story: 1st week of ownership, 02 Aurora 3.5

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Last Sunday my wife decided she had to have an 02 Aurora. Bought a 3.5 with 9000 (nine thousand) miles in spotless condition. Has almost 2 years, 41k mi left in factory warranty.

Sunday: Bought car, wife drove 100 miles. Went home, rolled up the windows, left rear window regulator broke.

Monday (Memorial Day): Took it to the dealer, also told them about 2 areas of peeling leather and a loose interior trim piece. Got Cadillac CTS loaner.

Tuesday: Wife drove CTS

Wednesday: Wife drove CTS all day, picked up Aurora that night. Aurora has new A-pillar and C-pillar trim and new rear window regulator on drivers' side. Re-glued leather on console. No charge.

Thursday: Wife drove Aurora

Friday: Aurora stalled a few times, once tach stuck at 8000 RPM (engine was at normal idle).

Saturday: Took Aurora back to dealer, got CTS.

Sunday: Wife drove CTS.

Monday: Wife out of town, I drove CTS in morning, got Aurora back in afternoon. Aurora has new crank sensors, new outer tie rod ends. No charge.

Tuesday: I drove Aurora to work. Went to lunch with co-workers, one of whom put up the passenger side rear window. Regulator broke. Went to dealer after lunch. Got CTS, went back to work. After work, took CTS back, got Aurora. Has new right rear window regulator. No charge. Drove around Cadillac dealer's used car lot, contemplated trying to give Aurora back and take non-GM car from lot. Will discuss with wife later.

Tropical Cadillac of Bradenton FL has been EXCELLENT. Of course, I don't make an ass of myself, ranting about the car like some people might, which probably helps. And it's not their fault that GM did a lousy job on this car. It's also not their fault that I traded in a 97 Lumina cop car that required only $200 in repairs (besides normal wear/service items) between 38k mi and 100k mi. The real test will be if my wife wants to give the car back, will they take it?

Tune in tomorrow to see what color CTS I drive next.

[JTrujillo86]

I would say keep the car since all of this has been done and since there is still some warranty left. I bought my Alero with 24K miles on and it was in the shop a few times until the warranty was up at 36K miles, sometimes more than once for the same issue. I now have nearly 50K miles on it and it has been an amazing car. I haven't had to do ANYTHING out of pocket to it, besides oil changes. Right now its in the shop because I wrecked it, but I can't wait to get her back.

Who knows...maybe this time will be the last time you have to take it in...and if not, then feel good knowing GM is paying for it.

Jeremy

P.S. By the way, was this a "Certified Used" from GM? If so, why didn't the dealership catch the fact the car needed tie rods when they did the inspection to certify the car?

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by JTrujillo86

P.S. By the way, was this a "Certified Used" from GM? If so, why didn't the dealership catch the fact the car needed tie rods when they did the inspection to certify the car?

Oh yeah. That's one area where the dealer slipped up. One would assume they actually did the Certified Used inspection before we bought it. Then when the first window regulator broke they said they'd do another full inspection to catch any other problems. Somehow that failed to catch the tie rod ends.

Logically, since we've fixed the crank sensors and tie rod ends, two of the most popular failures on these cars, we should be in pretty good shape. And I'm a pretty logical guy. I also know random chance can explain how two window regulators failed in one week. But we're aleady past the official time we can give the car back, and the chance of talking them into taking it back anyway diminishes with every passing day. I don't have time to fix the car once a week for the next 5 years, nor the money to pay someone else to do it. They actually offered to give us the car to drive for a week before we bought it. Shoulda done it.....

[Jacko30]

Seems odd to me a 9000 mile Aurora and so many problems. I own an '02
with 59000 miles and have none of these problems and I live in a harsh climate. Also have not noticed trough any Oldsmobile forum that tie rods or windows are a main problem. Should have bought a Honda or Camry but that would have been a boring drive.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by Jacko30

Should have bought a Honda or Camry but that would have been a boring drive.

Honestly the Aurora drives a lot like my 75 year old mother's 2000 LeSabre, except the LeSabre feels like it has more torque. To each his own, I guess.

Complete warranty history since new:

3/02 - door lock remote
3/03 - rear armrest and/or support
7/03 - RF window regulator, fuel sender and/or pump
12/03 - intermediate steering shaft
5/05 - repairs I listed in first post

Speaking of warranty, they told me the original in-service date on the car, then told me I had 2 months left on the 3/36. Those two facts did not match. In fact, the 3/36 ran out 2 MONTHS AGO, but they're still fixing trim items and windows and providing a loaner car! I'm not pleased with the car, but I sure do like the folks we bought it from.

[Jacko30]

Well than sell the Aurora and drive the LeSabre and quit the constant whining.
I believe this forum is to help people with problems not to hear constant complaints, this is very boring.
According to you all you problems are fixed and will be fixed under warranty.
Another thing I have never seen tie-rods wear out in 9000 miles and it seems to me your car might have been in an accident.
Good luck anyway.

[Riche_guy]

Well the things that went wrong could have with any other car. I guess it it the luck of the draw. In your case your lucky to have a warranty, to be given a Cadillac as a loaner and to have a great car. Cars will break down no exceptions.

Here where I live you have 30 days to make a decision if you want to keep the car, used or new.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by Jacko30

this is very boring.

Feel free to not read my thread then.

I think it's an entertaining but sad story that could be enlightening to anyone who is considering buying an Aurora. If we couldn't laugh about it, we'd probably cry.

If it wasn't under warranty, and if I had to pay for the repairs thus far, I'd have spent $1500 on repairs in the first week. That's something people might want to hear when they're shopping for a car. Only one data point in the however-many thousands sold.

And I did loudly proclaim how great my dealer is.

Finally, I will say the Aurora is a nice car. It's big, comfortable, luxurious, good-looking, quiet. Hopefully we've passed the car's growing pains and it will now be as reliable as your Aurora is. I'll never think it's exciting, but we didn't buy it for excitement. I've got a motorcycle for that.

Have a nice day....

[Hansnet]

It does sound like the car sat or a while or was in an accident.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by Hansnet

It does sound like the car sat or a while or was in an accident.

I have the whole service history (warranty repairs and oil changes) with dates and odometer readings. It was driven 3000 miles per year with no particular interruptions use.

And there is absolutely not a single indication of any damage whatsoever to body or chassis and no evidence that the car has been repaired in any way. I was an autobody tech and painter and I'd know.

I know I've seen other people on the net with defective tie rod ends on Auroras and other GM cars; maybe they're not as prevalent as I thought if y'all haven't seen them, but it did seem like a known issue.

[tjm]

I have noticed window regulators on the 2nd gen Auroras are a frequent topic in other forums.

The tie-rod issue sumpped me a little until i realized that your car is 3 yrs old and has probably only had 2 or 3 oil changes in the 9000 miles (verify that with your service records). If the oil had been changed at a place like Jiffy-lube or speedy oil change, they usually lube the chassis as part of the service. However, to lube the chassis only 2 or 3 times in 3 years may have allowed the lubrication to dry up and thus cause premature failure of the components.

Additionally, if the oil changes were performed by the owner... most people don't have a grease gun.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Good thought, but it's had the oil changed/lubed 3x per year by the dealer. Actually I'm surprised that chassis parts still have grease fittings (if they do).....

Previous owner is a retired employee of the dealer.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by CharlieFoxtrot

the 3/36 ran out 2 MONTHS AGO, but they're still fixing trim items and windows and providing a loaner car!

Oh, OK, the Certified Used cars get a 3 month/3000 mi warranty.

http://www.gmbuypower.com/cuvHome.cv

That's probably what they were telling me about, when I thought they were referring to the original warranty.

[tjm]

Problems aside...

What you have is what i think i will be looking for when my classic has lived it's life. a 2nd gen with ultra-low miles and over 200,000 mile to go!

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by tjm

over 200,000 miles to go!

I sure hope so, 'cuz that's what it's gonna have in 5 years when it's paid off....