ElKell

I am a Corvette Forum newbie. However, I have owned Vettes since 1985;
and have loved them since I was a kid. I would like to get some advise on how to get GM to admit and correct a factory mistake. My present corvette has only 30,000 miles. The driver seat back; has a protruding metal piece sticking out of it. The vinyl has worn off, only cloth remains. The stitching
of the same seat at the bottom is coming undone. All that indicates to me, the seat was improperly manufactured by the factory. I would think GM would agree to the problem and correct it. However, GM does not feel
inclined to do it. They agreed to the problem, but not to correct it. GM
offered to pay 600.00 of a total bill of 2,000.00. That is an insult.
If the seat was improperly made from the factory, should they not pay for
the repair?. I need advice from the Corvette forum.
Also, please tell me how to use the forums.
ElKell

HBsurfer

If your car is still under warranty, they should fix this. If not, the $600 offer would seem pretty generous to me. I would be most upset at the person who quoted you $2000.00 to repair your seat. You should run from that guy as fast as you can.

Vette_DD

1. Start by making the title of your thread contain something that your thread is about.

2. If you're asking for help with the car, post in the thread what model year and what model of C6 you're asking about.

Bruze

Brandon619

Welcome, I've been to Mercer Island before.

ElKell

HBSurfer, thanks for your answer. It is not the seat. It is the metal frame making up the back of the seat. GM'shops quoted 1,600 and 2,000. the 2,000 was complete with all the parts required plus labor including tax. The 1600 only quoted 900.00 plus labor no tax. My car unfortunately just missed the warranty of 3200 miles. My Vette is a 2012 The Centenial

HBsurfer

Your GM dealer does not have an in house guy doing this repair. They will ship it off to a local auto upholstery shop and mark up his work as well as charge you for the delivery and pick up. Take it to a local expert yourself and save $1000.00. Fixing the frame is not a big deal for these guys who do this every day.

ElKell

HBsurfer, I wish I was as knowledgeable as you are. When I contacted GM, they directed me to the dealer where I purchased my corvette new. The dealership contacted GM and quoted them 1500 not including
10% tax for the repair. GM offered 600.00 for in house repair. At this point it is no longer about the dollars involved. It is about GM's responsibility for a badly made and instaled product. Again thank
you for your information. Corvette forum Newbie

ben dover

At least, and then the 600 doesn't seem so bad. You're right tho, GM has insulted you with that offer.

weathermaker

GM may not give you the $600 if you have an independent shop do the repairs. I went to an auto interior shop and had my drivers seat repaired. They removed the torn section and installed a replacement piece. They covered the metal/fiberglass piece causing the wear. I waited for the car (2 hrs. ). Bill with tax, $129.00.

ElKell

Thanks Ben. I don't feel quite so alone out there.
El

ElKell

WOW, where are you? I just received an email telling me the parts will be ordered and will take 10 to 14 days, then an entire day to fix it.
Their hourly rate is 65.00.00!!!!! I am curious: so your Vette also had
a pointy metal piece sticking out? So this is not an uncommon problem
with their factory seats? GM sells lots of parts that then have to be put together. Sort of like going to IKEA. It is nice of you guys to help.

Red08

You can always try small claims court. It is a big inconvenience and expense to go to small claims court, have a representative etc present. They might just settle. I have been to small claims court several times, as a plaintiff, and have always been successful, but make sure everything is well documented.

96GS#007

Guess I'm the non-believer. Bumper to bumper is 3 years/36k miles. Depending on service date, you're double the warranty period.

I also don't see a metal part sticking through. I see worn vinyl (only the seating surfaces are leather) and stitches that popped. The only time I see that is when people slide in over the seat and their a$$ consistently rubs the bolster and/or they use the side of the seat to brace all their weight. In other words, they don't know how to get in a low sitting car.

Regarding GM....of course they're going to send you to a dealer.

Best case is to go to a local upholstery shop. Cost is likely $500-$600 for them to do a panel repair.

Batman75

The outside bolster on the driver seat back was scuffed. I asked the dealer if it could be repaired. They referred me to the auto upholstery shop that does their repair work. The upholstery shop ordered a new seat cover from the dealer. They repaired and re-enforced the foam rubber and installed the new seat cover for $337.00 total including labor. The whole job took under 2 hours.

ElKell

This is really confusing. I asked the dealer if the 600.00 offer by GM
meant I would get a check for the amount. They replied No, the offer
was part of the in house repair. After listening to you guys; I went
to an upholstery shop, and asked for their quote. it was around 450.00
not including tax. It would take ALL DAY.
I think they see me coming, and immediately their brains go into
overdrive. I feel sort of lost.

Batman75

I should have clarified in my previous post that I had mine done several years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if it cost more today. Are you sure they said it would take all day to do the work or they just wanted the car for the day? I watched mine being done and there is no way someone that knew what they were doing would work on it all day.

ElKell

Hi, thanks for comenting.
There is a pointed piece of metal sticking out. You can feel it with your hand/fingers.. I purchased my Corvette from Burien Chevrolet. It is Called the Centenial Corvette. When I contacted GM about this metal piece; they told me to go to Burien chevrolet. There the service department, inspected my car. They agreed on the piece of metal and the stitching. I have had several corvettes, I am 5'2", only weigh 115# and do not have a large a$$. I do know how to enter a low slung car.
3 years or 36,000 miles. I am below the 36,000 miles since I purchased my car in January 2012.
What do you mean I am double the warranty period?
Why do I feel screwed?
ElKell

ElKell

Thank you for the welcoming note. Why did you leave Mercer Island?

ElKell

I have never been to small claims court. The only documents I have
are the pictures and emails I exchanged with GM. I really want to know if the pointed metal piece is indeed a factory defect. If it is normal wear and tear, then I can understand. However this is the 4th
corvette I have owned; and none of them had metal pieces sticking out
Also, as I have said before I am 5'2" weigh 115# hardly my weight
would cause the problem.