I hope they will replace the rocket panel too and not just try to bondo it back to shape. Front door edge may need work too.

I would ask them to void the sale or buy it back for your total price, including taxes, etc.
Mention how bad the publicity of a law suit would be for them.
Talk to a personal injury lawyer--IF NEEDED--to get their attention.
Look at it this way. If another driver, because of negligence (drunk, distracted on the phone, etc.) had caused this damage, their insurance company would likely pay for all repairs, rental car, etc. and kick in $5K-$10 for personal injury, suffering, and general hardship.
Give them the choice on which route they want to go.

If you do have them fix the car, go over it with a fine toothed comb and take it to another reputable shop to check it.

Dude, you either own the dealership in question, are the mechanic who screwed up, or are just an...arguing for the sake of arguing.

People like you are the reason dealerships get away with murder. They certainly are freaking liable and they have liability insurance to cover for crap like this.

In my youth I worked at Sears Automotive as a sales rep. We replaced a set of tires on a relatively brand new loaded Suburban (maybe 2 years old at the time) and the tire installer decided to take the thing for a joy ride. He didn't make it but 50 feet from the service bay and all 4 rims/tires came off. He hadn't put any of the lug nuts on. The guy was always a moron...but that's what happens when you only want to pay minimum wage.

Anyway...the tech was fired on the spot and Sears paid for all repairs performed by the repair shop of the customer's choice. She had it towed to the Chevy dealership down the street.

The OP has a case for having the dealer pay for all the repairs.

Please, if you have no clue what you're talking about...then keep it to yourself.

I'm also a little skeptical that they would make a claim for something this small. However, if they do make a claim and the VIN is reported on that claim, then at some future time it could show up on a CarFax report (or similar history report) and you could see some diminished resale value. That's something you should be aware of, and some time before any statute of limitation runs out for a diminished value claim, you should run reports from CarFax and their competitors and make sure this doesn't come up on the report.

BTW, one clue that they aren't making an insurance claim is that you're driving around in their inventory as a loaner. If they were making an insurance claim, you'd be in a rental car, not new dealer inventory. One negotiating point you have is that they're taking a hit for every mile you drive in their "new" car and every day you have it.
That's what I'd aim for.

If they have a similar '07 or '08 on the lot and want an even swap, I'd consider that as well. Before accepting it, take it to another reputable dealership or reputable shop for a "pre purchase inspection," and make sure it doesn't have issues.

I also wouldn't let the folks who couldn't tighten lug nuts replace and repair all those parts and "fix" it again. God knows what you'll get back, or what will fall apart after the next repair.

Definitely get a lawyer. The dealer may step up and fix it but the real answer is have them void the sale, return your money and move on to another car. But they might not do that so the lawyer makes most sense.

As for the car being SOLD as-is, sure I can see that might absolve them, they'd easily refuse to step up and you'd have no recourse. But because the work was done AFTER the sale, the as-is clause means nothing and the dealer is clearly liable for this.

Also, you can't blame a 3rd party locking lug nut because the 4 other OEM lug nuts are easily enough to hold the wheel on if the locking lug nut or 5th OEM lug nut is not even there. Plenty of cars have only 4 lugs. One lug nut does not make a failure. They failed to properly tighten them so that should be end of it. Question is if they'll take the car back or fix it.

Guess we all now have to take a torque wrench with us every time a service guy takes off a wheel now.

Good luck.

Doesn't everybody already do that?

I do ;)

What's a service guy?

What color is the sky in your world?
This a complete no brainier. The wheel falls off after the dealer had the wheel off the car and then put it back on the car . How can this be anyone's fault but the doofus that allegedly tightened the lug nuts? If they were tighted properly we wouldn't be talking about this.
I would tell the dealer to refund the sale of the car or lawyer up.

I think I'd prefer a voided sale myself, but repairing it isn't totally unreasonable. Be very sure that you are satisfied with the repair though and don't be afraid to be picky.

Z

I will NOW.

I agree with the majority...play nice with the dealer and ask for a full refund.

UPDATE: Dealership insurance company called me Friday morning. They are paying to get the Vette fixed to my liking and paying me compensation too. Dealer took blame for not Tighten the lug nuts. More to come in two weeks.

Awesome! That's what should have happened.

Since the insurance company is footing the bill for repairs, this will possibly show up on carfax as an accident, or "damage". If you are getting cash compensation, first thing to ask is the various factors they used in coming up with a figure. Don't sound angry or argumentative...just ask they question. Among the factors mentioned should be "diminished value" you will suffer when you sell it. An '05 is not going to lose as much value due to damage as, say, a '13, but there will still be loss. I would not be greedy, but would certainly ask that DV be added to the figure if it is not already mentioned.

I agree with the others about the car fax. I would walk from most deals with a blemish on a car fax. I would want out of the car also. Really sucks!!

The mentality here hasn't changed in years. Could someone please tell me what is in this for an attorney? Nobody injured, so no litigation for a % of the injury limits of liability. GM has attorneys on staff - probably dozens or more of them. To them just another file to work. To whomever hires one to fight GM's attorneys, keep your checkbook handy, then your credit card, And, no, they are under no obligation to buy the car back. Likely bought at auction with a sketchy paper trail.

STOOOPID..... work with the dealer to your satisfaction.

Who said anything about suing GM?

This is an issue between a dealership/service department and a buyer of a 12 to 14 year old used car. It has exactly nothing to do with GM.

However, @mrBob2005, you should be aware at least that when this is handled through insurance, it probably (almost certainly) will show on a CarFax or similar vehicle history report. Also, it will look much worse on the those reports than it actually was. Generally, how "severe" the accident/damage was is expressed as a percentage of the book value of the car. When you're dealing with a 2005 model, it doesn't take much go get over 50% or more of the value of the car, qualifying as a "major/extreme accident" or "major/extreme damage" in the vehicle history. If you plan to keep it forever, or sell it by the pound when you're done with it, this might not matter to you. If you plan to sell it or trade it in a few years and move on to a newer model, this could be an issue.