Why you shouldn’t buy a Holden Barina

By Alborz Fallah | April 13th, 2007

Back in mid 2006 we reported Holden Barina’s 2 star safety rating from ANCAP. Only today did we find the footage to explain why:

Notice how the entire chassis is damaged.

Lazybones

Kinda puts the price saving into perspective. Save $3000 on the car, then spend $6000 recovering in hospital after hitting a roo. Yeah, nice on Holden.

Kylie

Y drive it on a highway at night. I wouldn’t drive any car at night let alone a Barina. Poor example Fellas

Franz Chong

While I am not suggesting we all become Family Guy’s Peter Griffin and put our kids into Tanks,I am thinking there are much safer small cars than this out there for similar money.These Cars should all come with Funeral Plan and Coffins with every purchase
Myke

Well it wasn’t long ago (sort-of) when the top euro brands were achieveing two star ratings. I know times are very different now, but you don’t really expect to buy a car to smash it up or crash it. That being said, I do believe that safety is of high importance and would unlikely see myself anywhere near the Korean Barina, bring the Corsa back!
A Malaysian

Haha, what’s the big deal, we poor Malaysians have been driving rating-less cars from Protons, which we affectionately call “Milo can”, for years. (You know Milo, don’t you?) And yet we survive…
http://www.swollenpickles.com swollenpickles

I picked this one up last year. No one ‘expects’ to be in a crash. The point is, if you were unlucky enough to be involved in one, this Barina is going to do next to nothing to help you get out of it alive!
Lazybones

“I am concerned by the publicity. First of all, I was not surprised at the Australian NCAP results as the Euro NCAP results were very similar in Europe a couple of months earlier. But it was a little surprising to our technical community. We had a better internal result. Both tests are exactly precise yet there�s variation in the results. Let me say, though, I am very confident of the safety of the Barina. That�s one test.”

So thats:-

2 Stars from Euro NCAP
2 Stars from ANCAP
5 Stars from Holden NCAP

Hmmmm, nothing suspect there swollenpickels. Almost as dodgy as the VE ADR fuel figures
jo

i like my car thank you and i think it is very safe. so whatever

Jake

You tell me that when you’re involved in a head on crash going 60-80k’s, I bet your response changes. If you’re still alive, that is.

http://www.alborzfallah.com alborz

Hi Jo,
I don’t think you will like you car very much after it shatters into a million pieces when you reverse into a pole
Paul

Lol what a stupid thing to say… ‘I think it is very safe’. You can THINK whatever you want, its called blind optimism, the fact is these cars safety is shyte and is behind cars 10 years old without half the safety features these days. Its a disgrace Holden put their badge on a car like this and shows that they couldnt give a rats about the Australian peoples safety.
Lazybones

“i like my car thank you and i think it is very safe. so whatever”

The video speaks for itself. And I think thats a 64Kph impact. Whats going to happen to you at 100Kph. Not so much whatever, but game over.
trev

I think id rather be in my honda jazz ( 4.5 stars ) than a 5 door barina (2 stars ) oh and my car only costs an extra 1500 – 2000 bux than a barinawoo!

the jazz scored 15 out of a possible 16 points for side impact as well. “I” can feel safe

I feel sorry for anyone who feels safe in their barina!
wokenuptosmallwheels

I saw the risks of tiny cars after stepping out to see remains of small Hyundai doing 100 kilo/hour that whacked straight into the side of my old Mercedes. Barina is both small and badly built. See the effects on occupants who shouldn’t have suffered so much after hitting the side of Falcon at speed (rear seat passenger unfortunately died after taking full brunt of impact)http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/05/01/3357_news.html
Cheryle Dean

Do not buy a Holden Barina, especially 2001 model. $600 to fix a gearbox linkage problem which is so common they could give me the price of the repair immediately over the phone. This was after $1600 to replace motor after ‘spark plug tip broke off’ and damaged cylinders. Hmmm, just out of warranty surprise surprise. Same story for windscreen wiper motor – apparently they rust out but not until it’s out of warranty, another $470 for the part only, don’t know how much to fit because I’m not going to bother – will trade it as is for a Toyota and never ever buy a Holden again. Service prices are also astronomical. Nothing but trouble since I bought it new.

Thomas

Yep, we have a newer 2005 Barina XC with only 110,000 km and it is a money pit. Spent close to $3000 fixing numerous issues over the last year alone.

http://www.geocities.com/rogernias777/ Troubled Soul

The results of the Barina’s crash didn’t surprise me as much as the amout of idiots who buy them, I once rear ended a brand new Hyundai Sonata with a 1980′s Holden Shuttle and was surprised that the rear seats were moved fom their mounting point, the accident was only at 60kmph and the entire boot of the Sonata was gone.

What really surprised me however was that the guy driving it was a doctor, when did people become so cheap that they confuse a Hyundai or any of these Korean peices of junk for a luxury sedan.
Hugo

What worries me, of course, is how many of these TK Barina’s you see with child seats in the back…
Frank

The fact is, the car may not be the safest on impact, however, god forbid, you could just as easily get run over whilst crossing the road….

The barina is a overall a neat car, and for its price, you can’t really ask for more… its generally for that part of the public who wanta new car but havent got full pockets…

So Knowing it is cheaper car, you should expect that its going to hav a few let downs.

If you do have the car… driving safely is usually the best way to stay safe… so take it easy… as thought your driving a porshe or sumthing.
Tom

frank the problem with your argument is that there are better, safer cars in that market for the same money. Hyundai getz is a better and safer car, toyota yaris, suzuki swift, the new mazda 2, ford fiesta, there are just so many better cars at that price that have better safety and are better to drive. About the only car the barina is better than in that market is a kia rio.

And realistically, if you can only afford $14k for a car, you shoudn’t try and buy new. You can buy a car thats just 12 months old, done bugger all k’s and still has new car warranty, and save thousands, so you can get a better ex – $18k car instead, which would be so much better.

Yes cheaper cars should have let downs, in refinement, interior trim, engine power and transmissions, but not in safety. A 2 star rating isn’t a sign of a cheap materials car, its just a sign of a poorly designed chassis. You can get 4 star with just two airbags, the barina should of been at least a 3 star car, its competitors are 3 – 4 star at that price bracket.
wheelnut

Why do so many people believe in the ANCAP tests. These tests are carried out in “crash labs under controlled conditions.. they don’t allow for variables such as road surface or weather conditionns etc.

I mean what are the chances of someone driving along at 60 Km/h towards a concrete wall; steel pole or back of a truck without taking some form of evasive action.. be it gradual braking or swerving/changing lanes.

I remember an article just after a recent ANCAP test which said that the car companies provide the cars [one for each test] at their own expense.

Holden only provided 4 cars for the tests which they passed. Toyota provided 5 cars of which 4 passed – they failed the last test. Yet because the guidelines allow Toyota continued to provide cars for the last test until it passed thereby receiving 5 stars.

This means that if a manufacturer is prepared to wear the cost involved in writing off 5 [or more] cars they will eventually get a 5 star safety rating.
It also menas that it’s not really the overall safety of a particular model being tested its actually the safety of 5 individual cars of that model.

Therefore; the car used in the ANCAP test may have failed but the one in your drive might pass – even a new Barina

Based on the above example even though Toyota got a better safety rating the Holden is actually safer.
Because the Holdens passed all 4 tests which they were subject to whereas Toyota had several attempts at the last test. You never know if holden did provide a car for the last test it might have passed that as well

A better idea would be for ANCAP or the insurance companies purchase 5 cars of each make/model to be tested from 5 randomly selected dealers [across Australia] as it’s the insurance companies who love these tests and I doubt they’d be willing to write of 100′s of new cars every couple of months.. Not to mention give the tests and results a bit more credibility.
Morgasshk

Re: ANCAP Vs. EuroNCAP

Australian = lower speeds and usually based on very few cars – Which generally ANCAP DO have to purchase themselves…

European NCAP – Tests multiple vehicles, from all angles in a huge variety of situations and therefore these results are a lot more respected. Why do you think australian Dealerships do not advertise their star ratings often? because they do not have to! In Europe they do…

Barina used to be a great and safe little car. Now the quality has dropped by a large margin and prompted this discussion. Any testing an automotive company conducts is ALWAYS going to be biased – be it Ford, Toyota or Holden etc…

Whilst this discussion is about the “possible impact that woe betide ever happens, just MAY happen” I still like Frank’s comments. if everyone were better and safer drivers, this would be less of a major topic… But it is, and there are a multitude of tosser drivers out there… I travel 2 hours in traffic everyday and I can TOTALLY understand why and how road rage occors, i just thank God I’m a calm person! lol

Drive safe all

Dave
Katie

Hi all,
I am going to sound completely stupid here, but I have just bought a second hand Holden Barina (2001 xc series). Is this the car that received the 2 stars? I am under the impression that the TK received the 2 stars and the XC series from 2001 to 2006 received 4 out of 5? Is this correct?
greg

It doesn’t matter. Who told you to buy this piece of junk, keep your barina parked in your garaged this would be safer for you, plus the reliablity of the barina is shocking to say the least a lemon on four wheels, sorry but can i pee on it to hopefully improve the existence of a poorly built car..
Me.

The first Suzuki Barinas were allright, but the Opel ones are a complete lemon sh!tbox! I’m not sure what these new unsafe ones are like.

- NEVER BUY ANY RE-BAGED HOLDEN OPEL, THE PROBLEMS ARE ENDLESS!!
Dieter

I have an XC 2001 5 door Barina, and it has been nothing but pleasure. No problems, zippy to drive and runs on the smell of an oily rag.
greg

OMG… hahahahahaha safe 2 star driving Dieter, I wish you luck and god bless, oh what a barina!!!! ahhhhhhhh
Chris

Has Jo posted again?

hope she hasn’t been in a an accident in that Barina she THINKS is safe…It’s your life in the end Jo…
Woops

I was looking at one of these barinas at a dealer and i opened the bonnet… looked at the puney lawnmower motor then closed the bonnet. Being used to closing my falcon bonnet i pushed on the leading edge of the bonnet, not wanting to slam it down because i didnt want to break it. i left a slight finger dent in the front edge… I walked very quickly away as though nothing happened. 30sec later i was gone. “You didnt see anything”

These cars are mostly purchased by young p-platers, people who are most likely to crash. And look how it turns out.
Oz.

^
If I were you, I’d stick with my Falcons!

Colin

Cmon. The Falc’on and Commodores are the biggest money pits out there. They Break down and have a huge amount of engine problems for a car with a rather premium price tag.

I would prefer a Toyota Camry or a Honda accord any day of the week.

http://lepi latoya

having had my 2002barina for 13 yrs i purchased a 2007 had it 3months .defect 1 after rain when driving with window down water off the roof runs in windows 2 when driiving into curb parking square you cant see the square if you are in it or not 3 bad view reversing.should of bought the i30 ready to re trade

matt

you owed an 8 year old car for 13 years? impressive.
Nath746

“after rain when driving with window down water off the roof runs in windows”

Isn’t this what usually happens? water coming in the windows when they are down?

No Name

Latoya…learn to write… Oih dunt no wats yoom sayun
cass

Ultimately we all would like to think we’re driving the safest car available in our price range! Have had 2 barina’s and loved them – never been in a bingle though! There are so many variants that affect an outcome of an accident – speaking as an an ED nurse I see pictures of car’s and think how the hell did you walk away from that- my main concern now as a mum is the safest car possible for my kids. We now drive a car with a 15/16 safety rating with all the safety features available at the time. I guess cars mean different things to different people!
No Name

Hi Cass. your right there. Also much depends on how the vehicle is driven of course. Then you cannot account fot the idiot coming the other way. In 28 years of driving ‘touch wood’ I’ve never had a serious accident and never wrtiiten off a car.
http://yahoo.com unknown

The Holden Barina TK earned 5 stars in the USA crash test. Why did it perform so badly in AU?
Me!!!!!!

I bought a Holden Barina,2007,unfortunately, and it has been back to be repaired by the dealer 18 times in a year. Holden, Melbourne and the dealer say it is not a LEMON. It has cost them more to keep it on the road than the car cost me. Talk about pig headedness. They fix it(???) and then a day, week or month later it is back to the same conditionit was.
Liz

All you haters should get lives. Don’t like Barinas, dont buy one. I’ve got a 2005 XC and it has been nothing but wonderful, even AFTER crashing it into a pole. So stop blowing smoke.
dean

well.. its all about how you drive,, if you drive world’s safest car stupidly you gona die..
Barina is beautiful car
Genie

Dean, your logic is utterly faulty, sorry. No matter how well you drive, how safe you are, if someone runs a red light and T-bones you, your zero demerit points and smattering of baby on board stickers are not going to save you. In that case the only thing that might is how well your car can keep all that kinetic energy absorbed in the crash from being transported through your body. Thats what the ANCAP tests measure, and the 2 star safety rating shows that the Barina will do this very poorly.

To the people who have Barina’s and are happy with them, congrats. But don’t get angry at people for pointing out that testing has shown this car will not protect you in a crash to anywhere near the extent of many of its rivals.
Stephen Hampson

October 2008 – Holden have now added side airbags on the upgraded model and it has just scored a Four Star Rating which is as high as it can go because you have to have Electronic Stability Control like big cars have to get a 5 star rating.
Bill

What a load of crock crap thats been said here. If you hit something stationery at anywhere near 100kph you going to die. No safety crap will save you. The Barina is as safe as any of these cars and without doing much to the Barina at all it now has a 4 star rating by ANCAP.
LAZY BONES said: “Whats going to happen to you at 100Kph. Not so much whatever, but game over.”

Tell me the name of a car you would feel safe in 100kph impact with a stationery object???????????????????
A vehicle has its exorbent limit and once thats over the G forces will kill you anyway. I will put it another way.. If I sat you in a toyota yaris and dropped you front first from a crane so you reached 100kph just as you hit the ground, do you think the yaris would be alot safer??????? Facts are you would die pretty quick no matter what car your in. Another thing I want to mention is: Why has the Barina now got a top score rating just by fitting side airbags?????? Shows what you really all know about crash test ratings….! NOTHING ……..
Bret

Bill, quite a rant there, however it appears that you have little real knowledge on the car or autmotive safety in general.
In fact to get the 4 stars the Barina underwent significant strengthening and re-engineering, before they slapped in extra airbags.
BTW Stephen and Bill, whacking in ESP won’t give the Barina 5 stars, it just does not have the structural integrity (even now) to get there.
Back to sleep now boys…….

Tarah Wood

Is this the Holden Barina XC model 2001 that has 4 star safety ratings?
I just read other saftey reports by the same crash test company and they had also given it 2/5 stars..
How do you tell the difference between the 4 star safety models and the 2 star ones?

Chrisso

Looks like holden added an extra crumple zone in the A Pillar…Awesome engineering…
Rose

I went on this website to find out which car to buy next. I consider myself very lucky indeed. I have had my 1989 MF Barina for 20 years this coming April, I brought it brand new. I’ve had no major problems with it, tho there has been times when I’ve been on the verge of big bucks. I love this car, tho I know I do need a change because I can’t drive it anymore. With no power steering, air bags etc and the luxuries that are in newer cars. And I do know that I won’t be buying another Barina, I’ve done my dash with it. Tho it does lag in engine power at times for some reason, but it has been a zippy little thing. Petrol has been great not more than $25-$30.
People have their opinions in everything, and nothing, absolutely nothing is perfect.
Gonna miss it when I do part with it, and I know that the car I get next will be even better, and thought long and hard about.
basho

I’m sick of the bag the Barina movement especialy as it would seen many of the baggers haven’t even driven the very car they’re bagging.
I thought they were a crapheap until I actualy looked at and drove one of the new TKs– and I’d never been behind the wheel of any barina before.
And I bought one- an MY08 TK09 Barina after looking at every option in he $12-14k price bracket , new and secondhand ,quite frankly the Barina was the only one that ticked all the boxes.
Appart from the much discussed now 4 star safety rating the car has a good design style ,very good build quality and finish ,- it’s way better than I expected.
It came with a 3yr 100K Klm full factory waranty + a further 75K Klm 3yr limited parts warranty and all the usual roadside assist stuff etc.
I traded an 04 (SH)Citroen C2 for it , which is an acute example of absolute Eurotrash–on it’s good days-of which it has none.
I got $10K trade on the (sh)Citroen against an Oct build TK09 demonstrator with 500klms on it and payed a further $2K to drive away ,
– happy–you betcha.

george feiner

barina tk best car i ever owned 20000 kays no problems i thrash it to the max geefa

Mikebarber6

No wonder it didn’t last

Limited

Has ANYONE noticed the falling quality of safety standards for ALL cars these days?

“EXPERTS” look at “SAFETY” as if they are more worried about a few bumps and scratches from a low speed accident (40km/h) as a major catastrophy, yet being crushed to death because of the steadily degrading strength of the parts, isnt anything to worry about.

Try taking a 2008 Falcon, up against a 1980 Kingswood, then see which driver gets to know what sardines feel like.

New car parts have been designed to crumble to reduce impact, but have the “EXPERTS” thought it through?
Melissa

I bought a 2007 Barina New and the automatic has had a solanoid go in it four times. I feel as though it is constantly being returned for repairs and the inconvenience is rediculous. So much for a warranty – I’d like a refund on this lemon but instead I have to just keep taking it back. Can you think of any other faulty item you would have to keep taking back for patching and instead of getting your momney back you continue to lose thousands. I’d like to sell it but I couldn’t do it privately – I’d feel like scum.
Terry

I own a Barina XC 3 door and i is the greatest pile of shyte I have ever owned. And I owned a TF Cortina! Not working, this week, fuel guage, hub caps (won’t stay on) brakes shudder, idles badly, misses at 80km/h, does 12l / 100km fuel consumption with quiet freeway driving, luggage cover doesn’t lift or cover, loosing coolant but no visible signs, paint faded badly and falling off door frames and window frames flex and allow water and air in at 100km/h on the freeway. Worst car I have ever owned!

Jimmy

Exactly the same problems I’ve experienced with my girlfriends XC. I mean Exactly! I’m writing a letter to Holden. You should too.

annie fraser

My Barina 2009 has just begun having that SOLONOID problem..
Transmission stuck.Now I see its COMMON.
Very disappointed.
Gavin

Never, Never, Never buy a Holden. Bought a used Holden Barina for 10k from a Holden Dealer, in 2 years have spent 7k to get/keep it running. They just swap out stuff and you have to pay, even when it DOES NOT FIX THE FAULTS.

2 years and still ongoing problems but now the are sure they know what the problem is, a $2500.00 ECU swap will almost certainly fix the problem of it cutting out all the time. It has got so bad we have fitted a quick release fitting to the battery to reset the computer and get us on the road.

Holden expect you to spend what the car is worth on repairs in the first 2 years and still keep spending.

NEVER BUYING A HOLDEN AGAIN, EVER!!
Elyse

Worst car ever! I bought a new Holden Barina TK in 06 and it has been nothing but trouble. My services have cost me thousands! A spark plug broke off and put a ding in the cylinders, conveniently just after the warranty ran out. I have read of this happening to a few others too. Last time I took it for a service it had a heap of leaks and I was stung about $800 which didn’t even fix the problem. Not long after that the ABS started playing up and I haven’t been game to take it to be fixed as I know it’s gonna set me back hundreds, if not thousands. I’ve finally had enough and am trading it in (for peanuts) this week for something with a better safety rating thats going to be more reliable. I’ll never buy holden again.

george feiner

bought my car new 20010 barina tk model i drive it hard top car no problems geefa

Mikebarber6

Would’nt like to buy it from you then if its been driven hard or thrashed to the max

James

I dont care I still like them and want one.
http://westnet Steve

I have to agree Elyse. I have a 2007 model and had nothing but trouble. I’ve had 6 electronic parts go, luckily 4 while in warranty that lost me the car for a day but fixed for free and then 2 issues after warranty that had me stung for $50 for parts and over $600 in labour. Ive just done the 60,000k service and now the rocker cover leaks as well for another $230 added to the $1000 service. This was my first holden and it will be my last.
franz chong

I have just recently been to the UK and saw the ones they call the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa over there and to be honest I am disgusted Holden went to Korea to source the model that replaced the XC Series.Although Opel will be setting up shop in Australia soon meaning that those of you who want a good European Supermini but can’t justify the money for an Audi A1 or Volkswagen Polo and are a little put off by the fact the Fiesta now comes from Thailand It’s five years too late
drama queen

You get what you pay for!!!!!!!!!
Get a better job and then you will be able to buy a 5 star Cruze
george feiner

tk barina 2010 dun 20000 km no problems top car
http://Caradvice foxy

People, people the problem is not the Barina…yeah fair enough if Koreans are making these cars then they should be scrapped along with most Holdens and Fords. Let’s face it true quality comes from Germany & Japan at a price…the main problem is “you get what you paid for”. Let’s face it people are cheap and money doesn’t go far in this country so if you’re on a budget you might as well get a bike! Car dealers don’t care about quality and safety if they did alot more people would be buying Barinas. Plus why are dealers such ripoffs, you can get a new car easily but try and buy a used one or a trade in…no way!
Andy

I’ve driven a ’93 Barina for the last 4 years, and it was a great first car for me, only had to replace the starter motor once. It runs well, cheap on fuel, still not completely sure on the safety, but I guess I’ve been lucky enough not to find out. This car was not a lemon, but I can’t speak on everyones behalf, because there will be faulty ones around. All in all my experience with the Barina was great, although I probably won’t look to get another one.
Tegan

I had a 2009 my09 TK barina. Was a great car I recently had a fairly serious car accident involving two trees the car just crumpled and are still trying work out how am alive not to mention the air bags didn’t go off. The car litterally pretty much just crumpled into a heap of metal I was going at not quite 100kp/h. Though the roll bar did a good job. I still think they are a great car to drive and handle but I’m still a bit hesitant about the way they crumple.
Danny

i own a 2011 tk barina sedan i love it drives well no problems with it,, i couldnt give a rats about all this ancap testing half of it is all fake anyway- ,,,no car is designed to go head on at 110kph and survive,,,when its your time to go you will go even,,so just drive respectfully on the road…. if your in a 5star $200000 merc makes no difference….
Ijk_33

Wrx sti )