Rheem Manufacturing Company Purchased GE Ultra Nox 12 yr on 9/2011. 2/1013 thermocouple failed. Montgomery Alabama

Purchased a GE Ultra Low Nox (12 yr) in Sept. 2011.  February 2013, thermocouple went out.  The gas company came out and as soon as they saw the model the repairman told us "Southern California Gas Co. no longer works on these lemons."

From my research most units fail with the thermocouple.  As I understand, we have a thermostat isssue, tank  leaking and numerous other issues to encounter in the near future from this lemon of a unit. 

I have been on hold (at work no less) for almost 2 hrs. with GE.  

My position:  Why should I have to pay hundreds of dollars for a plumber to intall the thermocouple (should they even be available and no longer be on backorder)?  With the knowledge this unit will continue to disintigrate.  

GE sells their units to consumers with a promise of 12yr no maintainance needed.  What a crock of baloney.

By my calculations I will have invested almost twice the original purchase price within 3 years (repairing ALL the issues this unit is plagued with), and still have a 6 year old heater.  

I have called GE 3 times this morning.  The first supervisor, Sebastian, listened to my story and trandferred me (after an hour on hold) to Home Depot's store.  Wth??

Called again (another 50 minutes on hold waitinf for a supervisor) only resulting in the phone call being disconnected.

Horrible customer service, horrible product..