Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

driver100

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

fezo said:

Funny new discovery on the 5 that I hadn't noticed - the gas cap is on the wrong side, that is the passenger side. Likely made primarily for the Japanese market as the CX5 and 6 had it on the driver's side. This may be the first car I'be had like this.

Hardly earthshattering.

Fezo, I read up on this topic before and there are a few reasons why gas cap fillers can be on either side.

Once an MB salesman said MBs and most European cars have them on the right, so if you run out of gas you will be filling it up with a can - on the right side, or shoulder of the road.

Then I read it depends on what side the manufacturer puts the exhaust pipe and other things.

The best answer seems to be a combination of the last one, plus, they make them at random on either side so that when you go to fill up some cars will go to the left of the pumps and some to the right.

I don't think I found a difinitive answer though.........

What happens if you have an MB with RHD drive in England? Then you are filling up on the street side.

The real answer is that the fuel cap is placed on the side that is closet to the gas tank. Fuel tank placement is based on where it will fit in the overall design and engineering of the car. The tank may not be in the middle of the car and if it is, there might be something in the way on one side. There's a lot of stuff near that gas tank - sensors, filters, brake lines, exhaust pipes, et al and it all has to fit.

To answer about an MB with RHD in England....very few countries have RHD....it would be on the right in a huge percentage of countries.

Putting it on the side away from gas lines, exhaust etc was point 2 in my post. That makes some sense but many manufacturers, I think GM is a big one, put the filler cap on one side on some cars, on the other side on others. I think they could standardize it if they really wanted to.

Therefore, I tend to think placing it at random is so cars won't all be filling up at the same side of the pump.

driver100

fezo said:

Just had that experience today at Costco.

Was easier when the filler was under the tail fin....

Or, Ford had it in the middle under the license plate. And Chev put it behind the tailight!

driver100

.

abacomike" said NOW I AM GETTING ANGRY!  You should not be driving that CTS - it's a serious safety issue now!

 

See what I mean...it can happen to the mildest mannered people.

GG - I think saying "taking legal action" would be worth a try.

abacomike

@driver100:  Yes, driver, I am very upset that graphicguy is driving an automobile that could end up killing him or someone else!  Power steering goes - it makes it very difficult to steer a 4000 lb car!  And then the stalling issue!  Pathetic!!!  

roadburner

The Wrangler has the fuel filler on the driver's side; the BMWs and MS3 have it on the passenger side.

Michaell

My Hyundai is on the driver's side; the Subaru is on the passenger side. I've not put gas into the MINI, so honestly don't know where it is.

driver100

abacomike said:

@driver100:  Yes, driver, I am very upset that graphicguy is driving an automobile that could end up killing him or someone else!  Power steering goes - it makes it very difficult to steer a 4000 lb car!  And then the stalling issue!  Pathetic!!!  

Maybe a mechanic at the dealership should take it for a drive...or maybe that president guy should take the car for a long drive and see how he likes driving a car that stalls and the power steering cuts out.

GG has his regular life to live too, who wants these kind of problems when you have work and a family? The minimum is they take the car and work on it and he gets a loaner to use.

stickguy

Seems like a perfect situation to trade cars with the service manager for a few days

dino001

All of GG's problems show me one thing - old habits die slowly, or don't die at all. I don't mean to say that's just GM, but the players do seem repeat offenders and while you can find "horror" stories about everybody, it seems some have significantly more than others. Then you always hear those lythanies of promises from those guys, but when it push comes to shove, the short term gain wins. You always hear the same song - we heard you, we changed, we strive to be the best. Then it turns out they didn't change. Yes, they might have improved some things, but the real change is away and may never really happen.

What Cadillac is doing to GG is beyond ridiculous. "What do you want us to do?", they say. Are you kidding? How about:
1. Believe that when I'm saying something is not working properly, it means it's not working properly. Do you think that I invented a problem so I can drive a loaner, or perhaps have a thing for the receptionist, thus those "phantom stalls" allow me more time with her? What do YOU think, why am I calling you?
2. If there is no "error code", send in a guy who know a bit more than how to read a computer screen.
3. Finally, take the car and don't release it back to me until you find and fix the problem.

Graphic, it seems, you may need to start some recording of the car stalling, or having other issues. I think loss of power steering may actually be one of those "bad news-good news". It is more serious and new one, too - and it may be related to the same thing. So perhaps they could get a damn "code" on this one.

Perhaps you should also press the Onstar immediately after the car stalls, or loses the steering again, so it creates the record. They should send somebody immediately and tow the car away. You get a few of those and they can't deny it anymore. Provided that you are still not scared to drive.

graphicguy

Thanks guys. All good advice.

Either I'm getting soft, or have just resigned myself that Cadillac's products, dealers and their customer service still have a long way to go. I consider the steering to be a safety issue, as is the stalling. But, fighting with Cadillac, their dealers, their customer service people just wears me out. I did it before. I know how they stall and deny. Should they buy the car back? Probably. They've already told me they can't fix it.

They go through the Better Business Bureau for arbitration, but even there, instead of stalling me, they just stall the BBB.

Customer Service said I'd hear from the dealer Thursday. Not a peep. I think I might have it towed to the dealer, but I'm not even sure they'll cover that cost.

Yes, I bought the car right, but even at that, looks like resale on these have dropped even further than I had anticipated. In short, I'd take a $10K bath if I tried to sell it (which I wouldn't, given that I know how dangerous it is).

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can't fix it. And, I won't drive it.

Maybe I have the Monday "blahs", but I'm feeling pretty angry and helpless with Cadillac right now.

I'll see what BBB has to say.

driver100

graphicguy said:

Thanks guys. All good advice.

Either I'm getting soft, or have just resigned myself that Cadillac's products, dealers and their customer service still have a long way to go. I consider the steering to be a safety issue, as is the stalling. But, fighting with Cadillac, their dealers, their customer service people just wears me out. I did it before. I know how they stall and deny. Should they buy the car back? Probably. They've already told me they can't fix it.

They go through the Better Business Bureau for arbitration, but even there, instead of stalling me, they just stall the BBB.

Customer Service said I'd hear from the dealer Thursday. Not a peep. I think I might have it towed to the dealer, but I'm not even sure they'll cover that cost.

Yes, I bought the car right, but even at that, looks like resale on these have dropped even further than I had anticipated. In short, I'd take a $10K bath if I tried to sell it (which I wouldn't, given that I know how dangerous it is).

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can't fix it. And, I won't drive it.

Maybe I have the Monday "blahs", but I'm feeling pretty angry and helpless with Cadillac right now.

I'll see what BBB has to say.

GG, BBB is worth a try but I wouldn't spend too much time with them...not very effective.

GM has a web page where they say they want to help you if you are experiencing any problems with your car. I am going to quote what they say;

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH A GM CAR WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT


Warranty, Repair & Lemon Law Help

Let Us Help You

At GM, we pride ourselves on ensuring an exceptional ownership experience. From purchasing your new Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac or GMC vehicle to your vehicle’s service, we are here to support you.

If you are not enjoying an exceptional experience - anything from ongoing warranty concerns to having difficulty getting your vehicle repaired, contact GM and let us help. We understand that customers may turn in many directions for assistance, including the local Better Business Bureau, State Attorney Generals, and Lemon Law firms. Make GM your first choice when you need help with your GM vehicle - give us the opportunity to earn your trust and maintain your confidence

They have a live chat option.....try that and see what they say.

driver100

GG, it seems Ohio does have lemon laws:

WHAT IS A LEMON?
A lemon is a new motor vehicle that has one or more problems, covered by the warranty, that substantially impair the use, value or safety of that vehicle. The problems must occur within the first year or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

And, it says this!

OHIO’S LEMON LAW
You are covered by Ohio’s Lemon Law if the problems with your new motor vehicle occurred in the first 12 months or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you have problems with your vehicle during this protection period, take the vehicle back to the dealer or the manufacturer and ask them to fix it. The manufacturer has a reasonable opportunity to fix the problem.

If the problem is not corrected, you might be eligible for a refund or replacement. You are covered by the Lemon Law even if the problem was discovered late in the protection period, and the repair attempts may extend beyond the protection period (first year or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first)

NEVER GIVE UP!

graphicguy

driver...I've been down this road with them before. I have "chatted" with them. I have talked to them on the phone. I've told 3 dealerships my problems.

They (Cadillac) add layer upon layer of roadblocks you have to overcome to get to them. I can't even get them to acknowledge there's a problem. If it isn't a simple fix, that they can find "with a code", they turn into the 3 Monkees..."See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".

They told me they fixed it once (they didn't). What's it going to take? Me hitting another car, or worse, a person? I'm the one at fault if that happens.

Fact is, I made GM (and in turn, Cadillac) my first choice in resolving my issue. They deny I have an issue. According to them, they can't fix it anyway.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

driver...I've been down this road with them before. I have "chatted" with them. I have talked to them on the phone. I've told 3 dealerships my problems. They (Cadillac) add layer upon layer of roadblocks you have to overcome to get to them. I can't even get them to acknowledge there's a problem. If it isn't a simple fix, that they can find "with a code", they turn into the 3 Monkees..."See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". They told me they fixed it once (they didn't). What's it going to take? Me hitting another car, or worse, a person? I'm the one at fault if that happens. Fact is, I made GM (and in turn, Cadillac) my first choice in resolving my issue. They deny I have an issue. According to them, they can't fix it anyway.

Give Consumer Affairs another shot, GG.  Go to the website driver mentioned and let them know your problem.  But if it was my car, I'd be at the service dept now raising "Cain".  Also, if your power steering stopped working several times, your warranty covers towing to the nearest Cadillac dealer for repairs.  Tell them the car is unsafe to drive - they will tow you.

My heart is with you on this, GG.  I wish there was something I could do to really help!

driver100

graphicguy said:

driver...I've been down this road with them before. I have "chatted" with them. I have talked to them on the phone. I've told 3 dealerships my problems.

They (Cadillac) add layer upon layer of roadblocks you have to overcome to get to them. I can't even get them to acknowledge there's a problem. If it isn't a simple fix, that they can find "with a code", they turn into the 3 Monkees..."See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".

They told me they fixed it once (they didn't). What's it going to take? Me hitting another car, or worse, a person? I'm the one at fault if that happens.

Fact is, I made GM (and in turn, Cadillac) my first choice in resolving my issue. They deny I have an issue. According to them, they can't fix it anyway.

GG try the Lemon Law in your state.....if any car should qualify it should be yours.

The Lemon Law site says:
IMPORTANT: If this vehicle is defective, you may be entitled under state law to a replacement or to compensation.

Dealers must give you a fully itemized written work order each time you take your vehicle in for repairs or services, even if the work is paid for under the manufacturer’s warranty. Work orders must list all of your concerns, the work performed or attempted, what parts were used and the cost for parts and labor.

BTW....record all of this information, about the days and times you contacted the dealer and GM.

Is there a TV station that has a consumer segment on the news...they love this kind of stuf?.

60 Minutes could even do a segment on this one!

Try the Attorney General, Mike DeWine...........hope his website is more truthful than GMs website.

graphicguy

Just filed with the Better Business Bureau arbitration. That's who GM goes through according to the owner's manual. I listed everything wrong with the car, safety issues first....steering failure, stalling. Then, I went with the stuff that isn't safety critical like voice recognition not working properly, various groans coming from underneath the car, etc.

They said they will report the safety problems to Cadillac immediately and I might get a call from them. They asked me what I wanted. I skipped getting the car fixed, as two dealers have already told me they can't fix it because of "no code". So, I told BBB I wanted a buy back. They're sending some sort of paperwork and said it would take 40 days to resolve.

Here I go.....looks like at least another month of fighting with Cadillac.

stickguy

GG, if you ever want to change careers, you could probably make a nice living helping people navigate these waters! Sadly you are becoming quite a pro.

Certain this is your last GM. Tell them I was all excited to look at one for my next car, but it is now off the list.

jpp75

stickguy said:

GG, if you ever want to change careers, you could probably make a nice living helping people navigate these waters! Sadly you are becoming quite a pro.

Certain this is your last GM. Tell them I was all excited to look at one for my next car, but it is now off the list.

Ditto for me on that, sorry you had to be the guinea pig. I was starting to come around thinking maybe I should give them a look, but not now.

graphicguy

stickguy said:

GG, if you ever want to change careers, you could probably make a nice living helping people navigate these waters! Sadly you are becoming quite a pro.

Certain this is your last GM. Tell them I was all excited to look at one for my next car, but it is now off the list.

Right about that. Done with GM! I thoroughly expect them to stonewall me, minimize the problems (although, these are safety issues as far as I'm concerned) and generally try to frustrate me so I'll just go away.

I'll get a 2nd wind with them and see this through. I may buy a "beater" to use just to have something that will get me back and forth to the airport and as a grocery getter while this plays out. I'd use the wife's car, but like this week, I'm in TX for 3 days and she's still teaching. So, she needs her car.

May peruse the classifieds tonight.

Thanks for letting me rant.

stever

Ugh, that kind of stuff wears you down. Guess @gmcustsvc doesn't monitor this discussion.

dino001

I wonder why we have no "you imagined all of this, but even if you didn't, Honda is worse" posts yet.

stickguy

I can guarantee that if my wife's car did this with her driving, I would be told to make it go away because she would never ride in it again.

jpp75

stever said:

Ugh, that kind of stuff wears you down. Guess @gmcustsvc doesn't monitor this discussion.

Based on their responses in the past in other discussions I can't imagine they'd do anything more than any other venue he's tried. They seem pretty useless in my opinion, they're basically just here to try and squash noise IMO.

roadburner

graphicguy said:

stickguy said:

GG, if you ever want to change careers, you could probably make a nice living helping people navigate these waters! Sadly you are becoming quite a pro.

Certain this is your last GM. Tell them I was all excited to look at one for my next car, but it is now off the list.

Right about that. Done with GM! I thoroughly expect them to stonewall me, minimize the problems (although, these are safety issues as far as I'm concerned) and generally try to frustrate me so I'll just go away.

I'll get a 2nd wind with them and see this through. I may buy a "beater" to use just to have something that will get me back and forth to the airport and as a grocery getter while this plays out. I'd use the wife's car, but like this week, I'm in TX for 3 days and she's still teaching. So, she needs her car.

May peruse the classifieds tonight.

Thanks for letting me rant.

If it makes you feel any better, I was actually looking for a CPO CTS-V with three pedals; not any more. Here's hoping you get this debacle resolved promptly- and in your favor!

graphicguy

jpp5862 said:

stever said:

Ugh, that kind of stuff wears you down. Guess @gmcustsvc doesn't monitor this discussion.

Based on their responses in the past in other discussions I can't imagine they'd do anything more than any other venue he's tried. They seem pretty useless in my opinion, they're basically just here to try and squash noise IMO.

All that GM prints in their manuals, on their WEB site and and talks about in the media is all fluff. They got a clean slate when we bailed them out. I even bought their product believing their BS. Just goes to show, it didn't take them long to fall right back into the same routine that got them into trouble to begin with.

Lesson learned. It took me awhile, but I have finally learned not to trust them.

Now I see why some of you stick with the brands you know and trust....RB with his BMWs, Mike with his Mercedes, etc. Looks like I'm going to have to pick a brand I trust and stick with them from now on.

First things first....gotta do battle with Cadillac.

Michaell

@graphicguy - truly sorry to hear about the problems you are having with your CTS. I was really excited when you and @ab348 and @qbrozen got your new cars. Now, count me as another member of the bandwagon who will avoid GM for any future purchases.

ab348

I have had good experiences with GM corporate. The dealers, less so.

I don't know what is going on here. I am stunned by how quickly the experience GG had with the selling dealer went from sweet to sour.

I find it difficult to believe that this is the first time a customer had a non-code generating problem with their car that scared them enough to not want to drive it. For both the dealer and Cadillac corporate, there ought to be a way to have it resolved without immediately descending into acrimony, as this seems to have done. I am mystified.

graphicguy

ab...shocked me, too. What started out as a good relationship, really did turn sour when you try to get safety issues fixed, and they (dealer and Cadillac) choose to ignore and minimize the issues. Dealer stopped being so friendly after the 2nd time I took the car in for the same problems and (nicely) requesting that perhaps they should dig a little deeper than just what the codes were telling them.

They've left me with no other choice than to move for a buy back.

OK...that's the direction you want to go? That's the direction we'll go.

I think of companies I've had exceptional experiences with like Apple, Costco, BMW, Acura, etc, and it becomes clear why they have loyal followers. They don't fight with their customers when their products are faulty.

Old saying applies with Cadillac....fool my once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

ab...shocked me, too. What started out as a good relationship, really did turn sour when you try to get safety issues fixed, and they (dealer and Cadillac) choose to ignore and minimize the issues. Dealer stopped being so friendly after the 2nd time I took the car in for the same problems and (nicely) requesting that perhaps they should dig a little deeper than just what the codes were telling them.

They've left me with no other choice than to move for a buy back.

OK...that's the direction you want to go? That's the direction we'll go.

I think of companies I've had exceptional experiences with like Apple, Costco, BMW, Acura, etc, and it becomes clear why they have loyal followers. They don't fight with their customers when their products are faulty.

Old saying applies with Cadillac....fool my once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Remember I mentioned I might look at that new $80,000 Cadillac coming in September but then changed my mind when I found out it would be over my limit for a new car - well thank goodness for my decision not to buy a Cadillac. You also mentioned that I was loyal to my Mercedes-Benz Brand - because after 14 cars I've purchased from them, I have either had no problems with the cars or they immediately took care of the problem in a professional manner and expeditiously at that.

isellhondas

driver100 said:

fezo said:

Just had that experience today at Costco.

Was easier when the filler was under the tail fin....

Or, Ford had it in the middle under the license plate. And Chev put it behind the tailight!

I'm trying to think of a good reason why anyone would want to bother with doing that gas filler relocation on a '55 Chevy?

Mr_Shiftright

BBB is industry supported (i.e., your Cadillac dealer funds them) and has no enforcement powers. But they can sometimes try to intervene in terms of problem resolution. But if the dealer won't cooperate there is nothing the BBB can do about it.

graphicguy said:

Thanks guys. All good advice.

Either I'm getting soft, or have just resigned myself that Cadillac's products, dealers and their customer service still have a long way to go. I consider the steering to be a safety issue, as is the stalling. But, fighting with Cadillac, their dealers, their customer service people just wears me out. I did it before. I know how they stall and deny. Should they buy the car back? Probably. They've already told me they can't fix it.

They go through the Better Business Bureau for arbitration, but even there, instead of stalling me, they just stall the BBB.

Customer Service said I'd hear from the dealer Thursday. Not a peep. I think I might have it towed to the dealer, but I'm not even sure they'll cover that cost.

Yes, I bought the car right, but even at that, looks like resale on these have dropped even further than I had anticipated. In short, I'd take a $10K bath if I tried to sell it (which I wouldn't, given that I know how dangerous it is).

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can't fix it. And, I won't drive it.

Maybe I have the Monday "blahs", but I'm feeling pretty angry and helpless with Cadillac right now.

I'll see what BBB has to say.

abacomike

Last night, I plugged my iPhone 6 in to charge it and the phone started buzzing and turning on and off - sort of like there was a short somewhere. I called Apple Care immediately and they said the first appointment they could schedule for me was Saturday at 12:50 PM at the Apple Store in Boca Raton. Needless to say, I was a bit perturbed about that, but the tech said that if I got to the store early enough, they would probably take me as a walk-in. The phone would not charge - and without my phone, I might as well be naked!

I finally got it to charge up before I went to sleep and this morning, I again called Apple Care. He thought it was either the cord, the plug or a major defect with the phone. He again suggested I show up early at the Store. I got there at 9:15 AM and sure enough, I was able to register for the Genius Bar. At 10:05 AM, I got a text message that I should start returning to the Apple Store because they would be ready for me shortly. I then got another text message telling me to go right into the store and register with the Genius Tech. They took me right away. The tech tried to charge the phone using the old cord and plug. It would not charge. He gave me another plug and wire to use and it did begin to charge - but then it stopped again.

He said to me, "...let's not play around with this anymore - your Apple Care Incident Number suggested that we just change the phone. So let's do that. He gave me a new iPhone 6 and he even gave me a new cord and plug because it made sense to change everything. The only thing I had to pay for ($19.00) was a new safety screen protector which he even installed for me just before I left. He said they couldn't take the old protector off. I was able to use my old case, and I was off and running.

I cite this experience because this is the way GG should have been treated at Cadillac!!! Apple is a class organization and when you have a problem, they resolve it with no ifs, ands and or buts! They want "happy" customers, not unhappy or angry customers. I get treated this same way at my Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Remember when I had that issue with the first E400 they got in for me? The dealer stood behind me and went to bat for me with MB. Am I happy with MB corporate in Montvale, NJ? NO! But I am happy with my car and the way things are handled by my dealership.

GG, you should expect nothing less than the experiences I have had with Apple and Mercedes Benz.

After this, I would never consider a Cadillac or, perhaps, any GM car at this point. The treatment you've received is pathetic.

graphicguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

BBB is industry supported (i.e., your Cadillac dealer funds them) and has no enforcement powers. But they can sometimes try to intervene in terms of problem resolution. But if the dealer won't cooperate there is nothing the BBB can do about it.

graphicguy said:

Thanks guys. All good advice.

Either I'm getting soft, or have just resigned myself that Cadillac's products, dealers and their customer service still have a long way to go. I consider the steering to be a safety issue, as is the stalling. But, fighting with Cadillac, their dealers, their customer service people just wears me out. I did it before. I know how they stall and deny. Should they buy the car back? Probably. They've already told me they can't fix it.

They go through the Better Business Bureau for arbitration, but even there, instead of stalling me, they just stall the BBB.

Customer Service said I'd hear from the dealer Thursday. Not a peep. I think I might have it towed to the dealer, but I'm not even sure they'll cover that cost.

Yes, I bought the car right, but even at that, looks like resale on these have dropped even further than I had anticipated. In short, I'd take a $10K bath if I tried to sell it (which I wouldn't, given that I know how dangerous it is).

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can't fix it. And, I won't drive it.

Maybe I have the Monday "blahs", but I'm feeling pretty angry and helpless with Cadillac right now.

I'll see what BBB has to say.

True....GM (or Cadillac in this instance) pays to add another level between them and their customers

Clearly the Cadillac Customer Service people carry no clout on the dealer level. They said they contacted the dealer and I was ASSURED someone would call me on Thursday. That never happened, so Cadillac Customer Service is nothing more than yet another layer between them and their customers....just like BBB. Neither has any real power. Just more "gatekeepers" to keep us "heathens" at bay.

Since I"m going full bore (especially given these are safety issues which they can't fix), I looked at the OH Lemon Law link driver recommended. That led me to another sight, who claim all they do is Lemon Law litigation. Supposedly no cost to me (cost would be passed on to Cadillac). I'm normally a bit leery of claims like that, but I'll do a bit more research. Maybe go with someone with a bit more bite.

stever

I don't get buying an expensive phone or tablet made with Gorilla Glass and then putting some plastic stuff over the touchscreen. That can affect the responsiveness of the device and by the time you beat up your phone/tablet so much as to affect the use, it'll be time for a new one anyway. My wife and I disagree about her iPad case all the time - nice light tablet and she puts a four pound case on it.

Now, 3M stuff on the leading edge of your hood or the fenders I can understand.

/rant

graphicguy

Hate to drag this out, but it's now entering the realm of a tragic comedy.

Just got a phone call from Cadillac Customer Service. It went like this....

Cad...Mr GG, this is Marty from Cadillac Customer Service. I'm calling about your USB issue.

Me....My USB issue? You mean my steering and stalling issues?

Cad...no sir. The note I'm looking at says you have a USB issue.

Me.....ummmm.....do me a favor. Call me back when you find the note that shows my steering and stalling issues....goodbye.

Can this company be any more inept? (Rhetorical question...I'm sure they will prove to me they actually can be more inept in pretty short order).

qbrozen

dino001 said:

I wonder why we have no "you imagined all of this, but even if you didn't, Honda is worse" posts yet.

Ha. Well, I won't say its worse, but I do still have an unresolved problem with my Fit and the stereo freezing up when trying to use bluetooth. They haven't completely turned me away, but they want me to jump through so many hoops and I just don't have the time for that BS. I figure I won't have the car all that much longer, so I'm not giving up my time to fix what they should be able to fix without me.

abacomike

stever said:

I don't get buying an expensive phone or tablet made with Gorilla Glass and then putting some plastic stuff over the touchscreen. That can affect the responsiveness of the device and by the time you beat up your phone/tablet so much as to affect the use, it'll be time for a new one anyway. My wife and I disagree about her iPad case all the time - nice light tablet and she puts a four pound case on it. Now, 3M stuff on the leading edge of your hood or the fenders I can understand. /rant

When it comes to trading in the iPhone, the protective film and the case protector - $40 cost - can mean $75.00 more for the trade value over a 2 year time period.

stever

Somewhere in Akron is a poor slob with 10 years of undergrad/grad school and a PhD and 25 years of hard work and research who cries so much every time he leaves the house, he just stays home and watches Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home all weekend. (Corning)

abacomike

Stever - they use an anti-glare plastic sheet that provides protection as well as a reduction in glare from the sun.  Since Apple sells it in their stores, I guess it's not all that bad.  You get 2 protective screen for tha $19 - so it can be replaced if the film scratches or discolors.

driver100

graphicguy said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

BBB is industry supported (i.e., your Cadillac dealer funds them) and has no enforcement powers. But they can sometimes try to intervene in terms of problem resolution. But if the dealer won't cooperate there is nothing the BBB can do about it.

graphicguy said:

Thanks guys. All good advice.

Either I'm getting soft, or have just resigned myself that Cadillac's products, dealers and their customer service still have a long way to go. I consider the steering to be a safety issue, as is the stalling. But, fighting with Cadillac, their dealers, their customer service people just wears me out. I did it before. I know how they stall and deny. Should they buy the car back? Probably. They've already told me they can't fix it.

They go through the Better Business Bureau for arbitration, but even there, instead of stalling me, they just stall the BBB.

Customer Service said I'd hear from the dealer Thursday. Not a peep. I think I might have it towed to the dealer, but I'm not even sure they'll cover that cost.

Yes, I bought the car right, but even at that, looks like resale on these have dropped even further than I had anticipated. In short, I'd take a $10K bath if I tried to sell it (which I wouldn't, given that I know how dangerous it is).

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can't fix it. And, I won't drive it.

Maybe I have the Monday "blahs", but I'm feeling pretty angry and helpless with Cadillac right now.

I'll see what BBB has to say.

True....GM (or Cadillac in this instance) pays to add another level between them and their customers

Clearly the Cadillac Customer Service people carry no clout on the dealer level. They said they contacted the dealer and I was ASSURED someone would call me on Thursday. That never happened, so Cadillac Customer Service is nothing more than yet another layer between them and their customers....just like BBB. Neither has any real power. Just more "gatekeepers" to keep us "heathens" at bay.

Since I"m going full bore (especially given these are safety issues which they can't fix), I looked at the OH Lemon Law link driver recommended. That led me to another sight, who claim all they do is Lemon Law litigation. Supposedly no cost to me (cost would be passed on to Cadillac). I'm normally a bit leery of claims like that, but I'll do a bit more research. Maybe go with someone with a bit more bite.

GG, what do you have to do to get started on the "Lemon Law" filing?

My concern is the BBB is not very effective, and they take 40 days when there is a safety issue! They have no real power, and they get their money from the car manufacturers.

This article would be well worth reading:
LEMON LAWS

Here are some hi-lites:

* Find an experienced lemon law lawyer. Face facts, you're not going to be able to do this yourself. Don't hire a lawyer who asks for a retainer or fee, or one who operates on a "contingency" basis. Bob Silverman notes that any good lemon law firm works on the "fee-shifting" basis, that is, if you win your case the court typically orders the defendant (the carmaker) to pay your legal fees. And if you lose, you shouldn't have to pay the lawyer anything
* "When car companies act with impunity and don't pay, it not only angers the customers, it angers the judges," noted Silverman. "The judges want to prevent this from happening again, and one way to keep manufacturers from disregarding lemon laws is to hit them with damages like this. So the carmakers will think twice about not complying with lemon laws in the future."
* How much satisfaction (and monetary reward) consumers get depend on where they live. Besides Wisconsin, California and Ohio have some of the stronger lemon laws, according to Silverman. "The judges in those states are aggressive when it comes to hitting violators with judgments that act as a disincentive for other carmakers to violate the laws," he said.

GG, I don't want to overdo trying to help - and become a pain. Don't you worry about ranting as far as I am concerned...I know how frustrating dealing with car manufacturers can be....your case is 1000X worse than mine.

stever

@abacomike, it's mop and glow for phones, lol. I didn't have time to skim apple.com to see if they have a faq about it. Too busy putting clear seat covers on the couch and minivan.

driver100

stever said:

Now, 3M stuff on the leading edge of your hood or the fenders I can understand.

/rant

A friend told me to put 3M on the 535, he always put it on his cars. I got it done for half price at an Accura dealer.

I was going to have them put it on the MB E400.

My friend bought his Audi R4, took it to the Accura dealer, they told him it was a waste of money. Not great on a white car, because it does yellow. Also stone chips can still get through, so you will have to repair those anyway.

They said, it is better just to paint the front if it need it. I cancelled my appointment to have it put on the E400 - I don't think they knew he would be telling me what they told him.

houdini1

fezo said:

Funny new discovery on the 5 that I hadn't noticed - the gas cap is on the wrong side, that is the passenger side. Likely made primarily for the Japanese market as the CX5 and 6 had it on the driver's side. This may be the first car I'be had like this.

Hardly earthshattering.

Fezo, look at your gas gauge. There is a little marker there that shows you which side your gas filler cap is on. Automakers vary the side so everyone is not trying to get gas on the same side of the pumps.

stever

Seems like it would speed things up if everyone's cap was on the same side. Half the time here at the cheap gas station, you just about have to parallel park to get to an available pump and people's cars wind up facing both directions in the same lane.

dino001

graphicguy said:

Cad...Mr GG, this is Marty from Cadillac Customer Service. I'm calling about your USB issue.

This is even worse than not calling at all. Adds to the anxiety and rubs salt into the wound. Not only we don't care, we even can't keep our records straight.

Not exactly related, but it happened to me repeatedly have an appointment with a salesman/woman and learn they had completely wrong data on their lead sheet. You, sir, are here for a trade of your Chevy Malibu for a new Ford Explorer? Not exactly, I want to buy a new Ford Mustang trading my Honda Pilot. You know right away, you're off to a "great start" with that one.

ab348

"What we have here... is a failure to COMMUNICATE!"

houdini1

stever said:

Seems like it would speed things up if everyone's cap was on the same side. Half the time here at the cheap gas station, you just about have to parallel park to get to an available pump and people's cars wind up facing both directions in the same lane.

They should do like Costco and some others. You can only enter their pumps from one direction.

stever

That's exactly what I was thinking as I clicked "post".

Do they have long hoses so you can still fill-up from the "wrong" side?

fezo

Indeed. Costco has hoses long enough to reach the other side of the car. That's what I thought would be happening when I pulled up to fill yesterday but lo and behold that's where the filler is!

I liked, I think it was 54, Cadillac where you pushed the reflector button at the base of the tailfin and there was the filler.

GG - thanks. I've crossed GM off my ever think of list. That's saying a lot. Chrysler hasn't even gotten there yet. Stay with the fight. You'll win.

So today was an up to Sloan Kettering day. News is all just fine. It did give me my first long trip under all sorts of conditions and the car was great. After a second attempt I got my 3 month Sirius trial period. Considering all their sporting even things are available only on computer rather than in the car I can't imagine keeping it. Lots of channels but maybe a dozen I'd be remotely interested in and so far they've not impressed.

I found out the parking assist really works. As I'm backing out of a parking space at a service area on the Parkway some idiot in a CRV scoots right behind me. The parking assist beeped it's little head off. Thank you.

I had the display on average mpg. That was amusing. On the way up, which was largely highway at around 75 mph it reported 28.1 getting toward the Lincoln tunnel. By the time I was in and out of the city it was down to 23.3. Back home now it's at 25.

abacomike

@fezo:   My grandfather had what I would call a true FAMILY CAR - a 1955 Chevrolet BelAire Sedan.  He didn't drive and neither did my grandmother.  They kept the car in their 1-car garage for my aunt (8 years older than me) who was attending NYU at the time and the grandchildren (my brother and me) who were teens.  If we needed to borrow the car, all we did is ask.

I remember the first time I borrowed the car (1961) for a date.  I stopped off at a gas station to fill the tank and for the life of me, I could not find the gas filler door or cap.  The kid who pumped the gas couldn't find it either.  I has less than a quarter tank of gas with a 75 mile round trip to the concert and back.  I called my Dad and my grandparents, but they had no idea.  Only my aunt knew but sh was visiting friends and could not be reached.

Alas, I had to return the car after taking my date to White Castle for hamburgers and fries and missed the concert.  I must have asked 7 or 8 people where the gas filler cap was and no one knew.  I learned the next day that it was on the left rear light lens - you turned the chrome lever clockwise and the light housing opened revealing the filler.  Good grief, what a disappointment in "oh so many ways" if you get my drift!