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Comments
Stop pretending that GM is interested in resolving this problem.
GM has stated in court that it does not cover ANY corrosion caused by the environment. GM will do nothing to help any of these people.
Only the NHTSA has the power to make GM stand behind its crappy, unsafe products.
File your complaint with the NHTSA. That is the only organization with the clout to force GM to address the problem.
Government Motors!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
GM won't fix the problem until enough people file complaints with the NHTSA and there is some press coverage of the catastrophic brake line and other failures.
GM does not care if you buy their trucks. They are too big and bureaucratic. That's why they went bankrupt the first time and why they will go bankrupt again.
Their warranty is a sham.
Government Motors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you currently have a case with GM Customer Assistance? If so, could you please email me the case number? I would like to look further into your situation.
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service
Don't waste Casilla's time. GM does not cover corrosion under its warranty, and will do nothing to help Casilla.
There is nothing you can do as a GM customer service rep except give Casilla the run around. You have no authority to do anything, and GM has already stated that it does not cover ANY corrosion due to the environment, which is ALL corrosion. This is company policy and you can do nothing to change it.
Government Motors!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry you feel this way and have had a bad experience; however, the department and I are proof that GM cares and they are trying to reach customers they were unable to reach before. We handle everything on a case by case basis and at the very least I like to look into customer situations to try to provide some assistance.
Christina
GM Customer Service
If GM cared, they would stand behind their warranty instead of giving customers the runaround and forcing them to sue in order to get satisfaction.
GM is a sham, a failed company bailed out by the taxpayers, with no clue about how to produce a quality product or satisfy its customers.
Government Motors!!!!!
I'll bet you do not even understand the GM warranty as it pertains to corrosion. Tell me Christina, what corrosion is covered under the warranty?
I challenge to you to respond.
You cannot, because you are just a note taker with no understanding of the GM warranty, much less how to help someone.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host
Imagine one of these disasters someday being a...CLASSIC? A CLASSIC WORTH RESTORING? THERE WON"T BE ANY.
STILL THE SAME FAILED LOSERS IN CHARGE WHO BUILT JUNK LONG ENOUGH TO KILL THE INDUSTRY...TODAY, UNION GOONS OWN THE COMPANY.
A GIGANTIC CLASS-ACTION SUIT IS INEVITABLE AND THE SETTLEMENT WILL NOT BE COUPONS FOR A CAR WASH !
SEE YOU IN COURT !
They don't care if they lose because it's not their money. If they lose, the execs still get paid, and if the company goes broke again, the taxpayers will bail them out.
It's like suing the government.
And a finding by the NHTSA that GM has a corrosion problem would give the suit a much higher probability of succeeding.
That's why it's so important for everyone to report their corrosion issues to the NHTSA.
File your complaint with the NHTSA and write your Congressman a letter insisting that NHTSA escalate its investigation.
Ask him what the status of the investigation is and why it's taking so long.
Email a copy of your letter to the Associated Press news desk.
Pressure!!!!
Once NHTSA issues a finding, GM will have to do a recall.
Auto manufacturers only warrant the sheetmetal against rust perforation, as the painting procedure is intended to prevent this. For those that want to do some research, note that the Toyota Tacoma frame rust issue was not remedied by a recall or lawsuit. Toyota instituted a "Customer Satisfaction" program to buy back 1995-2000 trucks, and replace the frames on 2001-2004 models. Note that Toyota recognizes some of these trucks will never be brought in for inspection, there are conditions involved for specific situations, and the model years being bought back are old enough that the settlement amount is tolerable to their bottom line.
Ranting and raving does nothing. I'm sure the majority of you would think the same if one of your business customers came in screaming like a lunatic about something that your company clearly put in writing. When they're done yelling, you would point out what they agreed to and send them on their way. GM is no different.
The way to get a solution is to work with them, not against them. Instead of threats (whether of lawsuits, media coverage, or lost future sales), a far more successful method is to say something to the effect of "I like my truck, but I noticed this problem. What can be done so I'm confident in buying another one in a couple of years?" I've actually done this a number of times, and my concerns have always been addressed.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host
I have first hand knowledge that you do not have. I have also seen more than a hundred emails from other owners of late model GM trucks with the same problem. GM is doing nothing to address it.
First, the undercarriage is protected against corrosion with a coating, in addition to the use of corrosion resistant steel. The vital structural and safety components are supposed to last the life of the vehicle, not a couple of years.
Second, you do not understand GM's position on its warranty. GM does not warranty any corrosion on the vehicle caused by the environment, despite the misleading language they provide on rust through. That includes sheet metal and the undercarriage. They may fix a minor problem as part of what they call "Good Will", but they will tell you that they are not obligated under the warranty.
Third, there is no "working with" GM on this problem. I took it to the top of the company. They will not fix an undercarriage corrosion problem, regardless of how the vehicle was used, where it was purchased, how it was maintained, etc. They have stated this in court testimony.
Toyota initiated its buy back program after NHTSA did its investigation and found the vehicles lacking, and after the widespread negative publicity. Toyota stonewalled its customers for years before the adverse publicity finally forced them to act.
GM is doing the same thing now, and making nice with them will not get you a resolution, just months of runaround. Like any big bureaucracy, they would rather litigate and take their chances than admit the problem and fix it.
That's one of the reasons they went out of business the first time and why they will go out of business again.
You are probably correct about the class action suit not providing any remedy to individual owners. About all that can be achieved at this point is the satisfaction of holding GM's fee to the fire.
However, you are wrong about everything else, including the warranty and GM's willingness to address the problem.
GM has stated in court documents that its warranty covers NO corrosion due to the environment, anywhere on the vehicle, and that includes the sheet metal.
The so-called five-year rust-through protection for sheet metal is a sham.
GM has a problem with premature corrosion of certain of its trucks, and they are stonewalling attempts to get justice.
The reason they state rust due to environment is not covered is because they have no control over the environment. No manufacturer is going to cover rust on a truck sold to a DOT or public works department that is used as a salt-spreader in winter, or beach patrol by the ocean. So they're not going to cover a truck owned by anyone else for similar corrosion.
Toyota Tacomas are still not under recall for frame rust. The buyback and frame replacement programs are not open to every truck in the affected model years. There are trucks in those model years that have no sign of frame perforation that has put other Tacomas out of service.
I live in the northeast and I deal with road salt every winter. Having owned full-size pickups exclusively for over 20 years, I recognize that rust is a possibility. So I pay extra to have my trucks treated before delivery. Does that prevent rust? Of course not. Does it slow rust formation way down? Yes, it does. I don't expect the manufacturer to cover it; I address it myself before it happens.
Writing to the manufacturer CEO is a waste of time. It will be read by a staff member and forwarded back down the chain. Again, the key is not to be combative - the manufacturers have legal teams that do nothing but handle the ranters... and they're very good at what they do. With all the correspondence you say you have made, you have likely been labeled as such a customer. And for every one of you, there are 1000 people who will still buy a Silverado or Sierra.
I'm not saying your concerns are not legit; but your methods of addressing those concerns could be the reason you aren't getting a positive reaction.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host
They are however entitled to a truck that will be essentially rust free over the period of the warranty provided it is not abused or operated in a way that the truck was not intended to be operated. They are certainly entitled to a truck that will maintain structural integrity and be safe to operate within the warranty period, and really, for the intended life of the truck.
I have lived all over the country, including the Northeast, and have plowed in the winter. I had a Ford truck for ten years not garaged on the ocean in the Northeast with zero rust. My brother has a 20 year old Chevy that was used as a plow truck, never washed or maintained, with virtually zero undercarriage rust. I have seen thousands of vehicles is all sorts of uses and never have I seen anything near this type of corrosion in such a short time.
The GM trucks we are talking about are rusting prematurely, sometimes within months of delivery. And not just in rust belt areas. all over the country. One rusted within a year in a semi-desert area.
I agree that writing to GM is a waste of time, because they have no interest in standing behind their products. That's why they went bankrupt and headed that way again. However, you are required to put your complaints in writing prior to taking legal action, which I did.
I am not recommending that anyone take legal action, because it is expensive, and as you say, GM has very good attorneys. What I have suggested is that they report their safety issues to NHTSA and let their Congressman know. I suspect an NHTSA recall or adverse finding and some bad publicity might just get GM's attention.
I have dealt with hundreds of companies on many different issues and I have never seen a company stonewall and obfuscate like GM, and that includes the federal government. They are in a class by themselves.
If you would like for us to look into this please just email your case number or your contact information and we can take a look into your case.
Christina
GM Customer Service
They don't even cover corrosion DURING THE TERM OF THE WARRANTY. My brand new Chevy truck rusted out in two years and they would do nothing.
NHTSA can force a recall. GM will do nothing for you otherwise.
I did a quick search on link title
I found about 3 complaints of rust specifically on 2000-2006 Silverados.
There were many complaints about the tailgate cables breaking. These are complaints made directly to NHTSA. According to these statistics and considering the number of vehicles sold this seems to be a non-issue.
I have a 2006 and live in New York and I see NO rust on frame or body.
I find it suspect that about half of the posts on this thread are made by
about 2 posters.
If it was a minor issue, GM would just take care of the handful of cases and replace the vehicles at very little cost. I suspect the problem is more widespread and they are covering up.
your trucks. I think living near the ocean as is your case can have a very real effect on the frame and body. I recently worked on a mid 2000 Ford
F-250 Police vehicle that does duty on Fire Island here on Long Island. The paint was pitted in spots. I never see that on that year Ford on anything driven inland.
Also many pick up trucks around here are used to haul boats in and out of the salt water bays via boat ramps resulting in the total immersion of the frame and lower body in salt water.
That could be the case in many (not all of course) of the complaints. If you go to link title and search "rust" in complaints the first complaint for a Chevy truck is page 8 of the search. Most of them are for Toyota, with quite a few for Hyundai, Nissan, Honda and a smattering of Fords. I conclude that the rust problem for the GM pickups are no worse and might be and probably is better than the competition.
I try to research this objectively but of course I could be wrong
I had a Ford truck here for three years parked in the same spot as my Chevy. It didn't have a spot of rust on it. The Chevy rusted out in two years. The rear drive shaft snapped in half.
That cannot be explained by living close to the beach.
I have a 2006 Silverado. I looked underneath it today and saw almost no rust. There was some in the front end parts, but only a little. The guy next to me at work has a 2005 Silverado and a 2006 Colorado and I examined both and saw again very little rust.
Can you take a picture of the one year old GMC? If you would like I'll take a picture of mine and we can compare.
GMC should just fix the ones that have obviously rusted prematurely, but they won't That's why they're Government Motors and will go bankrupt again. They do not stand behind their products, they stand behind their attorneys, funded by taxpayers.
I apologize for your frustrations. Have you spoke with your dealer or GM Customer Assistance? I look forward to your response.
Christina
GM Customer Service
GM will not cover any corrosion due to the environment (all corrosion), regardless of where you live or how you garage and care for your vehicle, or how fast it rusts out. If you live in the desert and keep your vehicle in a climate controlled garage, and only drive it on Sundays on paved roads, they will not cover you if the vehicle corrodes head to toe.
That's why they are GOVERNMENT MOTORS!!!!!
I would like to make other truck owners aware of this dangerous condition as Chevy obviously does not care to support their customers as Toyota has on a similar problem.