Just wanted to let you guys know that my Grandmother died on Monday. She lived a very long, full life. We just celebrated her 98th birthday on April 22.
Sincere condolences from my family to your family, Bradd. A wonderfully long life - great to have grandma around because they are the ones who spoiled us rotten. My grandma (mom's mom) didn't know how to say the word "no"! "Yes" was the only word in her vocabulary when it came to me. I miss her greatly as I do my mom.
Just wanted to let you guys know that my Grandmother died on Monday. She lived a very long, full life. We just celebrated her 98th birthday on April 22.
You will be kept in my thoughts and prayers; my condolences.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Just wanted to let you guys know that my Grandmother died on Monday. She lived a very long, full life. We just celebrated her 98th birthday on April 22.
Sorry, guy. My condolences to you and your family.
Just wanted to let you guys know that my Grandmother died on Monday. She lived a very long, full life. We just celebrated her 98th birthday on April 22.
nyc, very sorry to hear that. It doesn't get much better than getting to 98 with few complications and a good life.
What @driver said. My mom (the RN) always told her docs that she didn't want to live past her 80s. Now that she's 93, I think she's pretty happy to be here.
Just wanted to let you guys know that my Grandmother died on Monday. She lived a very long, full life. We just celebrated her 98th birthday on April 22.
Yes indeed she lived a very long life. Condolences and may her departed soul rest in eternal peace. My aunt passed last month she was 89. Unfortunately, my mother only got to 61.
GG---the crux of the problem here is, I think, either a lack of skill to fix the car or an unwillingness to pay that technician for all the time it's going to take to chase down this "ghost". There are certainly people intelligent enough to fix this car---but whether they are employed at your dealership, or whether they have the support of your dealership (that is, for the dealer to make good whether he gets paid back by the factory or not) is the question. My friend who owns a dealership would not tolerate this. He would either back up the tech to "get it done" or he would roll up his sleeves and help out. That's why he makes money while other dealers selling his "off-brand" don't.
AB....you'd have to ask Cadillac aboutthe loaner vehicle. I offered them several days I am traveling. They can have the car to do whatever they want with it. I'm headed to Milwaukee (drive) and from there, I fly to Austin. I then fly back to Milwaukee (where I am planning to spend the weekend in Chicago and then back home to Cincinnati.
They don't want to do that. They want to give me a loaner for a couple of days and then bring the loaner back. I don't know if they can diagnose it in that amount of time, let alone fix it. They reqlly aren't making much of an effort to fix the issues.
In brief....as they are want to do, they want to half [non-permissible content removed] it, and stall to keep me frustrated and at bay until they wear me down. It's how they work.
It always boils down to willingness of taking prospect of short term losses vs. risking long term relationship or reputation. Especially that even when taking the loss, nothing is still guaranteed. There are situations when doing the right thing will cost you and bring nothing in return, as other factors may cause you lose regardless. Takes a lot of character to resist that urge of washing the hands, especially if it's you who has the power at the moment (as dealers and manufacturers do). That's probably why "here and now" wins over 90% of the time, but that's also the very reason why only small percentage of the people/organizations truly succeed and the rest either is wallowing in mediocrity, or even get wiped out. Power of bad PR from an unsatisfied customer is at all time high and keeps growing. However, some organizations have real trouble understanding that.
Sorry for your family's loss, Bradd. But, as noted, it sounds like she lived life!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I'm just shocked at GG's Caddy problems. I would think it's still close enough to the GM ignition circus that they (Cadillac) would be trying to take care of any issues that even smell like a safety issue. Sounds like the beancounters are still in charge at GM. Don't they understand the power of forums like this one? This will cost them many sales over the next 10 years, as searches for "Cadillac quality problems" should reference this thread. It's just sad.
NYC, Sorry to hear about your grandmother. 98 is a long life and she lived through a lot of interesting times. Over the weekend, went to service for one of my wife's cousins. 65 and was going to retire from teaching in the next month or so. Was diagnosed with an incurable problem in December and passed away last week.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
GG---the crux of the problem here is, I think, either a lack of skill to fix the car or an unwillingness to pay that technician for all the time it's going to take to chase down this "ghost". There are certainly people intelligent enough to fix this car---but whether they are employed at your dealership, or whether they have the support of your dealership (that is, for the dealer to make good whether he gets paid back by the factory or not) is the question. My friend who owns a dealership would not tolerate this. He would either back up the tech to "get it done" or he would roll up his sleeves and help out. That's why he makes money while other dealers selling his "off-brand" don't.
AB....you'd have to ask Cadillac aboutthe loaner vehicle. I offered them several days I am traveling. They can have the car to do whatever they want with it. I'm headed to Milwaukee (drive) and from there, I fly to Austin. I then fly back to Milwaukee (where I am planning to spend the weekend in Chicago and then back home to Cincinnati.
They don't want to do that. They want to give me a loaner for a couple of days and then bring the loaner back. I don't know if they can diagnose it in that amount of time, let alone fix it. They reqlly aren't making much of an effort to fix the issues.
In brief....as they are want to do, they want to half [non-permissible content removed] it, and stall to keep me frustrated and at bay until they wear me down. It's how they work.
Mr Shiftright...as always, you very correctly and succinctly summed up the issue. Couldn't agree with you more. That's exactly what's happening....both a lack of skill and an unwillingness to fix the issues.
BTW...I scored a coup from Enterprise.....a Nissan Altima rental that they're letting me use my company's corporate rate.....$17/day. Not a bad car. IT certainly could be worse.....!
GG---the crux of the problem here is, I think, either a lack of skill to fix the car or an unwillingness to pay that technician for all the time it's going to take to chase down this "ghost". There are certainly people intelligent enough to fix this car---but whether they are employed at your dealership, or whether they have the support of your dealership (that is, for the dealer to make good whether he gets paid back by the factory or not) is the question. My friend who owns a dealership would not tolerate this. He would either back up the tech to "get it done" or he would roll up his sleeves and help out. That's why he makes money while other dealers selling his "off-brand" don't.
AB....you'd have to ask Cadillac aboutthe loaner vehicle. I offered them several days I am traveling. They can have the car to do whatever they want with it. I'm headed to Milwaukee (drive) and from there, I fly to Austin. I then fly back to Milwaukee (where I am planning to spend the weekend in Chicago and then back home to Cincinnati.
They don't want to do that. They want to give me a loaner for a couple of days and then bring the loaner back. I don't know if they can diagnose it in that amount of time, let alone fix it. They reqlly aren't making much of an effort to fix the issues.
In brief....as they are want to do, they want to half [non-permissible content removed] it, and stall to keep me frustrated and at bay until they wear me down. It's how they work.
Mr Shiftright...as always, you very correctly and succinctly summed up the issue. Couldn't agree with you more. That's exactly what's happening....both a lack of skill and an unwillingness to fix the issues.
BTW...I scored a coup from Enterprise.....a Nissan Altima rental that they're letting me use my company's corporate rate.....$17/day. Not a bad car. IT certainly could be worse.....!
$17 a day is a great price and well worth it to see what happens with the Caddie. Mr Shiftright could be right in that a larger dealership might have a real technician/mechanic who can actually diagnose the real problem. However a smaller dealership may not have such a talented person on board.
It does make me wonder how well GM/Caddie are training their technicians. Making better cars is one thing, having good technicians is also important. I wonder if their standards are high enough.
Is the car at the dealers now, and are you leaving it for a week GG?
Driver....the Caddy is sitting in my garage. They didn't want to give me a loaner for more than two days. I'm gone unti after Memorial Day (long weekend in the U.S.).
So, I'm letting the system (BBB and the letter my lawyer sent with all the service documents from both Caddy dealers) work.
BBB said 40 days from the date my request was filed. My lawyer said two weeks to have some sort of response from Cadillac. Clock is ticking!
GG, let me know how the Altima does. Should probably keep that on the list, since they are usually trying to give them away at the end of the MY, since there are likely to be hundreds piled up on the lot.
Driver....the Caddy is sitting in my garage. They didn't want to give me a loaner for more than two days. I'm gone unti after Memorial Day (long weekend in the U.S.).
Driver....the Caddy is sitting in my garage. They didn't want to give me a loaner for more than two days. I'm gone unti after Memorial Day (long weekend in the U.S.).
I still do not understand this.
Me too!
Why not leave the car with them for a week....that would be the real test of whether thay can fix it, especially since you are renting a car anyway?
GGI think you would have a stronger case if they have a full week to try and fix the car. The lawyer and BBB are good, but, they could claim they asked you to leave the car with them and you didn't do that.
what's the big deal on the loaner? take something off the used car row, throw a tag on, and let you take it.
I'd be OK with that. Apparenty, they don't see it that way. Hell, I can't even get them to give me a ride home if I drop the CAddy off for diagnosis, let alone getting back to pick it up.
Xo, they can't/won't fix it, and putting out less than minimal effort to diagnose it. And, on top of all that, wants to inconvenience their customer (me) as much as they can in the process.....for a Cadillac....and not a cheap one either.
well, it is clear that they lost you. so making a conscious decision to cut you loose. Just not thinking about (or caring about?) your spreading the word. Though I guess it is reasonable that it won't cost that dealer a sale, and they don't care if some random dudes in NJ pass on buying one!
Bradd - condolences for sure. 98 is a good life. Take comfort from that. Tomorrow, after being in the city I'm heading to the funeral for an old bandmate. Fell off a 10 ft ladder, broke his hip but after they fixed that he had trouble breathing and died. 66 year old.. A real when your number's up story. Then you think of me who has made a couple of visits to death's door and yet here I am in pretty good health. You never do know.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
what's the big deal on the loaner? take something off the used car row, throw a tag on, and let you take it.
I'd be OK with that. Apparenty, they don't see it that way. Hell, I can't even get them to give me a ride home if I drop the CAddy off for diagnosis, let alone getting back to pick it up.
Xo, they can't/won't fix it, and putting out less than minimal effort to diagnose it. And, on top of all that, wants to inconvenience their customer (me) as much as they can in the process.....for a Cadillac....and not a cheap one either.
what's the big deal on the loaner? take something off the used car row, throw a tag on, and let you take it.
I'd be OK with that. Apparenty, they don't see it that way. Hell, I can't even get them to give me a ride home if I drop the CAddy off for diagnosis, let alone getting back to pick it up.
Xo, they can't/won't fix it, and putting out less than minimal effort to diagnose it. And, on top of all that, wants to inconvenience their customer (me) as much as they can in the process.....for a Cadillac....and not a cheap one either.
what's the big deal on the loaner? take something off the used car row, throw a tag on, and let you take it.
I'd be OK with that. Apparenty, they don't see it that way. Hell, I can't even get them to give me a ride home if I drop the CAddy off for diagnosis, let alone getting back to pick it up.
Xo, they can't/won't fix it, and putting out less than minimal effort to diagnose it. And, on top of all that, wants to inconvenience their customer (me) as much as they can in the process.....for a Cadillac....and not a cheap one either.
Who knew?
GG, how far are you away from the dealer, and how far is the car rental place? It will be harder for you to prove neglect if you don't leave the car with them.
When I bought the E400 I found the GPS was't working when I got home. My salesman said he would drive to my house and install the latest version whenever I wanted (10 minutes). I said, I am driving by the dealership tomorrow and you can install it tomorrow. He was surprised I'd bring it in, and he gave me a coupon for a full detail car wash.
At $17 a day for a rental car, it would be worth it to use that car and leave the Caddie at the dealer for 2 or 3 days.
I think someone suggested driving the Caddie somewhere, like around the block, and call On Star, tell them the car isn't safe to drive, and have them come and pick it up or tow it to a dealer.
This whole thing seems like a bad dream.
They should have awards for the worst experience with a new car....I think our Audi won last year, I think you are going to win this year!
Driver....I'm tired of putting my schedule through contortions time and time again to accomodate the car or Cadillac's service foibles. One of the main reasons I buy new cars, especially luxury brands, is because I DON'T want to go through this.
I'm holding out hope Cadillac is going to have to reimburse me for the rental. They clearly aren't trying to offer alternate transportation willingly
Driver....I'm tired of putting my schedule through contortions time and time again to accomodate the car or Cadillac's service foibles. One of the main reasons I buy new cars, especially luxury brands, is because I DON'T want to go through this.,
I absolutely get this.
I'm holding out hope Cadillac is going to have to reimburse me for the rental. They clearly aren't trying to offer alternate transportation willingly
If the car is not at the dealer being diagnosed or repaired, I cannot see how or why they would do anything. This is where I get confused.
GG: This is such an unbelievable story. Does Caddy/GM not understand what you represent? A customer who had sworn off their product due to poor quality merchandise and customer service. Yet, a few years later, through a high quality product and sales/customer service experience, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! Turned a likely import sale into a domestic sale, and in the process created a new/converted champion for the product. From your writings, you truly enjoyed all aspects of the CTS and even were surprised yourself at the quality, driving experience and value that the CTS represented. You voted with your wallet, this should be GM's dream, you should be in their commercials...
Yet, because there is NO CODE they are flushing you and your sphere of influence down the toilet??? Welcome to the new GM, circa 1973. UNBELIEVABLE. In the words of the poet, P. Townsend, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!"
I wish you the best of luck with your continued quest, and hope it is not too Quixotic.
17 months with the Jag, other than a bit of a rattle when the sunroof shade is pulled back, not an issue to report. Spinning vents still spinning, rising hockey puck shifter still rising! No Prince of Darkness issues to report. Hear that GM? A faultless British car!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
GG: This is such an unbelievable story. Does Caddy/GM not understand what you represent? A customer who had sworn off their product due to poor quality merchandise and customer service. Yet, a few years later, through a high quality product and sales/customer service experience, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat!
In this case they snatched defeat from the hands of victory!
I hear this ad on the radio every 30 minutes for a lease deal on an ATS. Just $188 bi-weekly with $1245 down gets you an AWD ATS, to lease. They talk about warranty and sevice for 4 years.
Normally, that would be something that would get my attention and make me salivate, but, now I think of GG and I know better. Wolves in sheeps clothing comes to mind.
Mechanical and electrical devices will inherently run into problems. Even with continuous improvement and zero defect policies like my company has, as well as some auto makers, problems still arise. Material defects, workmanship issues, design deficiencies, etc. The more technically complex the product, the greater the risk of a problem developing. What defines a company is how they handle those problems when they do inevitably arise.
That's my job. In the world of scientific instrumentation I oversee a team of technical folks that ensure those instruments provide accurate measurements for a global install base. If we make a mistake, harm to the environment and to human health are very real consequences.
Caddy is obviously not taking GG's situation nearly serious enough. The problems he's encountering are immediately dangerous to life and I would think they'd bend over backwards to prevent injury. When my new Subaru in transit was damaged by hail, the dealer put me in a used Legacy for three weeks, and then Subaru provided a brand new Outback loaner for two months while they built another Outbck to my specifications. The dealer and Caddy could easily help GG, but they're choosing not to.
Where I do empathize with Caddy is the inability to replicate or see the issues he's encountering. Those situations are our worst nightmare. When they happen, we contact the customer and ask permission to run extended testing in hopes of catching the symptom, which may take weeks on our automated testing systems. Most times we'll see the problem then. If not, then we have to start making educated guesses and replacing parts that are the most likely culprits first. Out of warranty that process can get expensive and requires the customer to run the instrument in their system to see if the repair was successful. In warranty we have to make a judgement call of whether to repair or replace.
I'm surprised Caddy hasn't at least re-flashed the onboard computer to confirm there's not a firmware issue. The fault seems electronic signal related and firmware is the first place we start in such a scenario.
"...I wish you the best of luck with your continued quest, and hope it is not too Quixotic."
What's with the fancy words? Quixotic? I just can't tolerate "show-offs"! Good grief - I don't like being forced to go to a dictionary to look up definitions of words so I can decipher what people post here on Edmunds. Shame on you!
Sorry, Mike. Didn't mean to flaunt my State U edumacation! I'll endeavor, when expounding in future missives, to dumb it down!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Driver....I'm tired of putting my schedule through contortions time and time again to accomodate the car or Cadillac's service foibles. One of the main reasons I buy new cars, especially luxury brands, is because I DON'T want to go through this.
I'm holding out hope Cadillac is going to have to reimburse me for the rental. They clearly aren't trying to offer alternate transportation willingly
I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. The true heart of an evil empire/company never changes. True colors are finally shining through all of the bailout marketing mumbo jumbo!
That being said, can't you go to a different Cadillac dealership and see if you can start anew? Disclosure: I've only read the last two pages of posts and only know a tid bit of what's going on so far.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Driver....I'm tired of putting my schedule through contortions time and time again to accomodate the car or Cadillac's service foibles. One of the main reasons I buy new cars, especially luxury brands, is because I DON'T want to go through this.
I'm holding out hope Cadillac is going to have to reimburse me for the rental. They clearly aren't trying to offer alternate transportation willingly
Graphic Guy, when Cadillac gained your trust again wasn't it due to a very professional and accommodating manager (owner's son, I think)? Is there no leverage with this person to help you through this? It sounds like you are being left out in the cold, which is disappointing considering how everything was handled when you had the problems with the first CTS.
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
GG: This is such an unbelievable story. Does Caddy/GM not understand what you represent? A customer who had sworn off their product due to poor quality merchandise and customer service. Yet, a few years later, through a high quality product and sales/customer service experience, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat!
In this case they snatched defeat from the hands of victory!
I hear this ad on the radio every 30 minutes for a lease deal on an ATS. Just $188 bi-weekly with $1245 down gets you an AWD ATS, to lease. They talk about warranty and sevice for 4 years.
Normally, that would be something that would get my attention and make me salivate, but, now I think of GG and I know better. Wolves in sheeps clothing comes to mind.
Wolves in Sheep's clothing.
Or a lesson in why it's best to let a colossal failure fail. GM and Chrysler are like living vampires or zombies, only wanting to suck out all the blood (money) they can before they are killed off for good. Chrysler has come back from the dead multiple times.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Changing one part is hardly throwing parts at it. It was probably the best choice considering the symptoms. I think you need to give them an opportunity.
IMHO, people on this board will accept nothing less than perfection. Talks of lemon law and buyback after one issue, getting attorneys involved, et al is jut too much at this point. Give them a chance to make it right.
I disagree that GG is being too harsh on the Cadillac dealers. The problem with the steering and stalling is a fundamental "IMPLIED" warranty, even going beyond the written warranty. The product he bought isn't functioning for its intended purpose (and dangerous for safety to boot on top of that).
If a dealership told me they acknowledge the problem, but couldn't fix it, I'd immediately be asking where the replacement vehicle is located, and to give me the keys to it. No repeat visits or trips. If they lie and say it's fixed, and it isn't, a major component; they get two chances in CA before it's a legal lemon.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
GG, I'd take the vehicle swap so long as you don't lose features and there is no cost to you.
I'm sorry, I believe that to be BAD advice. I think GG is correct in stating that he doesn't want a replacement since the dealerships and GM have already shown their true colors to him. Why would he want another unreliable piece of garbage that will surely need warranty issues fixed in the future.
The dealerships have already proven unethical, incompetent, and uncooperative (the loaner thing is especially outrageous). Why would he want to be tied "with another new 4 year warranty" to a company that operates like that? I've always said, the best warranty is one you never have to use.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
We are all forgetting that there are legal issues associated with GG's predicament. If Cadillac offers to replace the car with another new car, that is all they are legally bound to do. Fix it or replace it. I used the lemon law in 2000 when my Pontiac Bonneville constantly leaked water into the trunk. They tried 3 times to stop the leaking but to no avail. They replaced the car with an identical car. Same with my BMW 535i in 2008 - BMW built me an identical car. That is all the manufacturer is legally bound to do - "fix it" or "replace it"!
We are all forgetting that there are legal issues associated with GG's predicament. If Cadillac offers to replace the car with another new car, that is all they are legally bound to do. Fix it or replace it. I used the lemon law in 2000 when my Pontiac Bonneville constantly leaked water into the trunk. They tried 3 times to stop the leaking but to no avail. They replaced the car with an identical car. Same with my BMW 535i in 2008 - BMW built me an identical car. That is all the manufacturer is legally bound to do - "fix it" or "replace it"!
I was under the impression CA had a buyback lemon law. Of course, I could be wrong, and your mileage may differ by the State you live in. CA does tend to protect the consumer from corporate leeches better than other States. One of the few things CA does well.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I still do not understand exactly what has happened in GG's case and can only offer that it is inconsistent with the experience I have had with GM as a customer since 2003. However, for his and his attorney's edification, given that it appears he has a safety issue, I offer the following article from Automotive News that appeared today. Perhaps a call to NHTSA is in order.
===
GM to stay under strict U.S. oversight Mike Colias Automotive News | May 21, 2015 - 4:07 pm EST
DETROIT -- Federal safety regulators have extended for at least a year a consent order that subjects General Motors to close scrutiny on safety matters, a condition placed on GM in the wake of last year's ignition switch recall.
In the sweeping consent order, the automaker last year agreed to wide-ranging government oversight of its safety processes for up to three years, as punishment for waiting too long to recall 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches. The defect has been linked to at least 104 deaths and nearly 200 injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday -- on the anniversary of the original consent order -- that the "unprecedented" oversight of how GM handles potential safety issues would continue for at least one more year.
NHTSA said it extended the oversight because it "has proven to be a productive and effective tool to proactively and expeditiously address potential safety-related defects."
“GM learned a hard lesson last year,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. “We expect to see the improvements they’ve made continue and that their new approaches are applied to every GM safety issue and every recall. Today’s action will help keep them on the right track."
Submitting reports
GM is required to submit reports and meet regularly with NHTSA officials so that the agency can ensure that the company is meeting its obligation under the consent order, which required an overhaul of how GM diagnoses and acts on potential defects.
In a May 14 letter to GM, NHTSA's assistant chief counsel, Timothy Goodman, said the decision to extend the agency's oversight was not "based on a concern with GM's performance to date, but rather to continue the dialogue that those requirements have facilitated on important safety issues."
The Detroit News reported on the attorney's letter earlier Thursday.
'Come a long way'
A GM spokesman said in a statement that the company has used its monthly meetings with NHTSA officials "to foster a relationship that’s candid, transparent and totally focused on the safety of our customers. We’ve come a long way and we fully intend to build on this progress.”
GM has implemented several changes to its safety protocols since it began the ignition switch recall in February 2014. It has appointed a global safety chief, reorganized its engineering division and created a program that encourages employees to report potential safety problems.
A GM-commissioned investigation of its handling of the defect found that several high-ranking attorneys and engineers knew of the problem for years but didn't elevate the issue to GM executives. The switch is prone to slipping out of the "run" position, cutting power to the steering, brakes and airbags.
We are all forgetting that there are legal issues associated with GG's predicament. If Cadillac offers to replace the car with another new car, that is all they are legally bound to do. Fix it or replace it. I used the lemon law in 2000 when my Pontiac Bonneville constantly leaked water into the trunk. They tried 3 times to stop the leaking but to no avail. They replaced the car with an identical car. Same with my BMW 535i in 2008 - BMW built me an identical car. That is all the manufacturer is legally bound to do - "fix it" or "replace it"!
I was under the impression CA had a buyback lemon law. Of course, I could be wrong, and your mileage may differ by the State you live in. CA does tend to protect the consumer from corporate leeches better than other States. One of the few things CA does well.
I am not knowledgeable enough, State by State. I just know what we do in Florida - sorry. As for CA, I did live in Southern CA and the desert. All I remember is that the State Gov't. loves to raise and collect fees and taxes and no one knows where all that money went. Same thing in Illinois.
GG, Cadillac wants to make you happy. Here is an excerpt from their limited warranty booklet on their Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.
Customer Satisfaction Procedure (page 31)
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and to Cadillac. Normally, any concerns with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your dealer's sales or service departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, the following steps should be taken:
You have already taken steps One and Two (i.e. to contact dealer & GM) STEP THREE: Both GM and your GM dealer are committed to making sure you are completely satisfied with your new vehicle. However, if you continue to remain unsatisfied after following the procedure outlined in Steps One and Two, you can file with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program to enforce any additional rights you may have.
The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court program administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Although you may be required to resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to filing a court action, use of the program is free of charge and your case will generally be heard within 40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given in your case, you may reject it and proceed with any other venue for relief available to you.
Contact the BBB Auto Line Program using the toll-free telephone number or write them at the following address: BBB Auto Line Program Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. 4200 Wilson Boulevard Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22203-1804 1-800-955-5100 www.dr.bbb.org/goauto
By the way, somewhere in the booklet it says that outside expenses such car rentals is the responsibility of the customers.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Takes a lot of character to resist that urge of washing the hands, especially if it's you who has the power at the moment (as dealers and manufacturers do). That's probably why "here and now" wins over 90% of the time, but that's also the very reason why only small percentage of the people/organizations truly succeed and the rest either is wallowing in mediocrity, or even get wiped out. Power of bad PR from an unsatisfied customer is at all time high and keeps growing. However, some organizations have real trouble understanding that.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
My mother and her two sisters only made it to 83.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Over the weekend, went to service for one of my wife's cousins. 65 and was going to retire from teaching in the next month or so. Was diagnosed with an incurable problem in December and passed away last week.
BTW...I scored a coup from Enterprise.....a Nissan Altima rental that they're letting me use my company's corporate rate.....$17/day. Not a bad car. IT certainly could be worse.....!
It does make me wonder how well GM/Caddie are training their technicians. Making better cars is one thing, having good technicians is also important. I wonder if their standards are high enough.
Is the car at the dealers now, and are you leaving it for a week GG?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
So, I'm letting the system (BBB and the letter my lawyer sent with all the service documents from both Caddy dealers) work.
BBB said 40 days from the date my request was filed. My lawyer said two weeks to have some sort of response from Cadillac. Clock is ticking!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Why not leave the car with them for a week....that would be the real test of whether thay can fix it, especially since you are renting a car anyway?
GGI think you would have a stronger case if they have a full week to try and fix the car. The lawyer and BBB are good, but, they could claim they asked you to leave the car with them and you didn't do that.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Xo, they can't/won't fix it, and putting out less than minimal effort to diagnose it. And, on top of all that, wants to inconvenience their customer (me) as much as they can in the process.....for a Cadillac....and not a cheap one either.
Who knew?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
GG, how far are you away from the dealer, and how far is the car rental place? It will be harder for you to prove neglect if you don't leave the car with them.
When I bought the E400 I found the GPS was't working when I got home. My salesman said he would drive to my house and install the latest version whenever I wanted (10 minutes). I said, I am driving by the dealership tomorrow and you can install it tomorrow. He was surprised I'd bring it in, and he gave me a coupon for a full detail car wash.
At $17 a day for a rental car, it would be worth it to use that car and leave the Caddie at the dealer for 2 or 3 days.
I think someone suggested driving the Caddie somewhere, like around the block, and call On Star, tell them the car isn't safe to drive, and have them come and pick it up or tow it to a dealer.
This whole thing seems like a bad dream.
They should have awards for the worst experience with a new car....I think our Audi won last year, I think you are going to win this year!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I'm holding out hope Cadillac is going to have to reimburse me for the rental. They clearly aren't trying to offer alternate transportation willingly
If the car is not at the dealer being diagnosed or repaired, I cannot see how or why they would do anything. This is where I get confused.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Yet, because there is NO CODE they are flushing you and your sphere of influence down the toilet??? Welcome to the new GM, circa 1973. UNBELIEVABLE. In the words of the poet, P. Townsend, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!"
I wish you the best of luck with your continued quest, and hope it is not too Quixotic.
17 months with the Jag, other than a bit of a rattle when the sunroof shade is pulled back, not an issue to report. Spinning vents still spinning, rising hockey puck shifter still rising! No Prince of Darkness issues to report. Hear that GM? A faultless British car!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I hear this ad on the radio every 30 minutes for a lease deal on an ATS. Just $188 bi-weekly with $1245 down gets you an AWD ATS, to lease. They talk about warranty and sevice for 4 years.
Normally, that would be something that would get my attention and make me salivate, but, now I think of GG and I know better. Wolves in sheeps clothing comes to mind.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's my job. In the world of scientific instrumentation I oversee a team of technical folks that ensure those instruments provide accurate measurements for a global install base. If we make a mistake, harm to the environment and to human health are very real consequences.
Caddy is obviously not taking GG's situation nearly serious enough. The problems he's encountering are immediately dangerous to life and I would think they'd bend over backwards to prevent injury. When my new Subaru in transit was damaged by hail, the dealer put me in a used Legacy for three weeks, and then Subaru provided a brand new Outback loaner for two months while they built another Outbck to my specifications. The dealer and Caddy could easily help GG, but they're choosing not to.
Where I do empathize with Caddy is the inability to replicate or see the issues he's encountering. Those situations are our worst nightmare. When they happen, we contact the customer and ask permission to run extended testing in hopes of catching the symptom, which may take weeks on our automated testing systems. Most times we'll see the problem then. If not, then we have to start making educated guesses and replacing parts that are the most likely culprits first. Out of warranty that process can get expensive and requires the customer to run the instrument in their system to see if the repair was successful. In warranty we have to make a judgement call of whether to repair or replace.
I'm surprised Caddy hasn't at least re-flashed the onboard computer to confirm there's not a firmware issue. The fault seems electronic signal related and firmware is the first place we start in such a scenario.
"...I wish you the best of luck with your continued quest, and hope it is not too Quixotic."
What's with the fancy words? Quixotic? I just can't tolerate "show-offs"! Good grief - I don't like being forced to go to a dictionary to look up definitions of words so I can decipher what people post here on Edmunds. Shame on you!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
That being said, can't you go to a different Cadillac dealership and see if you can start anew? Disclosure: I've only read the last two pages of posts and only know a tid bit of what's going on so far.
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
Or a lesson in why it's best to let a colossal failure fail. GM and Chrysler are like living vampires or zombies, only wanting to suck out all the blood (money) they can before they are killed off for good. Chrysler has come back from the dead multiple times.
If a dealership told me they acknowledge the problem, but couldn't fix it, I'd immediately be asking where the replacement vehicle is located, and to give me the keys to it. No repeat visits or trips. If they lie and say it's fixed, and it isn't, a major component; they get two chances in CA before it's a legal lemon.
The dealerships have already proven unethical, incompetent, and uncooperative (the loaner thing is especially outrageous). Why would he want to be tied "with another new 4 year warranty" to a company that operates like that? I've always said, the best warranty is one you never have to use.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
===
GM to stay under strict U.S. oversight
Mike Colias
Automotive News | May 21, 2015 - 4:07 pm EST
DETROIT -- Federal safety regulators have extended for at least a year a consent order that subjects General Motors to close scrutiny on safety matters, a condition placed on GM in the wake of last year's ignition switch recall.
In the sweeping consent order, the automaker last year agreed to wide-ranging government oversight of its safety processes for up to three years, as punishment for waiting too long to recall 2.6 million small cars with faulty ignition switches. The defect has been linked to at least 104 deaths and nearly 200 injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday -- on the anniversary of the original consent order -- that the "unprecedented" oversight of how GM handles potential safety issues would continue for at least one more year.
NHTSA said it extended the oversight because it "has proven to be a productive and effective tool to proactively and expeditiously address potential safety-related defects."
“GM learned a hard lesson last year,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. “We expect to see the improvements they’ve made continue and that their new approaches are applied to every GM safety issue and every recall. Today’s action will help keep them on the right track."
Submitting reports
GM is required to submit reports and meet regularly with NHTSA officials so that the agency can ensure that the company is meeting its obligation under the consent order, which required an overhaul of how GM diagnoses and acts on potential defects.
In a May 14 letter to GM, NHTSA's assistant chief counsel, Timothy Goodman, said the decision to extend the agency's oversight was not "based on a concern with GM's performance to date, but rather to continue the dialogue that those requirements have facilitated on important safety issues."
The Detroit News reported on the attorney's letter earlier Thursday.
'Come a long way'
A GM spokesman said in a statement that the company has used its monthly meetings with NHTSA officials "to foster a relationship that’s candid, transparent and totally focused on the safety of our customers. We’ve come a long way and we fully intend to build on this progress.”
GM has implemented several changes to its safety protocols since it began the ignition switch recall in February 2014. It has appointed a global safety chief, reorganized its engineering division and created a program that encourages employees to report potential safety problems.
A GM-commissioned investigation of its handling of the defect found that several high-ranking attorneys and engineers knew of the problem for years but didn't elevate the issue to GM executives. The switch is prone to slipping out of the "run" position, cutting power to the steering, brakes and airbags.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Customer Satisfaction Procedure (page 31)
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and to Cadillac. Normally, any concerns with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your dealer's sales or service departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, the following steps should be taken:
You have already taken steps One and Two (i.e. to contact dealer & GM)
STEP THREE: Both GM and your GM dealer are committed to making sure you are completely satisfied with your new vehicle. However, if you continue to remain unsatisfied after following the procedure outlined in Steps One and Two, you can file with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program to enforce any additional rights you may have.
The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court program administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Although you may be required to resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to filing a court action, use of the program is free of charge and your case will generally be heard within 40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given in your case, you may reject it and proceed with any other venue for relief available to you.
Contact the BBB Auto Line Program using the toll-free telephone number or write them at the following address: BBB Auto Line Program Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1804
1-800-955-5100 www.dr.bbb.org/goauto
By the way, somewhere in the booklet it says that outside expenses such car rentals is the responsibility of the customers.