HSV Clubsport/GTS VF: common faults & what to check

You're looking at the VF

2 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

2013–2018VF Selected2013–2018VF6.0/6.2 V8 petrolPetrolDocumented issues8 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2013–2018VF Selected2013–2018VF6.2 supercharged V8 (GTS)Fuel not statedDocumented issues8 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this HSV Clubsport/GTS

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a HSV Clubsport/GTS before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Get to the car before it is started — insist on a stone-cold start and stand beside the engine as it fires.

  See why

  LS V8 hydraulic lifter collapse and camshaft damage

  The LS-series V8s in the Clubsport run hydraulic roller lifters, and a collapsed or seized lifter is the best-known failure on these engines. It announces itself as a distinct tick or knock from one cylinder, usually loudest at idle, and it is not something to drive on and think about: a lifter that comes apart lets its roller loose in the engine, which wrecks the camshaft and can damage the block itself. Neglected or extended oil changes, low oil pressure and hard revving from cold all bring it on sooner. Caught as a noise it is a big but survivable job; ignored it can total the engine, so any new tick on one of these deserves an immediate opinion rather than a wait-and-see.

  What you would notice

  • Ticking or knocking from one bank, loudest at idle when warm
  • A squeak or tap that does not disappear as the engine warms
  • Rough idle or a misfire on one cylinder
  • Engine warning light with misfire codes

  Typically $3,000–$12,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Compare front brake pad thickness on both sides of each caliper.

  See why

  Brembo Caliper Guide Pin Corrosion and Seizure

  HSV Clubsport and GTS models use large Brembo multi-piston front calipers with sliding guide pins that corrode inside their bores when dust boots split or pins are not greased at service intervals. Seized guide pins cause uneven pad wear, brake pull, and caliper drag that overheats the disc on the affected side. The large caliper size and HSV-specific fitment make replacement more expensive than standard Commodore brakes.

  What you would notice

  • Brake pull to one side during normal braking
  • Uneven pad wear — inner pad worn significantly more than outer on the same caliper
  • Caliper running noticeably hotter than the opposite side after driving
  • Brake drag sensation at low speed
  • Grinding or uneven feel through brake pedal

  Typically $400–$1,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Listen for diff whine, check the diff for leaks and oil condition, test for LSD chatter, and ask about track history.

  See why

  Rear diff overheat / oil breakdown (track use)

  HSV rear differentials can overheat under sustained hard or track use, breaking down oil and accelerating bearing and LSD wear, leading to whine and leaks. Tracked cars are most at risk.

  What you would notice

  • Diff whine at speed
  • Oil leak at diff
  • LSD chatter on tight turns
  • Burnt diff oil smell

  Typically $400–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Accept up front that you probably cannot find this at a viewing, and inspect the paperwork instead.

  See why

  Timing chain tensioner failure with almost no symptoms

  The early VE-through-VF LS engines are widely reported with broken timing chain tensioners, and the reason it matters to a buyer is that it gives you almost nothing to go on: workshops routinely find the tensioner already broken when the engine is opened for something else. There is no reliable noise, no warning light and no drivability change in the early stages, so it cannot be diagnosed on a test drive. Treat it as a known characteristic of the engine family rather than something you can inspect your way around — its practical effect is that opening this engine for any reason usually turns into a slightly bigger job than quoted, and that is worth knowing before agreeing to a repair price.

  What you would notice

  • Usually none — most are found during unrelated work
  • Occasionally a light rattle from the front of the engine on start-up
  • Engine warning light with camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes in advanced cases

  Typically $800–$3,000 to put right.

• Common issue

  Inspect the rear of the engine and bellhousing for oil, and on manuals check for clutch contamination from the leak.

  See why

  LS-series rear main seal oil leak

  HSV Clubsport/GTS LS-series V8s commonly develop a rear main seal leak dripping oil at the bellhousing. A well-known LS trait that worsens with age and can contaminate the clutch on manuals.

  What you would notice

  • Oil drips at bellhousing
  • Oil on gearbox housing
  • Low oil level
  • Oil spots where parked

  Typically $500–$1,800 to put right.

• Common issue

  Inspect the front control arm bushes for cracking and play, and drive over bumps listening for knocks.

  See why

  Front control arm bush wear

  HSV models develop front control arm bush wear causing knocks, vague steering and uneven tyre wear, worsened by the cars' performance use. A common WOF and handling item on these V8s.

  What you would notice

  • Knocking over bumps
  • Wandering steering
  • Uneven front tyre wear
  • Clunk under braking

  Typically $300–$1,500 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the HSV Clubsport/GTS’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost