Bill, I'm sorry, but with respect, I find myself in disagreement with you. In the spirit of sharing differing views, I hope its okay for me to opine

Based upon my experience (and I believe I share the reliability experiences of others), the C5 has had a disproportionate amount of problems in just one year than any other car I have ever owned. Further, there does appear to be a pattern. Don't get me wrong, I love this car to death for what it is... an absolutely thrilling - proud to be American sports car....but reliability misses the mark. For clarification, the power train is bullet proof, but the reliability I am making reference to is the electrical/electronics/on board computer systems/component connectors.

You mentioned that problems were fixed that could not been seen. From a pre-release standpoint, I'm sure this is true. However, as an end-consumer, I care about the post production problems that have occurred year after year. For example, a common problem is the Door Control Module loosing its ability to lock the door because (determined by some intelligent Forum member I presume) the DCM had a bad relay that would burn out. I know this happened on '99 C5's and possibly earlier. I own an '02 and it had the same problem. The only post product problem I know of (and I'm sure there are a few others) that GM addressed was the 2001 oil leaking issue in the engine.

Your final comment infers that almost no new C5 owners drove their C5's as a daily driver. I do agree that a lot of people do keep their C5 as a weekend ride. However, I'm skeptical on the point that not enough owners drove their C5's to prevent GM from collecting failure data within the first three years. I think this is certainly geographical. Climates in the Southwest lend themselves to people driving their vettes everyday. I come across a C6 at least once a day. The Northeast is probably a different story.

I hope I didn't step on any toes.

 

We sold my wifes 1994 Honda Accord just over a year ago with 212,000 miles on it....over that life span we did the following...replaced the clutch, replaced the radiator, replaced the drivers window door switch and.............oh yeah..thats it...(except for usual maintenance items)...oh and btw..that car cost what?? 1/2 of what a new Vette cost for the same model year?

I also have two Jeeps a Grand Cherokee and a Liberty with a few minor issues here and there...BUT..we went to buy my wife a new car and she just refuses to buy American and there are MANY people out there like that....so we bought a new VW Jetta 5spd which she loves...

I am a HUGE proponent of buying American and I love Chevrolet..but somethings gotta give...

As for class action...the only people who make out in the end are the lawyers as was pointed out earlier in the thread...

 

Dude,
No offense, but I worked my way through college as a GM service tech, I was trained at Tarrytown, NY, and later, in the late '90's worked part-time as a GM ASEP trainer. I understand what you say about my experiences being isolsted, but my GM experience goes beyond my own personal ownership issues. In total I have worked for a Buick, Chevrolet, and Ford franchise in service. In the last 20 years I've also repaired and serviced many vehicles on my own at home as well. I also will tell you that I wouldn't own anything with a VW tag on it as well, their quality is abysmal! I agree with Icewind Dale, my Mustangs (4) have been perfect cars, and I agree in cold climates they do rattle, some of mine did. But I'd rather have a rattle (easily fixed) as an issue, than a malfunctioning oil pressure sensor, column lock, leaking differential, EBCM, slipped crank pulley due to not being keyed (LS1), climate control display, shall I go on? Don't get me wrong, I love my Corvette, I'm just not happy with the quality of the components, and cost cutting measures they do on their products. And especially, when they don't own up to it and fix the problems in production. I think that's what irritates me the most.

Yes, did you realize the crank pulley on your LS1 has to take all the torque of the accessory drive, without a key in the crankshaft? And they come loose, walk off the shaft, and chew up your rack. So, you have to fix it yourself with a hand drill and a pinning kit...........NICE DEAL! And BTW, check your initial quality ratings, here's a quote from the latest report:

"While Ford proved that the Big Three could perform with the industry's best, the rest of Detroit's nameplates fared far more poorly - not a single General Motors or Chrysler brand rising above the industry average. The results of the 2007 IQS were particularly disappointing for GM's Cadillac, which fell from seventh to 25th."

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...73.A12440.html

Here

I'm sorry if your offended, I call them like I see them, and I've seen many, trust me.

John

 

My experience with new GM Chevrolet vehicles is always the same, they don't care. OR whether it is a used Chevrolet Corvette, they dont' care - you are simply a pain in the rear to them. A fly that is an annoyance.

GM has gone down kicking and screaming on the safety recall of the column lock. Many dealers charge owners in excess of $500. to repair when it should not cost the own nothing. GM doesn't care.

That attitude goes for just about any of them though, it's all about the mighty dollar. It cost these companies big money for recalls and they don't want to spend the money regardless of how many people get injured or killed by the product defects. Just look at the SUV rollover - tire issue for example.

More closer to home a locking steering wheel, do you actually think GM cares? Recently I had two conversations with GM customer assurance trying to get specific questions answered and find a local dealer who wasn't charging for this recall. Some local dealers wouldn't even do the recall. It took GM two days to find one dealer in the Orlando area who would. Just amazing.

And for all the trouble and inconvenience, they offered a free lube and oil change.... of course it's not applicable to a Corvette because Corvettes take 6 quarts and use special oil. I laughed in their face on that one. I absolutely couldn't believe that they had the gall to actually suggest a complimentary oil change but not effective for a Vette.

The only way for consumers to actually have an effect on this would be for all sales to cease period across the country. Class action lawsuits are useless, since the only one's who benefit are the slimy attorney's involved, not those affected by the product. But there will never be change on this and GM knows this. We all think as a group of the "pride and joy of Chevrolet" that we have some kind of voice here, think again when it is your problem your one person up against millions of GM people and a huge bureaucracy. Plus our vehicles are OLD, these are not new vehicles rolling off the assembly line. GM does not care about those vehicle only about selling the inventory they are producing.

Do you actually think GM cares if you get killed tomorrow because your steering locked up? Absolutely not, and they will fight the investigation all the way. Do you think that any of GM's upper management in the course of their day earning their huge salaries gives one rat's behind about whether something they produced is faulty and causes death! Absolutely not.

All they are interested in is whether or not we keep funding their lucrative bank accounts and those of the unions controlling GM.

 

I started this morning ready to rant about my 03 fuel guage shutting down yesterday for the 3 time in last 3 mo. after 3 cans of Tecron when I ran across this thread.

I actually calmed down after reading them. I can look back over 30 years of car ownership and count only about 2 that were generally problem free, Audi 5000's that took off by themselves like Steven King's Christine, GM diesel Buicks that left me stranded when only 2mo old, Fiats (yes I got the Itialian bug once) that fell apart daily, Nissan 300ZX and Chrysler Intrepids where both had side windows fall out.

My point is, nobody makes a trouble free car, even my neighbor who has 4 Lexus has had a couple go back to the dealer on a flat bed. A large % of the people on this forum are here to find a fix for their car so thats all we hear and read about, are the problems. After a while you get to believing, yes, our vette is a piece of junk, when, on retrospect, I don't really think that's true by any means. its not any better or worse than anything else we could own (from a problem standpoint). . . . .But it sure is fun to drive.

 

 

Am I the only one that has purchased a Corvette that has no complants? Yes I have replaced the oil sending unit but thats it. All in all it is a very good and dependable automobile. As a matter of fact I have owned my fair share of Mustangs growing up. Shelbys, Cobras, GTs, Bosses (429, 351, 302) and have had outstanding "luck" with all my cars! Always started, never stranded and when I'd get up one morning and decide to drive to California I didn't even take it in to be serviced before I took off. I drove with confidence to where I was going and got there to. Of all these cars I am the common denominator. Is it me or the car? I know there can be issues with bad workmanship, quality and assembly. There is no such thing as a "perfect" car. However I feel from my "luck" its how you treat 'em. They are like a woman. You pamper them and take good care of them and you get what you want. You miss treat them and you won't get some.
Just call me LUCKY.
Mine will proably blow up backing out of the garage now and if it does, I'll fix it. All taken into consideration, a car is a choice. You might get a good one (lucky) or you might get a bad one. If you get a bad one, divorce it and get a better one. I have a friend that has issues with one of the most expensive cars you can buy. There is not a perfect car out there. Corvettes are a choice. This beast has its issues. You either live with it or you don't. Simple.

 

[QUOTE=redvette777;1561766488]Am I the only one that has purchased a Corvette that has no complants? Yes I have replaced the oil sending unit but thats it.

Well mine has been a bit of a hangar queen. Bought mine used with 30,000 miles on it. First problem was the passenger door window motor died in first week. One month later it ws the infernal hazzard switch and intermittent turn signals. Next was two tire pressure sensors. Then that was followed by oil pressure sensor and then another oil pressure sensor a month later. Now the gas guage and just on the way to the house a few minutes ago the infamous Active handling steering warning came on. Add to that one motor for the headlamps. Arggggh! It is nickel and diming me at the rate of $300.00 plus a clip.

 

Explain to me why the AG's office would give a rat's *** about alleged poor workmanship?

Class action suits many times are filed just to remedy the problem, not make millions of dollars. GM's army of attorneys will bury this type of action in tedious litigations and most attorneys don't have the resources to have a case like this drag on for years which it would. Almost all the problems related are not safety issues. The one that is, was already addressed in a recall (actually three different versions). The jury (so to speak) is still out whether the recalls actually fixed the problem or in some cases made it worst (fuel cut off).

Bottom line is the consumer has the last word...if you don't like GM, don't buy GM. It is a crap shoot with any manufacturer, some have better odds then others. Now if GM could get their dealers to respond better to complaints and actually fix the problems, it might take some of the pain away from having to deal with these issues.

Hate to make comparisons but we have an Infiniti dealer here that provides the best service I have ever experienced. They handle your car as if it were theirs, seats and floor mats covered, loaners (in some cases brand new demos). The work is always done right the first time. If you call and make an appointment for a problem, they first check to see if the part you might need is in stock, if not they order one before you come in for service to save you the double visit for one repair.

Ok that's my 2 cents...

 

He didn't state that he, as well as many others, that they didn't like GM or their products. What they did state was their dissatisfaction with GM's QC. Yes, some manufacturers have problems with their lineup but these failures are randomn. What we have here is a common list of problems, and don't forget the oil pressure sensor that was recently added to the list. I have had the CLB failure, the leaking differential, the faulty headlight, and the dreaded ABS/TCS problem as well. IS this just a coincidence that when you talk to the majority of Vette owners that they have experienced these problems? No way in hell is it a coincidence. If you do a search on this problem you will see that there have been many people with the ABS/TCS problem. I did what I normally do when something irritates me this way, and that is take it to the top. I called the 800 number and went through the BS. They already knew about the problem as I was describing it to them. This further let me know that it is indeed a known problem. They told me to take it to the nearest Chevrolet dealership and have the car looked at. Well, beeing the brain surgeons that they are, they told me what I already knew. Bad module. Some will say that ABS isn't a safety factor but then others will say it is. I know for a fact it is when you are sliding on a wet road and your tires are locked up that ABS will help prevent this. Afterall, isn't that the purpose of your ABS? Anyway, the point of the story is that the tech said that the module was a known problem and that they normally failed after around 80k miles. Also, the person on the other end of the GM line asked this question which shouldn't have mattered one bit. He asked "How many GM vehicles have you had or currently own?". Now should this have any bearing on the life expectancy of a part or the way they handle a customer? Once again a big resounding "Hell no!". My other vette and my wifes Pathfinder seemed to make it past that number without any problems. Coincidence or just pure luck. I'm betting on neither, instead on faulty part. So, as a result I did what should have been done and that is file a complaint with the NTSB. When you do so, you will get a transaction number or case number so to speak. One of the questions you have to answer involves being in an accident or damages that resulted from said accident. It almost seems like there has to be a loss of life before anything can be done. But, you can still file and give a brief synopsis of your reasons for filing. Filing doesn't cost a thing and gets your voice heard.

I will tell you what the number one reason that GM can get away with this type of stuff is that they know the majority of people will gripe and that's it. They also know a large number will not even complain and even stick up for GM and their methods of doing things. Another reason is that they know that in the Corvette segment there aren't really any competitors that offer so much for so little. So, it is kind of a catch 22 in the fact that we love our performance and the price we get it for but we don't get the quality either like you would with a more expensive car (Porsche).

Actually the complaint should be made with the NHTSA. It is very easy to file.

 

So if you don't like GM's quality control and you don't like their customer support (or lack of), then why continue to buy their products? By doing that you are encouraging them to do "business as usual" and not correct the problem. You can bitch to them all you want but as long as you keep buying their cars they will not improve QC and customer support. Why do you think they asked how many GM cars you owned?

GM has to earn your continued support, if they don't deliver, buy elsewhere.

 

Wow i guess im VERY LUCKY.I have a 04 vette and a 99 silverado.Both have been a joy to own.Sorry: Lets all get a Kia

 

Actually that is why I haven't bought another Corvette. The problems that I speak of happened with my. IF you notice, there isn't a C6 in the picture and there won't be any more GM products until they change their way of conducting business. So, it isn't the whining so much as to let others know the route to take if they have problems. I will continue to gripe about their QC and customer service. In fact, it would be hard for me to justify buying anything from them until they start to address the problems that have occurred with the C5. If they (GM) had taken care of the problems, I would have had no problem buying a C6 Z06 without a question asked. Granted they probably have remedied many of the problems in the C6, but I won't give any of my new business to them. As you stated, why reward them with a sell when they couldn't deliver. I have been thinking of going in and buying a Z06 but everytime I do, I think about the common troubles I have had with this car. And you know the sad part, I wonder how many people feel the same way and have been turned off by their lack of following through for known problems. It is quite obvious when you read other's posts about the problems they have encountered that there are indeed quality problems.

PS: The thing I hate though is that I love driving this car. If you can look past GMs problems in quality long lasting parts, the car is incredible in itself. Too bad the supporting cast isn't as reliable as the motor.

 

"If we always do what we have always done, we will always get what we have always got."

 

Just curious, how many miles on that '04? My '04 has 41K miles and had it's seatbelt replaced, a new battery, turnsignal housings replaced, leaking targa seal replaced, two new door panels (delaminated), windows realigned for noise twice, and of course, a CLB installed.

John

 

And then what....

(leaking seals, ratteling windows............on cars that are hardly 20-30K miles on them) The entire issue is the "Build quality". Am sure GM HAS quality Engineers / quality Inspectors. (Who're probably more asleep than awake).. Then again, the Steering lock, Rear Diff, Gas gause, Oil senders (some major & common problems, not to mention - expensive)

 

I've got the rocking seat and hatch paint problem.
I'll buy another Corvette and won't worry if it has problems.

My wife's Eclipse has 80k miles and its got a cracked dash, rattles, the motor mounts are shot, paint on plastic parts is gone on the inside and we just keep dumping time and money into it.

There are no perfect cars. I am just glad to have this forum to help identify problems quickly and fix them.

I'll let you know if GM pays for my hatch paint issue.

 

I think many on this Forum are merely expressing frustration and disappointment in the workmanship on what is supposed to be a GM Flagship? Yes, other cars have problems. I have experienced those like many of you. What I can't understand/fathom is why my 2004 Silverado Z71 4WD product has never experienced a faulty gas gage issue whereas my Vette has it all the time?? Techron does not seem to fix the problem. Running top tier gas from Chevron does not fix the problem...yet, my truck burns regular gas from most any supplier and never exhibits a single problem? Can I replace my Vette sending unit with one from a Silverado? I think it would fix the problem..!

My ABS system on my truck has never had one single problem? Can I replace my Vette ABS system with one from a Silverado? My battery does NOT leak on my truck?? The list goes on and on.

I don't understand...what am I missing? GM does appear to be able to build some vehicles that seem to work...at least some of the parts we are discussing do not fail on all GM products? I am confused...

LT