Don't Buy A New Chevy

[DMC12]

For $35,000 this is what you get by buying a new Chevy:

Car pulls to one side (had to pay for an alignment)

Front tires wear unevenly (had to buy new tires)

Car won't start (stranded for half an hour)

Car won't start (stranded for half an hour)

Car won't start (stranded for half 2 hours)


And expect to get treated like dirt from your dealer, who always happens to be a good ol' boy that can't seem to duplicate your problem. Warranties aren't any good if the dealer denies the car needs repair!

[bowtiebandit]

I am sorry you feel this way. Not all Dealers are this way trust me. I wouldnt be here if they where. The warranty issue is a tricky one. If we cant get the vehicle to exhibit the concern and we throw a part at it guess what...if you come back with same complaint alot of times we get to pay for the repair out of our pocket. I try not to guess at any repair..would rather work with customer ie test drives with customer, bring it right by if it acts up and so on, to get issue resolved.

[Shortbus]

Originally posted by DMC12
And expect to get treated like dirt from your dealer, who always happens to be a good ol' boy that can't seem to duplicate your problem. Warranties aren't any good if the dealer denies the car needs repair!

You can take it to another Chevrolet Dealer to have the warranty work done. Most dealers are scored on CSI ratings, and therefore they want to do everything they can to make sure you leave completely satisfied. Also check out the vehicle lemon law.

http://autopedia.com/html/HotLinks_Lemon.html

BTW - Thanks for not flaming. I opened this post expecting every other word to be obscene.

:flash:

[DMC12]

This law is basically useless unless I bring in an attourney with me to the service dept to record the event, argue my case and scare them into helping me out. The Lemon Law states that:

The manufacturer has not fixed the problem(s) after four or more attempts or the vehicle's problem(s) could cause death or serious bodily injury if driven and the manufacturer or dealer has made at least two unsuccessful repairs attempts; or the vehicle has been in the shop for more than 30 days (not necessarily in a row) for repair of any problem(s) covered by its factory warranty and if the warranty or owner's manual requires you to do so, that you have notified the manufacturer about your problems. (Best done in writing.)

I've been to four different dealers, and they either:
1. Don't have a guy in today that works on that part of the car.
2. The service advisor can't seem to write down exactly what I'm saying on the service ticket. One time I had him re-word it four times because he kept changing what I was saying.
3. They cannot duplicate the problem I describe.
4. It is my fault.

With the tire wear issue, I brought the vehicle in with 2,000 miles and they told me that they won't even look at a vehicle with that little mileage. Service departments have discovered a "loop-hole" in the law by simply denying that they can duplicate the customer's complaint. No attempts at repair = no lemon law.

I'm sorry this has become an "Us vs. Them" affair I know they have to be unwilling to help at first beacuse they get some pretty dumb requests... but I'm not the typical customer. These issues are real. I know there are good dealers out there somewhere... just not in So. Cal
I guess

[Shortbus]

Have you tried calling Chev Customer Assist? 1-800-222-1020

They can sometimes help out with getting attention at a particular dealer you are having trouble with.

Don't know what else to tell you, maybe set it on fire in their service drive j/k

Good luck.

[SuPeRcAr_MaN]

I have never hear any problems like this with a Chevy. This is something I expect from Ford.

[Melt]

My dads 98 silverado truck is having problems like this also, first it was pulling to one side, and so we got an alignment and 2 new tires, then had the brakes done, the right caliper is still dragging ... also may need a new fuel pump soon.

On the other hand, he just hit 125k miles, and its a company car so it isnt like we are paying for this out of pocket.

[DMC12]

Thanks bowtiebandit and jgillham :smoker2:

I'll try contacting Chevy's Customer Assistance line.

[Shortbus]

n/p keep us updated

Sometimes you just have to persist and let them know you
aren't going to just go away.
When courtesy doesn't work try some
:flamer: :rocket: :eshooter: :badass: :greenchai

[blueburbboober]

thats your problem, you are trying to get it fixed in CALIFORNIA. i just moved to CA, and lemme tell ya, noone here knows squat about cars. i moved from flint, where they MAKE cars, (detroit too) and the dealers there actually will help you with your problems, and have good mechanics. since the idiots in CA are giving you the runaround, deal with coorporate GM employees, they are more likely to help you. My dad has been working for GM for over 23 years, and ill never buy anything else. dont be discouraged by the idiots here in CA.

-Rob-

[Shortbus]

Damn..... way to dig up a Dinosaur

But really glad to get another pro Chevy Post here.

[DMC12]

Originally posted by blueburbboober
thats your problem, you are trying to get it fixed in CALIFORNIA.

I agree that Cali is lacking many things.

Well, the GM customer service line was a joke. They contacted the dealer that tried to fix my problems. The dealer promised to do a "ride-along". Customer service considers than a solution, so they closed my case. #1 - I'm not taking a day off work to drive to that dealer druing a week day... I'd lose my job. #2 - I know exactly what the service manager is going to say, and I know I'd shoot him... I don't want to go to jail.

[xtrmdrm]

Originally Posted by DMC12

Well, the GM customer service line was a joke. They contacted the dealer that tried to fix my problems.

I have to concur. Two years ago, my '96 Burb quit on I-95 just outside of Richmond, VA because the alternator died (we're from NY). After AAA, a tow to the local dealer in Chester, VA, and $300, we were on our way (going to Rock Hill,SC to visit my daughter's soon-to-be college). I bought my vehicle in April 1999 with 38K and a 3/36 Goodwrench (GW)warranty. The alternator quit 50 or so miles out of warranty. When we got back two days and 1500 miles later, I called the local dealer which just performed service two weeks before I left. They had the truck for a month and replaced the main and connecting rod bearings to apply a TSB for crankshaft noise even though I thought it was a valvetrain noise (GW approved this service and not a new engine). The local dealer said GW would not honor the warranty. Called GW and I did not get satisfaction, goodwill, etc., just angrier. Called GM Customer Service and got their mailing address. I documented all of the problems I had with the vehicle (all before 75K miles!):

Dome Light Switch
Rear differential
Front and rear universal joints
Air conditioner compressor 2 TIMES
Exhaust crossover pipe 2 TIMES
Master cylinder
Battery 2 TIMES
Radiator
Oil cooler lines
Crankshaft main and connecting rod bearings
Alternator 2 TIMES
Brake power booster
Water pump
Rear seals
Rear air conditioner evaporator and lines

They responded FOUR MONTHS later to my letter and asked me to call them. I did and their response? Sorry, but all dealers/service departments are independently owned and operated, and Chevrolet has no control. They refused any intervention because of this. 'I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do', they said. What a load! But they did offer me a 5% discount on a new GM vehicle, if I desired. I told them I predicted there was a new vehicle in my future and it was NOT a GM.

Does it get worse, you ask? Yes it does, the engine gave up the ghost while we were on vacation last summer, with my wife and baby in the car. The crankshaft broke between cylinders 5 and 6. After another $5K in re-manufactured engine and 'nickel-and-dime' parts, $1K for the THIRD AND FOURTH crossover pipe, $1000 for a fuel pump and pressure regulator and soon to be $500 for new injectors, what am I left with? A $36,000 lemon I have spent $8000 in repairs on in the last 10 months, gets 10MPG, needs brakes every 12K miles, no front or rear interior lights, a leaking rear window and an ABS light that will not go off. And a prayer to God each time I turn the key it will start. Not exactly a comfort level I desire when my wife is alone with the kids in the car!

Sorry for the length but after owning Dodge, Ford and GM (I drag race a 1975 Chevy Monza), there is a VERY strong possibility I may become Toyota-man VERY soon.

[DMC12]

Well, I feel your pain... although my problems seem miniscule in comparison.

Originally Posted by xtrmdrm

there is a VERY strong possibility I may become Toyota-man VERY soon.

I'm thinking Nissan or Infiniti will get my money. And to think... I used to be the #1 evangelist for buying American!!!

[MarioM]

"Sorry for the length but after owning Dodge, Ford and GM (I drag race a 1975 Chevy Monza), there is a VERY strong possibility I may become Toyota-man VERY soon."


You seem to have gotten a _real_ bomb. However, I too am now
never again buying GM (or Ford). Having 40 years to watch the
whole sorry thing from under the hood, I can say without reservation that GM couldn't care less what we think. They design EVERY part of their vehicles for the 3-year lease cycle. Keep it longer and you will
become very familiar with every nut and bold...if you can afford it.
Best part is that they make major mistakes all the time, and instead
of at least making good on it, they shag you to death. And, they
expect you to buy another one. They've become real good at
changing most of the small parts each year to keep the aftermarket
companies from knocking them off. Then, in exactly ten years,
you can't get those parts anymore. When the aftermarket boys
make the stuff, you can get it for 25 years.

Contrast that with the Toyota and Nissan offerings and there is no
contest. We have had dozens of delivery vehicles at work, from
vans to small PUP's and it isn't even close. The all time champs are
the Nissan PU and the older small Toyota PU trucks. We still have
a '95 Nissan PU with 240K on it and that's with only an auto trans
rebuild. The old Mazda B2200's were also very durable.

And, let's not start the "buy US" thing. There's more foreign
content in a GM (especially Chinese crap) than any other.
When a company treats its customers like crap, then I see
no reason to patronize them.