C5 Reliability
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Portland Oregon
C5 Reliability
I am getting close to purchasing a C5 and I had thought I had seen other entries in here about the reliability of various years but can not seem to find them, thus this posting.
I looked at consumer reports for C5s and noted:
- Electrical much worse than average until 03 when it goes better than average
- Ditto for power equipment
- Rest of the scores ok, with 03 and 04 being much better overall
- In general, up until 03 the consumer reports scores are just ok...some good, some not so good
I was kind of surprised to see these scores. I have been reading this forum for some time and was sure the C5 was the way to go based on what seems to me to be pretty good reliability, especially relative to the C4s. I hate to make any decision based soley on consumer reports, but on the other hand, I just want to make sure I am not getting into trouble.
I actually do like to do some of mine own wrenching. I just don't want to do tooooo much wrenching to keep a car on the road. Been there, done that...gets annoying.
All thoughts on reliability appreciated. At what mileage does the maintenance curve start to head up?
I looked at consumer reports for C5s and noted:
- Electrical much worse than average until 03 when it goes better than average
- Ditto for power equipment
- Rest of the scores ok, with 03 and 04 being much better overall
- In general, up until 03 the consumer reports scores are just ok...some good, some not so good
I was kind of surprised to see these scores. I have been reading this forum for some time and was sure the C5 was the way to go based on what seems to me to be pretty good reliability, especially relative to the C4s. I hate to make any decision based soley on consumer reports, but on the other hand, I just want to make sure I am not getting into trouble.
I actually do like to do some of mine own wrenching. I just don't want to do tooooo much wrenching to keep a car on the road. Been there, done that...gets annoying.
All thoughts on reliability appreciated. At what mileage does the maintenance curve start to head up?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Creek CA
My dad put over 150K miles on his '86 C4...no problems except for replacing the clutch and regular maintanence like tires/brakes.
He now owns a '02 C5...has put about 70K miles on it so far. No problems yet, just regular maintanence.
I just bought a used '02 C5 a few months ago...30K miles. So far, so good.
He now owns a '02 C5...has put about 70K miles on it so far. No problems yet, just regular maintanence.
I just bought a used '02 C5 a few months ago...30K miles. So far, so good.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Prattville AL
Meh...take CR for what its worth and nothing more. Any car with lots of electronics can result in you having to replace a component of it down the line. The only thing to really watch out for electronically is the column lock.
MONARTOR
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 249,902
Likes: 146
From: What I know, is dwarfed by what I pretend to know
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
my 02 is coming up on 70K with no,none, electrical problems..nary any big problems at all.. rear seal has been the biggest thing I think..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 2
From: MCO
Originally Posted by SphyNxXx
Meh...take CR for what its worth and nothing more. Any car with lots of electronics can result in you having to replace a component of it down the line. The only thing to really watch out for electronically is the column lock.
The next annoying item from the electrics list is the tire pressure sensors.
These latter two items are definitely NOT show stoppers -- you can just keep driving (although, you might run out of gas!)
