
Does the Vauxhall Vivaro have leak problems?
If you happen to have a load of expensive goods in the back of your Vauxhall Vivaro that people expect to be delivered on time and in perfect condition, a leak from the roof of your van is somewhat less than optimal.
The problem afflicts Vivaros that have had a roof rack fitted, because the sealing around the mounting bolts was poor during the initial installation.
However, the cure involves removing each bolt, applying sealant (part no: 90542117) to the bolt and refitting it.
Does the Vauxhall Vivaro have sensor problems?
On the odd occasion you might find that your Vauxhall Vivaro generates a fault that causes the malfunction indicator light (MIL) to illuminate.
The first task is to plug in a fault-code reader to identify which component is causing the issue. If the fault-code reader displays the code P0095 the fault lies with a dodgy air temperature sensor, and if the reader displays the code P0101, it’s the mass airflow meter that has given up the ghost.
You’ll need to replace the faulty sensor/meter, and then clean out the air inlet system.
These tasks will be made much easier if you have the Haynes Vivaro Autofix by your side – we’ll help you through every step of the process.