Dash peeling on 04 Suburban

[2004Sub]

GM needs to take responsibility on this.

We have a 2004 Chevy Suburban for which we paid in excess of 50k new, from the dealership.

Starting at 3 months, less than a 1k miles on it, we had peeling going on the dask skirt right behind the steering wheel.

The skirt on our dash has been replaced 4 times and is scheduled to go in on Friday for it's 5th. Our Service Manager is trying to tell us it's courtesy to replace it, they don't have to. The first time we called our service consultant about it, she interrupted my husband after he said 'our dash is peeling'. She said let me guess, right under the steering wheel!

We don't use products, only soap and water.

I don't want to keep replacing this, this is absurd. Additionally, because of all the other cosmetic crap that has gone on with this car, we are selling it soon. I don't feel right not telling the next owner about this.

In California, we have a Lemon law that applies to not only mechanical but other items that significantly affect the value of your car and needs to be replaced more than 4 times.

When you can't sell your car or have to sell it for thousands less because you believe in full disclosure to the buyer, I think that's significant.

GM tells us to 'paint it'. I told them to fix their problem.

We have talked to any attorney about suing GM under the Lemon Law of California. He's had several other people contact him in our area (Central Valley, CA) and is considering putting together a Class Action. How many hours I have lost because I've had to A. Take the car and and pick it up. B. Wait for their shuttle

[shadams]

Hmm, going through all that for a peeling dash part? Dont get me wrong, it shouldnt happen, but they are fixing it for you, correct? You said GM should take responsibility for this, what more do you want them to do? I dont understand the contempt when they have fixed it for you at no cost. Kinda unfair to go to those lengths after that dont you think?

Also, I have replaced several dash top pieces, and cupholders on Denali's, but no pieces behind or under the steering wheel, strange.

I moved this to a new thread because I didnt want it to get lost in the Tech forum, and since its a complaint thought it would be better here. Now that I think about it, I should have left it where it was.........

BTW, here is california's lemon law, your vehicle already falls out of the law based on age and mileage which I base on what you posted:

It shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been made to conform a new motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties if, within 18 months from delivery to the buyer or 18,000 miles on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs first, one or more of the following occurs:
The same nonconformity results in a condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven and the nonconformity has been subject to repair two or more times by the manufacturer or its agents, and the buyer or lessee has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the nonconformity.
The same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its agents and the buyer has at least once directly notified the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the nonconformity.
The vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of nonconformities by the manufacturer or its agents for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days since delivery of the vehicle to the buyer. The 30-day limit shall be extended only if repairs cannot be performed due to conditions beyond the control of the manufacturer or its agents. The buyer shall be required to directly notify the manufacturer pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) only if the manufacturer has clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the buyer, with the warranty or the owner's manual, the provisions of this section and that of subdivision (d) of Section 1793.2, including the requirement that the buyer must notify the manufacturer directly pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2). The notification, if required, shall be sent to the address, if any, specified clearly and conspicuously by the manufacturer in the warranty or owner's manual. This presumption shall be a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of proof, and it may be asserted by the buyer in any civil action, including an action in small claims court, or other formal or informal proceeding.

[Joevette]

Where do u live?? is the truck in direct sunlight all the time?? yeah and if it was fixed then who cares

[Old Dood]

Hmm, going through all that for a peeling dash part? Dont get me wrong, it shouldnt happen, but they are fixing it for you, correct? I dont understand the contempt when they have fixed it for you at no cost. Kinda unfair to go to those lengths after that dont you think?

Not really. Since he has to keep bringing it back. That is annoying and time consuming. Not to mention costly. To hear it is a "courtesy" to fix it would irritate me too. That is a slap in the face. It is not a "courtesy". It is a build quality problem that should be fixed once and for all. Since it keeps peeling then it is not "fixed". Only temporarily taken care of.

[shadams]

Originally Posted by Old Dood

Not really. Since he has to keep bringing it back. That is annoying and time consuming. Not to mention costly. To hear it is a "courtesy" to fix it would irritate me too. That is a slap in the face. It is not a "courtesy". It is a build quality problem that should be fixed once and for all. Since it keeps peeling then it is not "fixed". Only temporarily taken care of.

Of course we know nothing more than what he/she has told us, but I can tell you that I would never say to a customer "We are, but we don't have to", that is not the proper way to handle it. If you are going to "goodwill" the repair, do so, but don't make it seem like you are doing them a favor. It seems as though this persons attitude is a result of poor service from the dealer and nothing else. Surely someone who was treated quickly and professionally would not go to this extreme, would they?

I am not saying they don't have a right to be upset, just seems silly to go through a lawsuit when it will ultimately not benefit them at all, since they are selling the vehicle and probably wont go back to GM because of something so minor. People tend to think "suing" GM is as simple as making a phonecall, and generally don't follow through with it.

Lastly, if there is indeed a problem, it has been resolved. We are afterall talking about a 3yr old vehicle. I haven't replaced any interior trim pieces on 05+ models and certainly not on the 07 new body styles.(which have been out 1 1/2 yrs now) Should GM have to go back and redesign a part for a 3 yr old vehicle that does not affect safety or in anyway significantly affects the vehicle, or should they simply allow goodwill repairs by the dealers?

As far as being inconvenient, do you not go to your dealer for regular service anyway, why couldn't you have this minor part replaced during those visits, then it wouldn't be an issue.

EDIT: Just to be clear, I think I may have misunderstood your first post, I thought it said you have 50K miles, but upon re-reading it you said you paid 50K dollars!! So how many miles are on it? Is it still under factory warranty or are they taking care of these repairs for you out of warranty "goodwill"?

[Old Dood]

I understand shadams. Seriously I do understand your point. My point is if this happened at the first 3 months then it was never fixed in the first place. If that is the case then it is not a courtesy but a real long repair item.

I have the same feelings for my Park Avenue. My passenger power mirror never did operate correctly. (When you unlock it with the FOB the mirror goes nuts and never remembers it's settings) I asked to have it fully replaced and they only "cleaned the corrosion". I took it back and they repeated it. Then when it was off warranty they basically flipped me off. I never forgotten that. Same attitude with my radio head unit. It still skips. They replaced it once but would not do it anymore. So I have a CD player that skips on the lightest of bumps.

Little things like this lose customers real fast. this is why I always state that GM (any company for that matter) should take control of their dealerships/distributors/etc and make sure true customer service is assured. This and this alone will save them money in the long run with repeated sales...

[shadams]

Originally Posted by Old Dood

I understand shadams. Seriously I do understand your point. My point is if this happened at the first 3 months then it was never fixed in the first place. If that is the case then it is not a courtesy but a real long repair item.

I have the same feelings for my Park Avenue. My passenger power mirror never did operate correctly. (When you unlock it with the FOB the mirror goes nuts and never remembers it's settings) I asked to have it fully replaced and they only "cleaned the corrosion". I took it back and they repeated it. Then when it was off warranty they basically flipped me off. I never forgotten that. Same attitude with my radio head unit. It still skips. They replaced it once but would not do it anymore. So I have a CD player that skips on the lightest of bumps.

Little things like this lose customers real fast. this is why I always state that GM (any company for that matter) should take control of their dealerships/distributors/etc and make sure true customer service is assured. This and this alone will save them money in the long run with repeated sales...

Exactly, but I dont see an efficient way of doing that without costing GM alot of money, which they cannot afford right now, which causes more problems, its a viscious cycle. But for the life of me I cant figure out why a Service Manager would not wnat to do something that would satisfy a customer (within reason of course, as every case is different) when they know damn well GM wouldnt have a problem with it so long as there is reason to do so. It all comes down to the personell in the shop, if they are not doing their jobs, in the customers eyes, its GM, and thats where the biggest problem lies. Its almost like some people enjoy bringing misery to others. But there is always to sides to every story, and who knows what the whole situation is, I hope they post back and give us more info.

[slade'man]

My 04 Tahoe's dash was pristine when I traded it in for my truck. It sucks that it is peeling, but I mean come on a lawsuit? Isn't that a bit overboard. Although if the paint was truly coming off when you only had it for three months then that is a different story. I just cannot imagine it coming off repeatedly without something scratching/rubbing up against it.

[shadams]

Originally Posted by slade'man

My 04 Tahoe's dash was pristine when I traded it in for my truck. It sucks that it is peeling, but I mean come on a lawsuit? Isn't that a bit overboard. Although if the paint was truly coming off when you only had it for three months then that is a different story. I just cannot imagine it coming off repeatedly without something scratching/rubbing up against it.

As are 99.9 % of the ones I come across, I had an 04 that I traded at 15k, no peeling whatsoever. The dash pads I have replaced were 01-03 models mostly.

[Joevette]

More talk of lawsuits, give me a break. This person will spend more money on suing GM and loosing then they would loose of the value of their truck

[69Firebird400]

Could it be that the soap and water is causing the problem? I don't use anything like that to clean my dashboards. I have a can of Armor All wipes (you pull a new paper one out of the top of the can, sort of like the way baby wipes used to be) and run that over the dash. Or when I'm cleaning my windshield, I use the damp paper towel to clean the dust off the dash. Why soap and water with 1,000 miles?

[rhvfd10]

Perhaps a dashmat might help. It would take the dashboard out of direct sunlight and they don't look 1/2 bad either.

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Could it be that the soap and water is causing the problem? I don't use anything like that to clean my dashboards. I have a can of Armor All wipes (you pull a new paper one out of the top of the can, sort of like the way baby wipes used to be) and run that over the dash. Or when I'm cleaning my windshield, I use the damp paper towel to clean the dust off the dash. Why soap and water with 1,000 miles?

Don't mean to burst yer bubble but never use that stuff either. Too much alcohol in it and it will dry out the leather/vinyl/whatever.

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Could it be that the soap and water is causing the problem? I don't use anything like that to clean my dashboards. I have a can of Armor All wipes (you pull a new paper one out of the top of the can, sort of like the way baby wipes used to be) and run that over the dash. Or when I'm cleaning my windshield, I use the damp paper towel to clean the dust off the dash. Why soap and water with 1,000 miles?

I wondered the same thing. I usually use microfiber clothes to clean the dust off dashes, and occasionally I use Armor All because I like the shine, but I make sure I don't put it on clear plastic or the white paint that is often found on buttons.

[GMCSonoma]

It's funny, these single post complainers then we get all sorts of responses!