Ask Honest John

Most recently answered known defect questions
Having read your report I bought a used (55 plate) Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 diesel, and so far so good. But in your articles you often refer to a particular vehicle's manufacturer being aware of a particular...
I purchased a new Honda Civic Type-R in July 2009 with 19 miles on the clock and a few cosmetic issues. It came minus rear parking sensors and mats as requested. However, there were a few dull wheel nuts...
I bought my 2006 Vauxhall Zafira 2.2-litre automatic one year ago. So far, problems found have been a new timing chain, two fuel pumps, new housing for the carburettor and the list goes on, all covered...
I am looking at buying a 2007 (07) Skoda Octavia with the 140PD engine in it. However I have found a few bad reports on the engine, some in relation to turbo failure at an early age and others about a...
I read the comments on the Skoda Octavia 2-litre TDI PD oil pumps with alarm. I then dug into the detail on the engines in the VAG manuals and spares catalogues that I have. It appears that the 2-litre...
I took delivery of a new Hyundai i10 in Feb 2010. Within 15 minutes of collecting the car and driving it away, I heard a squeak or squeal from the rear of the car. I returned the car to the garage who...
Do you know what the bad points of the Peugeot 406 Coupe 3-litre 6v are and what to watch out for?
My daughter has a 55-plate Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Twinport, petrol engine. It recently suffered catastrophic engine failure at relatively low speed, having done just 38,000 miles. The engineer on behalf of...
You have mentioned in the CBCB a problem with the Toyota Avensis VVT-i engine suffering high oil consumption due to a bore liner problem and/or being fitted with slightly undersize pistons. Do you know...
I am thinking of buying a Mercedes-Benz - a 1998 C240 has caught my eye. I know this site says that the ECU can go after 12 years. Is this only with the C200 or all C-Class models? Or should I go for a...