General Motors responds to class action lawsuits on intake manifold gaskets

[SS4EVER]

That recall did indeed pertain to coolant leaking, I too remember because I had to bring my Monte Carlo in for it however the only fix was to replace the engine throttle body fasteners with redesigned ones and add some cooling system sealant. No where did they say they would replace the intake manifold gasket. Here is what the recall notice said.

We have learned that your vehicle may develop an engine coolant leak at the upper intake manifold to throttle body gasket, or at the lower intake to upper intake gasket. This condition may result in a low engine coolant level and higher engine temperatures. To prevent this condition from occurring, your GM dealer will replace the engine throttle body fasteners with redesigned fasteners, and add cooling system sealant to the radiator tank. This service will be performed for you at no charge through July 31, 2005.
If you have already paid for some or all of the cost to correct the engine throttle body fasteners, and you have not received reimbursement under a Vehicle Service Contract, you should contact your dealer to seek reimbursement. Please provide your dealer with your original paid receipts or invoices verifying the repair, the amount charged, proof of payment, the date of payment of those charges, and proof of ownership of the vehicle at the time of the repair. Your request for reimbursement, including the information and documents mentioned above, must be received by your dealer by July 31, 2004.

BTY that reacll notice affects certain 2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac
Grand Prix, Bonneville; Buick Regal, Lesabre and Park Avenue model vehicles equiped with 3800 Series II (L36) V6 engines.

[303montecarlo]

Originally Posted by Vibe750

The 1-800 number gets you no where you go the crappy dealer and they say"it normal" my next vehicle will not be GM (dad work there 40yrs)

Your dad should be prowed of you ,just think 40 years in the plant feeding you , and getting you an education . To make an uneducated blurb like this. This is not in my thinking a good thing for your dad to hear?

[Neanderthal]

I've heard too many people complain about this to think it's just a bunch of creepy lawyers out shaking the money tree. The fact is, because of a few corporations' irresponsible behavior, these leeches have gotten quite a foothold, and they've created the free-money industry.
The entitlement/victim mentality encouraged by some organizations and politicians only helps these creatures, who like The Blob and The Borg would absorb everything if given the opportunity.
When Ralph Nader first popped up in the 1960s, GM made some huge tactical and ethical blunders while trying to make him go away. Ralph's still around, and what goes around comes around. Sometimes again and again.
The ancient law of Karma will not be denied.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by Highlander

Is this the Series II 3800 they're referring to?

I'm guessing that it's 3.1L and 3.4L V6s while there have been some bad 3.8L it’s the 3.1L and 3.4L that have always been leaking POS engines.

The 3.1L and 3.4L V6s are the reason the Camry is the #1 selling car in America.

[doh]

Originally Posted by Elk

I'm guessing that it's 3.1L and 3.4L V6s while there have been some bad 3.8L it’s the 3.1L and 3.4L that have always been leaking POS engines.

The 3.1L and 3.4L V6s are the reason the Camry is the #1 selling car in America.

3.1L, 3.4L, 5.0L,5.7L from what I know.

[IAMCANADIAN]

It's kinda sad that GM has to put up with this, it's really the supplier's fault. I was talking to the service guy up at the Pontiac dealer when I was getting my Alero an oil change and he was saying that the supplier of the gaskets should've known about the problems and how to design it properly. But of course, it's in a GM vehicle and engine, so of course GM takes the blame. Hmm, if I still have warranty on my Grand Prix, maybe I'll tell them it needs doing. It might've been done since it was a service loaner at the dealership where I bought it, and it's an 03, so I'm guessing it was done already.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by doh

3.1L, 3.4L, 5.0L,5.7L from what I know.

I haven’t see or heard anything bad about the 5.0L and 5.7L V8. What are you talking about?

[grumbles]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

It's kinda sad that GM has to put up with this, it's really the supplier's fault. I was talking to the service guy up at the Pontiac dealer when I was getting my Alero an oil change and he was saying that the supplier of the gaskets should've known about the problems and how to design it properly. But of course, it's in a GM vehicle and engine, so of course GM takes the blame. Hmm, if I still have warranty on my Grand Prix, maybe I'll tell them it needs doing. It might've been done since it was a service loaner at the dealership where I bought it, and it's an 03, so I'm guessing it was done already.

Defective parts or not, it sounds like it was a known quality issue, which warrants a recall. Obviously no recall has been done, so people have filed suit.

Nearly every company performs recalls for quality issues that may or may not be an issue in the future. Why is this any different?

GM sells the vehicles, it's their fault. The parts supplier can't perform a recall, only GM has the power to do that.

[IAMCANADIAN]

Originally Posted by grumbles

Defective parts or not, it sounds like it was a known quality issue, which warrants a recall. Obviously no recall has been done, so people have filed suit.

Nearly every company performs recalls for quality issues that may or may not be an issue in the future. Why is this any different?

GM sells the vehicles, it's their fault. The parts supplier can't perform a recall, only GM has the power to do that.

I agree with you, but don't you think GM should go after the gasket supplier? They should recall it though, but right now I doubt GM will with the cost (money and reputation) that it would do to them. GM wants positive rep than bad rep right now, even though this is an issue that should be dealt with.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by grumbles

Defective parts or not, it sounds like it was a known quality issue, which warrants a recall. Obviously no recall has been done, so people have filed suit.

The problem was definitely GM’s fault, but once the Warranty is over it’s not GM job to fix it.

These people should just accept that GM screwed them get rid of there GM car and buy something else.

Now if I was running GM I would recall all these car and make sure they got fixed with a gasket that’s not going to crap out in 30,000 miles. Of course this doesn’t matter because GM isn’t being run by me, it’s being run by people that spent 4 years in school learning how to be penny smart and pound stupid.

[Ach]

They should/should have issued an extended warranty, just like Ford did with its 3.8L head gasket issue and Honda did with its V6 auto tranny issue on the last generation Accord/TL.

[kool_zx3]

This problem went on for almost 10 years and GM knew about it.... GM and the suppliers came up with redesigned gaskets for the engines eventually but took them years and many vehicles with blown gaskets later to do so.

The supplier knows how to develop gaskets, it's up to GM to give them the right specs and what they want in the gasket and how long they want it to last, they both screwed up and both are at fault. It's more GM's fault though because they let it go this far in the first place. The supplier only does what what GM tells them to do and it seems like GM never did anything about it.

[J..D]

I just don't see GM telling the supplier to make the Gaskets fail it was both there faults GM part responsible for not recalling a simple fix and it the suppliers fault for selling GM defective gaskets. I put most of the blame on the supplier, my company has made parts and asked for a specific metal and some times it's defective so our parts are defective and we get the blame when how are we to know it's defective until our customer puts it to the test.

[doh]

Originally Posted by Elk

I haven’t see or heard anything bad about the 5.0L and 5.7L V8. What are you talking about?

Ask around, they are not as frequent as the 3.1L/3.4L, but they happen lots.

[kool_zx3]

Originally Posted by J..D

I just don't see GM telling the supplier to make the Gaskets fail it was both there faults GM part responsible for not recalling a simple fix and it the suppliers fault for selling GM defective gaskets. I put most of the blame on the supplier, my company has made parts and asked for a specific metal and some times it's defective so our parts are defective and we get the blame when how are we to know it's defective until our customer puts it to the test.

BUT GM kept buying these pos gaskets for almost 8 years.... If Gm was at all smart they would of done something about it long ago. GM kept tellin them to build the crappy gaskets so the way i see it is, GM is 90% at fault here for building engines with crappy gaskets.