Our GM Chevrolet nightmare

[libnnc]

This is the story as written by my SO on her myspace blog.

<snip> I have just spent one month dealing with one of the most greedy corporations in America, General Motors. I received a letter in Sep 2005 advising me that there was a possibility that my 2001 Impala catalytic converter could fail. If it did within 120, 000 miles GM would replace the part free. I took my car into Modern Chevrolet in Dec 2006 with 118,000 miles with a complaint that the car was not changing gears correctly, and in general was not running right. I thought it was the transmission. After some discussion the Chevy guy told me that a Transmission flush would be a good idea. After driving the car a few days after that I noticed the car doing the same thing. I was afraid it was the transmission (a $3000 repair at the dealer) so I drove the car until Jan 11, 2007 at which time the car suddenly barely ran and would not go over 50 mph without the engine light going on. I took it back to Modern Chevy and they told me that the catalytic converter had failed. I paid $660 to replace it. There was no reminder from the dealership about the reimbursment program. It was after I paid that I remembered the letter from 16 months ago. My claim to get reimbursed has been denied because I was over 120,000 miles at the repair. However, I believe the converter had already started breaking down back in Dec 2006 when I took it in. I am furious. I attempted to appeal, but that was denied too. Guess what? No more GM's for this girl. Sayanara General 'fu*****' Motors. <snip>



DUers, is there any chance for her to get satisfaction from small claims? She's beyond pissed and spent over an hour on the phone with them today. She's so pissed, I'm afraid to go home tonight...

[blue neen]

1. She could try contacting Chevrolet Motor Division Customer Service.

They may investigate the claim with the local dealership. It's worth a shot.

[libnnc]

2. That's who she's been in contact with for the past month

They wanted to give her a "voucher" for about $1,000 towards the purchase of a new GM car. She wants to keep what she has, not buy a new car. She doesn't understand why they can't cut her a check for the $600 and be done with it.

[Nicole]

3. Arbitration

In the back of the owner's manual, there should be numbers to call for third party arbitration.

Or at least there was in our 1988 Chevy. It worked for us. We got a new complete paint job at Chevy's expense, even though our warranty had expired 7 months earlier.

[libnnc]

4. thanks for that info

:thumbsup:

[Nicole]

Let us know if it works.

Like I posted, that was 1988. I'm not sure how they handle things these days.

[flvegan]

5. Have an independent mechanic read and record all your "check engine" problems.

The computer will be your forensics.

It's not small claims, but probably rather class action.