I just got my final call from GM. Once again, they refuse to sit at the table, much less roll the dice w/ me over my car's problems. For once, that is fine with me. The difference now is that my life schedule has finally slowed down - literally after tonight. So I have nothing better to do with my time for the next 3 weeks than to orchestrate and execute every possible means at my disposal to seek a solution for my problems with the C5.

Their only response was "GM will continue to abide by the warranty agreement until it wears out." Guess what, I have another 2000 miles and a full year before that happens. Normally, 2000 miles would be gone in a month and a half. But I'm not driving it any more. In a worst-case scenario I will just hit GM up for every conceivable repair under the stars on that car. From weather stripping to oil leaks and from the rear end case to the engine harness. But I don't intend to be stuck with the car that long.

I am upset over the consistently poor condition of my car. I have now lost over 90 to 100 days on the car to service. And those services range from the mundane to the "where the hell did that come from?".

But what has me seething is the consistently negative treatment I have received from GM through their Customer Service department, local service shops, regional reps, et al. If they were forthcoming and at least made the attempt to put on a show of wanting to make things right with the car... I might not be so upset. But they are just blowing all the problems the car has had right out the window. I know they are hoping for me to just ride out the warranty so they can be rid of me. That's not happenin'.

I am really mad that they can just write off such BLATANT problems with my car. I have felt a noticable SOTP difference in power and seen my average MPG go from a usual 24.4 to 20.7. That is average, not instant. It keeps a running tally the whole time you drive. So it would not be affected by anyone with a ledfoot unless they drove around in an automatic with a non lock-up 9" 5500 stall convertor. Or I might expect an average mpg of 20.7 out of a heads/cam car making 480hp - but not a low-miles LS1 stocker that sees entirely highway commuting.

I'm not going to get into the list of complaints, that's available in the sig. But I WILL be looking into borring a trailer and attending some BIG shows with my car, a tent, some big yellow nylon stickers saying "Lemon" emblazoned across the car, and a table with refreshments and pamphlets going over my problems and GM's treatment of them.

In any case, I have a whole desk here at home dedicated to my campaign to get the car dealt with. BBB, Lemon Law, and a lawyer are all going to be handled Thursday and Friday. My paperwork is in order and I know I am better organized than GM since I was quoting dates and services that they did not even have on record.

To sum it up, my car is paid off and has gone through a series of unrelated and unbeleivable defects and repairs that have left the car in questionable repair and a risk to my safety and those around me. GM has made the least possible effort to handle these problems and has, in one incident, gone so far as to swindle me out of what should have been a warranty repair on a defective part that cost me over $1100. I have shown a patience with their disservice that would outlast the stone faces on Mt Rushmore. My misplaced loyalty and faith in my car and their service has left me with a car that averages 1 week in the shop for every 3 that it is on the street in the warm months and over 1 full month a year for problems other than the standard oil change or in-and-out service.

Hopefully, this will be the final chapter in this ongoing fiasco of red tape and corporate irresponsibility.

I would appreciate it if anyone who reads this would post a response as a form of guestbook and a way to keep in the public eye.

I hope you all get many tens of thousands of miles worth of enjoyment out of your Corvettes and that none of you have to go through this with your pride and joy. :nonod:

 

I understand your PO'd...but isn't this topic better suited in 'Off-Topic'?

 

Give it up dude. No manufacturer makes a perfect car, I've heard from plenty of people who have bought a bad Mercedes or (insert the name of any car here). Some people will take it upon themselves as a personal mission if their car has trouble - everyone else that I know usually gets the proper help and repairs unless they have made themselves impossible to deal with. For other people I know, if a car is good to them they keep it longer, if they have reason to question it they trade in sooner. Your case probably has merit, and I'm sure you are a nice guy, but I get the feeling that you have gone mental on this one and made yourself a tremendous burden on those you seek to have fix your car.

Good luck, Thomas

 

SELL THE CAR :smash:
Get a C-4 :cheers:

 

keep fighting! :boxing

 

You should have contacted the BBB long before now. It would have saved you (and your dealer) a lot of headaches. 100 days in the shop within a year, and you will receive a replacement vehicle. I have used the BBB Lemon Law with Chevrolet in the past. There is no need for legal representation.

 

Too bad you're on the rightside coast. The Calif. Lemon Law says 3 trips to the dealer for the same repair and you get a new car. I know a lady here that has has received a 97, 99, and a 02 under the law.

 

I thought CT had a similar (lemon) law. For what it's worth, report everything to NHTSA at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. (though they are virtually worthless; for example, their lack of involvement in the Firestone/Ford fiasco until after most of the suits were filed & settled). But what you can also do is a search for anyone with similar complaints as well as get you're problem on record for anyone that might want to contact you. If any complaints were filed by a Law Firm, contact that firm and see if they're contemplating a class action lawsuit. Those suits generally get the General's attention or if a letter is sent from a Firm with the right reputation, it sometimes gets results.

 

Keep up the fight!!! With the money you pay, no one should expect anything less!! But remember, don't let the little things bother you.

 

another member here had a C5 loose a suspension bracket...

sounds like you need to report this to NHTSA...

 

keep :boxing

Which dealership had you been working with. Just as a heads up for us other Nutmeggers.

Have you thought about calling up one of the local TV stations that have a citizens action segment. Like Channel 3's "3 on your side" they seem to get results.

Chuck

 

Yeah, I lost my driver front suspension on my car!

Green Rocket - I know you don't know me - but I am VERY experienced with cars (especially GM / Chevy late-models) and am not just tooting my own horn. I have actually been really good with the service guys - its not their fault the car keeps coming up with something else to come apart. And I even hang out with two of them at some local car shows. So I have not made it a mission to **** them off - that would be detrimental to my situation to have someone working on my car that is pissed off at me or the car! Common sense.

That aside, I'm sure ANYONE would be tired of cranking on the same car for the same problem or various different ones EVERY 2nd week of EVERY month for the past two years. I know I am.....

But I hear where you are coming from since there are a LOT of guys with these cars that don't know what is what under the hood or that cop attitudes. Not the norm, but a definite part of the C5 population. And there are plenty of guys who don't or have never worked on a car before and expect them to run flawlessly. I am not one of those types. Trust me, I've built enough F-bodies, Mustangs, old VWs, and beaters to know the deal.

I didn't mean to go on a tangent, but I want it to be clear that I am a grease monkey and know the car in and out - and that I am not a Polo Shirt crying wolf.

That being said....
My AAA is all full up for towing miles already this year - - and I have the Plus membership! I wonder which car has used all of those miles...........?

Anyway, I had a friend drive me down to pick up the C5. He was going to tail me home. I didn't even get out of the driveway and the steering wheel is clicking and locking like those locking teeth on a car lift and the wheel is HEAVY as all hell to move. Plus the ABS inop light and service AH/TC come on. NICE.

So I reversed it to their main access bay and parked it. Come to think of it, for some reason the shifter felt funky - maybe I'm over-reacting to that one now. But on the wheel they did not remove the pin, just replaced the lock mechanism. It obviously is NOT working right and would have been ANOTHER danger to me I'm sure. I have not had the time to call an attorney today. That is planned for Monday morning. This is EXCELLENT ammo for my side. Keep pouring it on, GM! :mad :rolleyes: :U

 

Sorry to hear you got a bad one. Keep up the fight :boxing and stick it to the General every chance you get for trying this crap on a flagship customer. :smash: Give 'em hell!!!!!!! :mad

 

I read this post and figured you were just another chronic complainer that the dealers just love to see walk in the door. But after I read your post about the specific problems you had I changed my mind. Sorry to hear of all your troubles. I think all forum members that are going to buy C5's tell their dealer about this guys problems and have them contact thier GM rep. That will get them off center.

Jason

 

stick it to em

 

 

DITTO!

 

don't feel bad... I made the first initial reaction, however, after reading his other post, I changed my mind... then remembering the other C5 member who lost his suspension bracket... makes me wonder.

also, there was a question in one of the magazines recently about leaky rear diff housings... they had no remedy... except to say they were unaware... but this now makes 2 such problems... that is way too many and could consititute a problem.

here is a couple of my favourite whiner stories:

1) a woman, several years ago, owned a late 80s Chyrsler product - sorry about her luck - that never did run right... now, this all took place about 1992 or so. however, she said "I will never buy a NEW car with fuel injection again. never." I said "ah, good luck. you can't buy a new car with carbs anymore..." she said "I don't care. I will get one" or soemthing to that extent. I walked away after that.

2) young lady I know bought a late model used Accord EX coupe. nice ride. however, the tires are cracking... dry rotting. she felt the dealership should buy her new Michelins... I said "why? the car has 30k miles on it and its no longer the dealers legal responsibility"... she was like "yes it is. I bought the car there". I said, "so. tire warrantees are the provenence of the tire maker" she said "I will get the dealer to buy me new tires". I quit.

see? stupid people abound. given correct and accurate facts, they walk off the cliff anyway....

:crazy:


[Modified by bogus, 6:11 PM 5/31/2002]

 

Fight it. After hearing your second response, I think all of us here realize what kind of a hole you're in. Your front suspension bracket came off, and GM claimed no problem? Maybe I should start looking at another manufacturer. I saw a sign at a dealership here (Ron Rusch Lincoln/Mercury--Columbus, OH) and he had a good sign in his mechanic's shop. It said "The customer is the focus of everything we do." That's the problem today, there is no such thing as a customer anymore.

 

Buy a C4!


[Modified by LT5FIRE, 8:49 PM 5/31/2002]