Dear GM - Product Satisfaction

[Peppermint]

Below is an email I sent to ************************* - where I purchased my vehicle.
When I purchased my 2006 Chev. Trailblazer in Jan. 2006, perhaps I should have purchased the extended warranty. Growing up a Chevy girl, and also currently owning a 1986 Chev. pick up that still runs like a top, I have always thought Chevrolet products superior. But I have to say....my current vehicle is a great disappointment....the interior is poorly made/constructed - during my 30,000 mile maintenance I requested that the plastic casing around the front passengers seat be resecured. This seat is rarely used and when it is - the casing pops loose - there is a huge gap exposed. This casing continues to pop off - now the drivers side is doing the same - and the seat adjustments knobs will not stay on - when you open either door - there is gaping areas between the seat and the casing - (should my 1.5 yr old vehicle look as tho it is falling apart whenever the doors are open) - but thats a small issue.....I had sent an email yesterday inquiring as to the date of my warranty expiration. There is a whining noise coming from the engine area that is getting louder and louder (no dash lights are on indicating service needed) - a few guys that I work with has told me that it sounds like the power steering pump - (there is fluid, and no apparent leaks) - I received a call back from Mr. ****** - he was able to bring up my warrant info - which expired at 36,000 miles, my Trailblazer currently has 43,000 miles. I said "Well, that doesn't do me any good". His response "I believe that I offered you the extended warranty". I guess, he really should be telling folks - you ought to purchase the extended warranty - because odds are, you will need it. My response to Mr. *******, "Yes, because Chevrolet products certainly aren't built like they used to be". Mr. ****** responded "Well....anything manmade is subject to failure". Which is a true statement....but after purchasing a $30,000 + vehicle and it's only a 1.5 yr old - that's not what a customer wants to hear. Perhaps attitudes and responses such as the one I received and having a vehicle already needing repairs, is why I don't see "Like a Rock" commercials anymore and why Chevrolet is closing plants.

[GMCdriver]

I'm sorry you are having trouble with your vehicle but I just don't see how you have been wronged here.

You agreed to pay $30,000 for a vehicle with warranty coverage for certain terms.
They agreed to provide you with a vehicle with warranty coverage to a certain point for $30,000.
It seems that both parties have lived up to their part of the deal.
Now, almost two years later you want more then you agreed to and are upset that you aren't getting it.

As you said, the dealer would have given you the option of getting more warranty coverage but you would have decided that you were willing to take your chances.
To this your basic complaint is that the dealership wasn't forcefull enough in selling you the warranty? That he should have "made" you take?

At what point do you start to take some responsibility for your own decisions?

I know, I know... this will be your last GM vehicle if they don't fix this for you. You will take your business to (insert car maker here) if GM doesn't find a way to blah blah blah...

[zete]

People have issues with every brand. We had a Corolla that HAD an extended warranty but it didn't cover any of the items that went wrong: brakes, horn, fuel system, heater core. Toyota always found a loophole. We got rid of the car.

With vehicles post warranty, and esp. with so much electronics on vehicles today, you truly take your chances after the warranty is up.

I am sorry to hear about your troubles, though. Perhaps a letter to GM corporate might get you somewhere.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Good luck with your issue, GMCdriver is completely right though! Why you wanted a TB is beyond me, its an unfortunate situation but sometimes you have to pay for services you want. Its a fact of life, just b/c people's Ipods break/die doesn't mean apple will just mail them a new one, people go and buy another one. same goes for computers, TV's, lawn mower, snow blower, etc. Granted a car cost ALOT more, but it comes with a LOT longer warranty too and as such who are you to deserve special treatment? Sad to hear, though our Chevy Malibu Maxx 04 has ~50,000 miles and no mechanical issues whatsoever. Had to get a new visor plastic piece and replace the windshield due to a huge stone chip as well as a seatbelt harness optional recall to check to make sure it was secured. Not bad considering my 6 person family uses it 5-6 days a week all year long and we're not little kids...

CobaltSScrazy

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by GMCdriver

I'm sorry you are having trouble with your vehicle but I just don't see how you have been wronged here.

You agreed to pay $30,000 for a vehicle with warranty coverage for certain terms.
They agreed to provide you with a vehicle with warranty coverage to a certain point for $30,000.
It seems that both parties have lived up to their part of the deal.
Now, almost two years later you want more then you agreed to and are upset that you aren't getting it.

As you said, the dealer would have given you the option of getting more warranty coverage but you would have decided that you were willing to take your chances.
To this your basic complaint is that the dealership wasn't forcefull enough in selling you the warranty? That he should have "made" you take?

At what point do you start to take some responsibility for your own decisions?

I know, I know... this will be your last GM vehicle if they don't fix this for you. You will take your business to (insert car maker here) if GM doesn't find a way to blah blah blah...

Couldn't have said it better. I think I smell a troll on this, but I could be wrong. We'll see if he/she makes another post.

[GMCSonoma]

Originally Posted by likearock00

Couldn't have said it better. I think I smell a troll on this, but I could be wrong. We'll see if he/she makes another post.

I disagree...

However the dealer does have some discretionary powers to goodwill some things...which they could have easily done so...

Now this OP will flock to the deep & wretched likes of TMS (for example) who'll then treat their sores with salve...make the sale and likely get the same treatment, only with a smile on their face!

[darndot]

You alway attract more bees with honey. Go talk to them in person. Get an estimate and then ask if GM might help. It never hurts to ask nicely. I get more things done by talking in person than by calling usually.

My wife still likes her TB and it has 83,000. Only two major things have went wrong. I had a ball joint and a 4wd switch go bad. I hope you can get things squared away, and enjoy it for many more miles. You might also want to look at http://www.trailvoy.com. Lot of good infor over there.

[osv_alero]

In my experience GM has stepped up to the plate when this type of issue is brought up. It doesn't sound like that big of deal really. I called to tell them that I had wished my 2005 Cobalt tires lasted longer. Without question, they sent me a $1000 additional rebate on our next purchase. Granted they didn't buy the tires the car needed, but in the end they gave me more than the cost of the tires.

Back in 2000 our 60k mile 1998 Intrigue had the one and only problem we ever experienced in 90k of owning the car. The ABS sensor went out. I called GM and asked for help on the repair. They covered over 90% of it.

Peppermint; I suggest you call the 800# for Chevrolet and ask for help.

I had some residents (I was the Landlord) that worked for Converges (the company GM uses for the call center). They were given allot of leeway on making sure you, the customer, are taken care of.

[shadams]

Originally Posted by GMCdriver

I'm sorry you are having trouble with your vehicle but I just don't see how you have been wronged here.

You agreed to pay $30,000 for a vehicle with warranty coverage for certain terms.
They agreed to provide you with a vehicle with warranty coverage to a certain point for $30,000.
It seems that both parties have lived up to their part of the deal.
Now, almost two years later you want more then you agreed to and are upset that you aren't getting it.

As you said, the dealer would have given you the option of getting more warranty coverage but you would have decided that you were willing to take your chances.
To this your basic complaint is that the dealership wasn't forcefull enough in selling you the warranty? That he should have "made" you take?

At what point do you start to take some responsibility for your own decisions?

I know, I know... this will be your last GM vehicle if they don't fix this for you. You will take your business to (insert car maker here) if GM doesn't find a way to blah blah blah...

[Minnesota Nice]

My mom has had better service from her Chevy dealer than I have had with Honda. The Honda dealerships have their heads so far up their asses, thinking that there is no way a Honda could have issues, that it is like pulling teeth to get anything done under warranty without them telling you it "doesn't qualify" or they can't "hear/see the problem".

Granted, ANY problems that occur in the first three years of ownership are purely unacceptable. My mother (regretably) has owned two Trailblazers. She had a few minor issues with the first one, not counting the piss poor, old-school GM interior. The second one, a far more expensive, well loaded model, has had problems like crazy. Wind noise, windows not sealing properly, button's paint peeling off, weatherstripping on the rear pass. side door peeling off (I see this on TB's constantly), and several large issues under the hood.

The TB just needs to die. There was an article on here a while ago that was saying that the people who build the TrailBlazer can't stand it, either. That definately says something.