General Motors Chevrolet Lemon ripoff warranty fraud run-around defective vehicle rude company Detroit Michigan

MY SILVERADO NIGHTMARE

I wanted to share this story with everyone, in hopes that it will help those of you who continue to have issues with the 1999-2000 model Silverado trucks. It is long but very detailed and informative. At the end, you will see the resolution that I achieved after months of fighting GM. These are my actual journal notes and were used in my case.



OCTOBER 27, 2000
Truck cut off while driving (had 18,158 miles on it). No warning lights ever come on but truck won't restart. Towed to local dealership; driver notes that oil is pouring out.

OCTOBER 27, 2000 - NOVEMBER 24, 2000
Starter Sensor is replaced. Crank Sensor is replaced. Oil leak is repaired. Vehicle still not fixed so service department determines that crankshaft needs to be replaced. When engine is taken apart to reach crankshaft, a stray nut (left behind during manufacturing) is discovered lodged in the oil pan; the nut has been flying around inside of engine for 15 months and has destroyed it.

Engine is replaced. Power windows are checked per my complaint & listed as okay "per GM specs". Power door locks are checked per my complaint & listed as okay "per GM specs". ABS is checked per my complaint & listed as okay "per GM specs". "Thud" sound when turning is checked per my complaint & listed as "cannot duplicate".

Rear air vent is checked per my complaint & found to be defective; new part is ordered. 4wheel drive is checked per my complaint & listed as okay "per GM specs". During the final test drive before returning the truck to me, the "Service Engine Soon" light comes on. Oxygen sensor #1 is replaced.

NOVEMBER 24, 2000
Dealer has called for me to pick up truck. After reviewing repair order, I point out that the windows have not been repaired. I go on to show the service manager that both windows also squeak and squeal, plus the driver side is scraping. This is my 2nd request to have the problem fixed. A window regulator is then ordered but only for one window. I leave the shop with my truck. The "Service Engine Soon" light came on 1 mile from the dealership so I returned to service bay. Oxygen sensor #2 replaced.

Parts for air vent arrive while waiting for above repair; rear air vents are replaced.

NOVEMBER 25, 2000
After 25 miles, "Service Engine Soon" light has come on again. Will return to dealership on Monday. There is a "knocking" sound coming from the underside of the truck, near the engine compartment. Was very loud at first and now is a soft "rattle". This is a new problem. Passenger side window still squeaks and squeals. Brakes are still squealing, especially on sudden stops. There is still a "thud" sound and it has also now been heard when backing up, not just when turning.

The sound is not only in the rear of the vehicle but also coming from the front. Usually when from the front, it is during acceleration while turning. In the rear, it is during braking while turning.

NOVEMBER 27, 2000
Return truck to service department. Window regulator is replaced for driver side Mechanic works on vehicle because "Service Engine Soon" light is on; it is noted that an Oxygen sensor is "having trouble". After feeling that he has repaired the problem, the mechanic takes the truck for a test drive and the "Service Engine Soon" light comes back on; mechanic parks truck back in bay and asks for help.

An electrical specialist is assigned to the vehicle and I was sent home in a loaner. This is the 3rd attempt to correct this problem. An appointment was made to put the truck into the shop on December 4 (the needed mechanic is on vacation now) because the rear-end and front-end need work. This is the 2nd attempt on these problems. Still only one window has been fixed. Service manager keeps saying that "if the problem continues with the other window, we'll order a new regulator". This is my 3rd request to have the problem fixed.

Reported to service manger that brakes are still squealing; am told that this problem will be addressed during next week's appointment. My truck is expected to be in for several days (if not more) and a loaner has already been reserved. This is my 2nd request to have this problem fixed.

At 1:30 pm, I pick my truck back up. Oxygen Sensor #2 was replaced again (originally replaced on 11/24/00) because it was defective. On ride home, truck was pulling strongly to the right. I'll need to get an alignment.

Dashboard is rattling. I've taken everything out of the glove box and center console to be certain. The sound is very pronounced at speeds of 50mph or more. I have previously told the service manager that there is a pronounced rattle coming from the rear passenger compartment. It sounds like it may be the 3rd door. This will be checked also during the December 4th appointment.

NOVEMBER 28, 2000
After putting 75 more miles on vehicle (since picking up yesterday) "Service 4wd" came on in the Message Center. This particular problem is new but 4wd was supposedly checked on 11/27/00 and listed as "okay per GM specs". Called service manager and was told to "just add this to your list for Monday (December 4)".

NOVEMBER 29, 2000
Drove about 30 miles and "Service Engine Soon" light has come on again. Called service department and was told to "add it to your list". Was also told to keep using truck unless it became difficult to drive. This will be the 4th repair attempt on this problem. When turning off the AC, there is a loud buzzing (electrical sound) and then loud clicking, followed by a "thump". There is a lot of vibration in the dash when this happens. This is a new problem. Fumes from the exhaust are coming into the cab. Also, the exhaust smells very bad and much stronger than usual. This is a new problem.

DECEMBER 04, 2000 - DECEMBER 07, 2000
Returned truck to shop. Catalytic converter is replaced. Oxygen sensor #2 is replaced again for the third time. Clamp for right rear window is replaced. 4wheel drive switch is replaced. Shaft in front suspension is replaced.

DECEMBER 12, 2000
After putting another 177.5 miles on truck since 12/07/00, the "Service Engine Soon" light has come on again (this is the 5th time in 3 weeks). There is also a "burning" smell that resembles the smell from the radiator overheating. Took truck to service department. Was told that the Oxygen Sensor #2 is bad again. This is the 5th time an Oxygen Sensor has been bad and the 4th time that it has been the #2 Sensor.

I was told that the techs had to wait for GM Tech Support to call them back for guidance and was sent home in the truck. The "Service Engine Soon" light is still on and the smell of something burning is still present. I expressed my concern about driving the truck and was told that it "is safe to drive". The service manager said that I would need to leave the truck "for awhile" once GM calls back. This makes day #33 of shop time in the last 45 days and the truck still isn't repaired.

My attorney says that today they mailed the legal notices to my dealership and GM regarding the truck and the demands of my claim.

DECEMBER 13, 2000
There is water pouring out from my muffler (not just the tailpipe but the actual muffler). After crawling under the truck, I have discovered a rust hole in the muffler (on the rear side that connects to the tailpipe - not the small hole GM has to help PREVENT rusting, but an actual rust hole!). My exhaust system was listed as "per GM specs" during the shop time from Dec. 04 - Dec. 07. I'll add this to my list and question why it is "per GM specs" to have your muffler rusted and leaking water.

The brakes are not as responsive and it takes longer to slow or stop the truck. When applying the brake to shift from Park to Reverse, something is catching and producing a very loud "click" sound. It appears to be coming from the dash area around the steering column. This is a new problem.

JANUARY ??, 2001
Truck goes BACK to the shop for "Service Engine Soon" light. I take it to a different shop, per my attorney's instructions. The truck is returned to me and two days later, the "Service Engine Soon" light comes back on. I notify the attorney of the latest developments and we decide to park the truck and pursue GM with more aggression.

FEBRUARY 14, 2001
GM responds to official notice from my attorney of my intent to sue (and seeking to set the court date) and then makes a settlement offer. I refuse the initial offer and demand that I get the money back that I paid in payments for the time I had the truck. The following Monday, GM agrees to the settlement and two weeks later, I take the truck back to the dealership and pick up my check!

I had first gone through my dealer for assistance. When they failed to repair the truck, I proceeded up the chain to GM. The district rep called and told me that GM honored their warranty when they attempted to repair the truck and that "that is all that matters".

I told him that I was not satisfied with the way GM was treating me and would call the BBB. He hung up on me and I called the BBB. They did nothing for me, other than notify GM of my complaint. GM responded and the BBB considered the matter resolved. I then contacted an attorney in Atlanta, GA who handles Lemon Law cases.

The truck was out of the Lemon Law period by 3,000 miles but my attorney said GM had violated the Warranty by not only failing to repair the vehicle but by refusing to replace it.

After being faxed my list of problems, my daily notes and the repair tickets for the truck, all GM would offer was an Extended Warranty. I refused and as you read, they finally took the truck back and refunded all my money.

Nicole
Barney, Georgia
U.S.A.

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