Buick Terraza transmission issue - NEED ADVICE

[jsthomas00]

I'll appologize up front for the length of this post.

We have a 2006 Terraza with AWD. It has 34,000 miles on it and is still under warrenty.

A couple of months ago I started getting a groaning noise during turns. By the time we were able to get it to the dealer the noise stopped and the information center on the dash would flash a message that the AWD was disabled. The local Buick dealer couldn't find anything but assured us that the AWD was working.

Two 1/2 to three weeks later the transmission began to slip. We took it in for service and were told that they would need to order a new transmission.

They ordered and installed the new one on and then told us that they needed to order a transfer case which was backordered.

A week later they called to tell us that it was ready to pick up. Later that day they called back to tell us that the new transmission wasn't pulling and they would have to order another new one from GM. The reason they gave is that it was installed incorrectly. (that's comforting)

New transmission #2 came in, was installed and we were called again to say it was ready. My wife asked if they had test driven it. (They had not) and to call her back to let us know if it working. After waiting all day for a call back we finally got in touch with the service dept. (we were treated rudely but that's another issue) and much to our surprise this transmission wasn't working either. The reason this time was that something was installed backwards from the factory and it wouldn't hold pressure.

They now contacted GM to find out what GM wanted do. GM wanted them to repair this new transmission. While I didn't like that idea I really couldn't say much as all of this is under warrenty. The new transmission as it turns out could not be repaired.

Tranmission #3 was ordered. That was a week ago yesterday. As of 5PM no transmission had arrived.

For a quick recap, they have had my Terraza for 38 days, installed 2 transmissions and are awaiting a third.

While I do have a rental for which they are paying, I'm very unhappy about this whole situation. How can I rely on the new transmission being any good? So far they are 0 for 3 including my original. They are saying the new one will have 12/12,000 warrenty on it but that isn't much comfort.

I've called GM to lodge a complaint however I feel it will go nowhere as they told me they had to contact the dealer to get the details and I had to ask if they wanted to hear what my complaint was before they rushed me off the phone.

What can I do now? What are my options? Does anyone know who will listen to my issue at GM?

[GMfan1111]

Originally Posted by jsthomas00

I'll appologize up front for the length of this post.

We have a 2006 Terraza with AWD. It has 34,000 miles on it and is still under warrenty.

A couple of months ago I started getting a groaning noise during turns. By the time we were able to get it to the dealer the noise stopped and the information center on the dash would flash a message that the AWD was disabled. The local Buick dealer couldn't find anything but assured us that the AWD was working.

Two 1/2 to three weeks later the transmission began to slip. We took it in for service and were told that they would need to order a new transmission.

They ordered and installed the new one on and then told us that they needed to order a transfer case which was backordered.

A week later they called to tell us that it was ready to pick up. Later that day they called back to tell us that the new transmission wasn't pulling and they would have to order another new one from GM. The reason they gave is that it was installed incorrectly. (that's comforting)

New transmission #2 came in, was installed and we were called again to say it was ready. My wife asked if they had test driven it. (They had not) and to call her back to let us know if it working. After waiting all day for a call back we finally got in touch with the service dept. (we were treated rudely but that's another issue) and much to our surprise this transmission wasn't working either. The reason this time was that something was installed backwards from the factory and it wouldn't hold pressure.

They now contacted GM to find out what GM wanted do. GM wanted them to repair this new transmission. While I didn't like that idea I really couldn't say much as all of this is under warrenty. The new transmission as it turns out could not be repaired.

Tranmission #3 was ordered. That was a week ago yesterday. As of 5PM no transmission had arrived.

For a quick recap, they have had my Terraza for 38 days, installed 2 transmissions and are awaiting a third.

While I do have a rental for which they are paying, I'm very unhappy about this whole situation. How can I rely on the new transmission being any good? So far they are 0 for 3 including my original. They are saying the new one will have 12/12,000 warrenty on it but that isn't much comfort.

I've called GM to lodge a complaint however I feel it will go nowhere as they told me they had to contact the dealer to get the details and I had to ask if they wanted to hear what my complaint was before they rushed me off the phone.

What can I do now? What are my options? Does anyone know who will listen to my issue at GM?

don't worry about the length of the post your just fine. As for your current options I'd recommend getting rid of the terraza and getting a replacement. you don't have to dig too deep here in this site to find countless horror stories about the terraza and its siblings. If i were you I'd look at one of the lambda crossovers especially the Buick enclave (if you want to stick with a buick) or the GMC acadia. These CUV's (along with the outlook) are way better than the terraza and its siblings in just about every category and are worth every penny.

[civilzues]

Originally Posted by GMfan1111

don't worry about the length of the post your just fine. As for your current options I'd recommend getting rid of the terraza and getting a replacement. you don't have to dig too deep here in this site to find countless horror stories about the terraza and its siblings. If i were you I'd look at one of the lambda crossovers especially the Buick enclave (if you want to stick with a buick) or the GMC acadia. These CUV's (along with the outlook) are way better than the terraza and its siblings in just about every category and are worth every penny.

check your state's lemon law! I know in MI it's after 4 repairs.

[GMfan1111]

Originally Posted by civilzues

check your state's lemon law! I know in MI it's after 4 repairs.

yeah i forgot to mention that option as well in my last post. It could very well be a lemon car and if it is indeed the case then the state your in should have laws addressing lemons, but keep in mind different states have different lemon laws.

[shadams]

Holy cow!

First off, this has nothing to do with the vehicle being a Terraza, this same transmission is used in many of GM's FWD vehicles. Sounds to me like a case of a bunch of idiots working on the car. Your Buick has a 4yr 50k warranty, so unless its knocking on the mileage door, the warranty on the transmission would be the ramiander of the original warranty. In other words, it would have a 1yr/12k warranty at minimum, say for example you had 49,999, it wouldnt be out of warranty in 1 mile, but I am not sure why they brought that up. As far as lemon law, the vehicle has never left the shop so it is considered 1 trip, however there is a limit to the amount of time that it can be in the shop.

Lemon Law is the absolute last resort (if it is even an option) and is very time consuming, and rarely is as simple as everyone makes it out to be. The best advice I can give is to be patient, get it back, and hope that its fixed because every other option is way more of an inconvience.

PS - Keep in mind folks that we are only hearing one side of the story, most of the time there is a logical explanation as to whats going on. We can almost always get transmissions overnight, especially in situations like this, so it sounds like there is a lot of info we arent getting. But from the sound of it, I would not visit this place again.

[jsthomas00]

Well I was prepared to post a successful conclusion to this incident. We picked up the van on Tuesday and it drove like a charm....until Friday morning.

After 2 days, and less than 50 miles, while making a left turn around a curve the transfer case locked up and stripped the gears on the part that connects to the transmission.

They showed us the part. It looked like something had sheared about 3/4 of the teeth off.

We talked with the Service Manager and the General Manager for the dealership. They insist that there isn't a wide spread problem with the power train on the GM AWD vehicles. I find it difficult to believe that I could get lucky enough to have the original transfer case, two new transmissions and a new transfer case all be defective and it's just "Murphy's Law".

I'm placing a call to GM today to request arbitration be started. We've instructed the General Manager to begin the process on his end. His opinion from GM is that they would offer a free extended warrenty on the new parts. I think that is the least they could do and that's for starters.

I won't be satisfied with just an extended warrenty but I understand GM's position. The parts are warrentied and they are repairing it for free as they said they would.

However I now have no reason to believe that they can get working parts for this van.

Will let you know more later.

[ChevyRules]

I agree that your issues seem to be more then Murphy's law. I suspect the dealership has bad techs and is installing crap wrong and turns around and blames GM for their idiocy.

[osv_alero]

Any time we have gotten GM involved with a dealer problem they have gone to bat for us one way or another. The "new" GM will do ALOT to keep you as a customer. Make sure to call them back and let them know of your disappointment. A regional GM representative will get involved and work with you on a resolution.

As far as the Terraza goes. Friends of ours have one and they love it. To date they have had only 1 minor problem (2 years 30k+ miles) with the vehicle. I really do think you have a fluke on your hands & an incompetent dealer. It happen no matter who makes the car.

[shadams]

From bad to worse! Sorry to hear of your issues, keep us posted..

[bigdav160]

Sounds to me like a case of a bunch of idiots working on the car.

Ding, Ding, ding, we have a winner

They're no bad cars just bad technicians

[shadams]

Originally Posted by bigdav160

Ding, Ding, ding, we have a winner

They're no bad cars just bad technicians

There is bad cars all right, but from the one side we are hearing it sounds like they could screw up a free lunch.....

[F14CRAZY]

Unbelievable. Inexcusable. Ridiculous. How can a trans go bad THAT many times? Someone is screwing up...maybe they need to swap a 4T85 in there or something

[CadiEldo67]

If I were you, I'd look at a different dealership. And tell them the story. My local P-B-G dealer is family owned, and it takes an 1 1/2 for a simple inspection. If I went 30 miles south, to another P-B-G-Cadillac dealer, they are basically begging me to testdrive a G8 GT, even when I stated my age, and that I have no intention of buying. I think its got everything to do with the dealership.

[Bcelect]

4 year 50k warranty, good for you. I have a 2005 which had a 3/36k. Too bad for me, just 2 months out of warranty and the exterior lights were intermittantly staying on after exiting at night and locking it in the daytime. The battery drained twice on my wife, good thing she works 2 minutes from the house. The dealer agreed to do a good will warranty repair on it ,after telling me it wouldn't be free, turns out he read a TSB to flash the BCM and didn't charge me a dime. I hope this takes care of the problem for another 32k.
OK, not too many other problems on it, but just before it went out of warranty, both rear window motors burned out. The dealer replaced them, and twice since then, the drivers side wouldn't close until I coaxed it with a bit of TLC.
The lights flicker as most other folks complain about, there is a TSB on it, actually three of them, but dealer wouldn't take care of it. He couldn't duplicate it, of course he didnt drive it at night either. I guess it's up to me to fix it. Other than that, it is a nice riding vehicle although it is giving up some rattles lately.It gets decent milage for that size vehicle.

[Joe in T.O.]

It is definitely the technicians screwing up the re & re. On my Trailblazer after lube and oil, I decided to check it at a fuel stop and to my horror there was no oil on the dipstick. After adding oil, I went to the dealer and they covered it up by saying that tech was fired! So far it is still running O.K.