GM News, New Models and Market Share

uplanderguy

CR said, "We told you that SRX's with the base model radio were less reliable than the ones with the super-duper radio".

circlew

The 2012 Cadillac SRX reliability score of 6.0 out of 10 is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. :surprise:

I'm a 63 year old grandma. Growing up, my father always bought Cads. I've owned 5, always happy and driving each of them at least 150K miles. I now own a 2004 SRX. I've had nothing but problems, from the check engine light on most of the time to having to replace the transfer case because if I stepped on the accelerater at all taking off it would "clunk". Now I've taken it to 4 mechanics including the Cad dealer in Santa Barbara, they all differ in their opinion of the problem. All I know is that I've spent over $5,000 in the last 6 months in repairs and it's worse than ever! The speedometer says 45 mph when I'm going 60, the electrical stuff has a mind of it's own, it shifts constantly even when it's in the driver shift mode, cruise control will jump 10 miles per hour. Just writing this makes me angry! I've owned my last Caddy. Am thinking Ford next.

GM Answers:

I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. Could you please email me your VIN? I would like to look further into your situation.

You can get my email by clicking on gmcustsvc.

Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service

Then, another poster:
My 09 SRX has had 43 problems in the last 2 years...
Except for the Service Manager at my dealership, nobody seems to think that 43 issues in 2 years is out of the ordinary, including Cadillac Customer Service.

This is my first (and last) Cadillac.

I do hope this is not an example of Cadillac Excellence... As I am not impressed!

Here are the things I went to the shop for:

1. NAV wont’ turn off (Blue Screen). (Not Fixed :: it is just that way)
2. Mirror Flawed. (Replaced)
3. Transmission Erratic Shift. (Not Fixed :: Normal - use "Manual" shift when in cruise)
4. Doors Drop 1/4 inch. (Repaired)
5. Water Drips Drivers Side. (Repaired – See Heater Issue)
6. Chrome flaking on Drivers Door Handle cuts finger. (Replaced)
7. Garage Door opener fail. (Replaced)
8. Heater stopped working. (3 Dealer Visits to Repair – Sensor Fail from prior repair)
9. Vent Knob, Center Vent fail. (Replaced)
10. Rear Wiper Washer fail. (Replaced)
11. Rattle above head – dealership lubricated sunroof rails. ((This was actually fixed when the sunroof shade broke 2 year later.))
12. Remote Start/Lock fail. (Replaced – took 2 Shop Visits)
13. Rear Overhead AC Control mounts fail. (Adjusted)
14. Rear Side Window loose. (Repaired)
15. Rear window Washer Fail (2nd Time) (Replaced)
16. Passenger Air Vent knob Fail. (Replaced)
17. Timing Chain out 28k miles. (Replaced)
18. Exterior Trim above Windshield Fail (Replaced)
19. Drivers Lumbar fail. (Repaired)
20. Exterior Trim Above Windshield Fail. (2nd time) (Replaced)
21. Drivers Lumbar Fail. (2nd Time- 10 days after repair) (Repaired)
22. Ignition Key Fail. (Repaired – Key Bent)
23. NAV Screen Flicker. (never fixed, still does it)
24. Acceleration Noise : Heat Shield Fail. (Repaired)
25. Oil Change Monitor Re-Program
26. SunRoof – Metal on Metal Grinding : Broken Tab. (Replaced)
27. SunRoof – weather seal Fail. (Replaced)
28. Exterior Trim above Windshield Fail again (3rd Time) (Replaced)
29. Rear View Mirror Mount Fail. (Repaired)
30. Roof Trim Passenger Side Fail. (Repaired)
31. Drivers Side Vent Knob Fail. (Replaced)
32. Drivers Side Interior Door Handle, Chrome Fail. (2nd time) (Replaced)
33. Rear Seat Belt Tension unit making noise. (Tightened)
34. Exterior Trim Above Windshield came off. (4rd time) (Replaced)
35. Exterior Trim above Windshield broke again at 2 weeks from repair – this time, left it in place and sealed the crack, as crack is dead center and straight. (5th Time) (Repaired)
36. Entertainment System Headset Fail. (Replaced)
37. Exterior Roof Trim, Passenger Side Fail (2nd Time) (Repaired)
38. Parking Lamp Fail // Headlamp Clear-coat finish fail- Drivers Side. (Replaced)
39. Sunroof Shade – Total Frame Fail. (Replaced) (This also fixed the tapping noise)
40. Drivers Lumbar fail. (3rd Time) (Repaired)
41. AC Evap Drain Fail :: Dumps into Passenger Floor, Soaked Carpet and Dash insulation. (Repaired) (Cleaned and Treated Carpets for mold)
42. Replaced Passenger Side Headlamp Assembly, to match Drivers Side (indications of premature clear coat fail and HID color variance.)
43. Upper Glove Box Door Fail. (Replaced)

It now has almost 50k miles - - - I feel sorry for the guy that buys this unit off of the used car lot. (I'll be trading it in after the warenty runs out, and I have to start paying for repairs.)

Regards,
OW

uplanderguy

Same old stuff posted here. No one here (including me) says that GM cars are perfect or problem-free...mine have been reliable and I've gotten good, over-and-above service from my dealer. Others constantly (and I mean constantly) here hold up other companies as companies GM should emulate. Problems with those vehicles are totally overlooked. I think counterpoint is a good thing, as opposed to just 'riding the tide'.

uplanderguy

Even your latest link about 'stuffing' does not substantiate that dealers have to take whatever GM ships them.

Note that I don't feel compelled to complain about other makes on their forums, which seem to mostly be postings by fans of that make. I think doing so would be one for Freud.

circlew

Agreed, Dealers are not compelled to take the inventory. Why is GM inventory so high then? :confuse:

The posters are the ones that are doing the complaining from their experiences right? Just like your experiences have been phenomenal, others have had many issues with their GM products.

Are the negative experiences somehow related to insanity? Were the events leading up to bankruptcy the American Way and perfectly sane?

Regards,
OW

uplanderguy

"Upper glove box fail"....

Man, how does that guy get out of bed in the morning?

uplanderguy

Agreed, Dealers are not compelled to take the inventory. Why is GM inventory so high then?

Wait a minute...wasn't this what the original, multiple postings were about...GM forcing cars on dealers? Talk about 'bait and switch'.

uplanderguy

Seriously, one wonders why this guy didn't opt for a buyback/new vehicle/money back/whatever.

stever

One of those failed glove boxes has been bothering my brother for a couple of years now. In his '05 Odyssey.

Don't get the posting of complaints by individual owners. Name a car and I can dig up something (hate the way that rear windows don't go all the way down in my Rolls - keep spilling Grey Poupon on my suit pants. :P )

lemko

The Acura grille makes me think of this old time kitchen utensil:

lemko

I got a new yellow KIA Sport ten speed bicycle at the local discount store for $65 when I was ten years-old in 1975. My Dad and I had to put it together which was difficult as all the nuts and bolts were metric.

lemko

Remember, people who have complaints always want to voice them. All of my Cadillacs have been extremely reliable vehicles and I have never needed to write to GM to complain. Maybe I should've written a letter to praise them, but I'm lazy. Maybe I should send a letter to GM to tell them that my 23 year-old 1989 Cadillac Brougham has been absolutely flawless and I have zero complaints?

lemko

That guy would complain about winning the Mega Millions lottery because the prize money was too heavy for him to carry.

lemko

Shoot, the glovebox lock failed on my 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS. I didn't go crying to Ford on account of it. I bought the part and replaced it myself.

busiris

Where is the NHTSA investigation into Hyundai fires?

If you bothered to read the link I posted, you would have seen the number of reported fires for Cruzes has increased... GM reported 19 warranty claims for Cruze fires.

busiris

Hows the old customer service adage go...?

"Give a customer an excellent experience and he will tell his close friends, but give a customer a bad experience and he'll tell everyone he meets...".

stever

If you read all the car complaints on Edmunds over the years, you'd never buy a car, regardless of brand.

Kind of explains why both my cars are teenagers.

uplanderguy

Sorry, I should've read it. The same old stuff gets rehashed here so often, frankly, that's what I expected. I don't know anything about a NHTSA investigation into the Santa Fe fires, but tell those customers that and see if it makes them feel better.

P.S. I predict that the same photo of a burning SRX that has posted here ten times will get posted here again within a day or two.

Kirstie_H

No kidding. I wish I had a nickel... heck, even a penny would do... for all the times over the years I've seen someone swear that they'll never, ever buy X brand again, and that they're going to/sticking with Y brand from now one. Manufacturers must just rotate disgruntled owners.

uplanderguy

It sounds as if GM is cooperating. Hyundai has been known recently to "balk" (not my terminology) about investigations into recalls. Look several posts up about a recent Hyundai issue. Perhaps that's the difference. Still, two Cruze fires reported to NHTSA, and I found two fires in recent Santa Fes by searching online for thirty seconds.

I might add, thanks for pointing out this issue to me, in that article:

"NHTSA is also investigating vehicle fire problems involving several other manufacturers including Toyota, which was the target of a number of consumer complaints involving potentially defective switches in the driver-side doors of 2007 Camry and RAV-4 models."

imidazol97

>"NHTSA is also investigating vehicle fire problems involving several other manufacturers including Toyota, which was the target of a number of consumer complaints involving potentially defective switches in the driver-side doors of 2007 Camry and RAV-4 models."


OMG. I have to go post this on the toyota site. They think their cars are perfect. That's unlike those of here with great cars from GM, but in my case I realize they're not perfect--just close. I'm going to replace the water pump on my 03 because it has a slight looseness in the bearing at 130,000 mi. Darned things just don't last anymore.

andre1969

Heck, the glovebox completely fell out of my '79 Newport one day! was the type where the whole bin opened up and dropped down, rather than just the door dropping down. There's a little catch that's supposed to stop it in the fully-open position, but it came loose and fell off.

Thankfully it was an easy fix...just bolt (or screw, can't remember which) the little catch back in place.

I think I'd be a little miffed about it if it happened on a newer car, but this thing was at least 17 years old when I bought it for the princely sum of $250.

busiris

The really interesting statistic would be the one in hich those who state they'll never buy another brand "X" vehicle replace their vehicle with another of the very same brand.

busiris

Engine size outlook for new models...

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/04/small-car-engines/1- #.T4xEGBB5mK0

imidazol97

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/73063/toyota-recalls-prius-hybrids

The Japanese automaker would recall 8,000 units of Prius Alpha hatchback wagons in Japan and about 20,000 units of the same vehicle in North America, where it is marketed as Prius V. The vehicles belong to the model year 2011–12.

The past string of recalls has tarnished Toyota’s reputation, resulting in declining sales and lower vehicle resale value. Since November 2009, Toyota has recalled more than 15 million vehicles globally in more than 20 recalls, surpassing all other automakers

fintail

Friend of mine's mother bought a loaded SRX in 06. It was fine for the first couple years, then it had numerous electrical issues. Icing on the cake was about a mile after a dealer-performed oil change, the oil light came on - she rushed back to the dealer where it was discovered to be holding very little oil. They claimed no damage done, but she swore she heard noises and such after, so she soon dumped it and bought, of all things, a Crosstour - which might not be pretty, but has been solid.

Strangely, and probably not a good thing, that's the modern Caddy I noticed most in Europe.

circlew

Wait a minute...wasn't this what the original, multiple postings were about...GM forcing cars on dealers? Talk about 'bait and switch'.

The dealers aren't compelled but they still are buying more product that is driving inventory up.

The question is a redirect to you. Let us all know why the inventory is so high for GM if not channel stuffing. Take a shot at it.

Regards,
OW

Kirstie_H

An automotive organization would like to speak with used car buyers who bought cars that they later found out were not up to date on recall repairs. If you are willing to discuss your experience, please email PR@edmunds.com no later than 10 a.m. Pacific /1 p.m. Eastern Friday, April 20, 2012 with your daytime contact information.

circlew

Strangely, and probably not a good thing, that's the modern Caddy I noticed most in Europe.

Interesting....thought it would be the CTS.

Regards,
OW

uplanderguy

I'd say sales aren't up to expectations. Pretty simple, compared to the theory thrown around here that production scheduling is up, up, up and dealers are getting cars dumped on them.

If plant temporary closings are usually news, I believe adding a shift, etc., is, too. We hear about those things around here, concerning Lordstown.

Could it be that GM built cars according to dealers' orders?

circlew

Sales missed expectations so now production might be cut back and incentives might rise to move the inventory.

Sound familiar?

Regards,
OW

imidazol97

While the anti-GM folks are trying to make a large stock a negative, I have to see it as having cars available for the customer to find one they want without having to wait for a factory order to process, build, and ship.

I noted a few weeks back that the local Ford dealer was stuffed to the gills with cars on their lot. I was amazed as I cruised their aisles. And the Nissan store had their lot crammed as well. I suppose they were just channel-stuffing, LMAO at the depths of what can be twisted to a negative.

OTOH, I went through my favorite Chev store in a small location and they had very few cars about 4 weeks back. I suppose that was a sign they were in terrible financial difficulty and having trouble meeting payroll and couldn't afford to floor plan to have any cars to sell, LMAO.

Another Chev deal at the time, had a few Cruzes and very few Malibus. Its lot also looked sparcely populated.

A third Chev store had lots of used cars and a moderate supply of Cruzii, a good supply of Malibui, and medium on pick-em-up trucks.

I suppose there's something wrong with those last two stores, as well. Continuing, I stopped through the local Kia Bike shop the other day, and the Optima had a cheap interior for a premium model. There were spare screws in the cupholder. I guess the factory knows to send a few extras for the ones that will fall out of that they left out! The only think that looked palatable for the price was a Forte hatch. When I mentioned to the salesman who had adopted me as an income tax deduction as soon as my Rockports hit the asphalt that friends in Smyrna had bought a red Forte Koupe', I could see him thinking I would buy just to keep up with the Joneses.

But despite the showroom stock, the store had only a few cars out on the lot. Must not be financially stable enough to floor plan some vehicles. It was windy and I had no interest in walking the lot with my adopted parent drooling over my checkbook in my pocket. So I'll go by another time to see if the scraps on the lot are all premium equipped models at high profit for the Korean company.

circlew

Well, someone has this inventory if Kia and Chevy do not!

A year ago today analysts rained on General Motors’ parade. Wall Street’s finest pointed out that GM’s strong February 2011 sales were boosted by extremely generous incentives to customers. These turned out to be wholly unnecessary too: Japan’s earthquake 10 days later wrecked competitors’ supply chains. U.S. carmakers gained market share, slashing inventory and making record profits with solid pricing over the next several months.

While not wishing natural disasters on anyone, GM could use a deus ex machina of some sort this year. Not only did it lag every major carmaker last month with a mere 1.1% U.S. sales gain (fellow bankruptcy victim Chrysler notched 40%). But GM’s dealer inventories are also at a post-bankruptcy record of 667,000 vehicles, up 29% versus a year ago and 59% compared to two years ago.

And it’s the wrong sort of inventory to boot: With pump prices surging, GM has 116 selling days’ worth of trucks gathering dust. Zero percent financing, anyone?

Indeed, Hyundai-Kia’s supply is the lowest of them all with only 27 days until empty. As indicated by the Detroit 3 number, American makers are generously stocked, but averages can be deceiving.

Ford and Chrysler carry a regulation two month supply on the books.

The absolutely worst of Detroit is GM with a nearly three month supply.

Regards,
OW

fintail

I don't recall ever seeing one there. I do remember seeing several older Seville/STS models, especially in Switzerland. Never saw a BLS either.

circlew

GM trending up with C.



Malibu had 2nd highest model discount in March @ 13.9% under ((Galant (14.9%)). $3,000 cash to customer and $1,000 dealer cash.

Highlights Jan.-Mar. 2012 vs.2011
Silerado sales up 3.4%
Volt sales up 224%
Corvette sales up 3.3%
Malibu sales up 20.1%
Cruze sales up 13.7%
Impala sales up 1.7%
Camaro sales up 9.8%
Sonic/Aveo sales up 167%
Equinox sales up 19.3%
Traverse sales down 17.7%
Terrain sales up 11.8%
Acadia sales down 12.9%
Yukon sales down 19.1%
Yukon XL sales down 24.3%
LaCrosse sales up 4.2%
Buick Regal sales down 26.7%
Caddy CTS sales down 15.6%
SRX sales down 4.8%
Escalade sales down 18.1%
Buick Enclave down 24.2%

Regards,
OW

uplanderguy

As a consumer, and not an auto executive, I appreciate big selection and incentives. But then again, as I've said, I'd have bought a new Studebaker in the mid'60's merely because I liked the product, not because of pseudo-business-school intelligentsia opinions.

busiris

To put it bluntly, someone's pain is usually someone else's pleasure.

Overstocked items quickly turn to discounts, whether it's cars or carnations.

If you're in the market to buy, and you like what's in stock, it can be sweet... Like the Boy Scouts say... "Be prepared!".

From the seller's standpoint, it's a different story. There's only 2 ways to cut supply... Sell it cheaper, or sell more than the quantity you replace. In the car business, all too often supply reduction is accomplished by idling manufacturing plants/workers. Too many incentives come back to haunt you at resale time, which most car buyers do... They just call it "trade-in".

busiris

Just one notch under the Gallant for the Malibu?!?!?

Ouch!!!

That's gotta hurt....

What's selling now, and by how much...

http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-autosales.html

uplanderguy

The Malibu's incentives are no doubt what in part made AOL Autos call it "The Best Buy in America" last week, dollar-for-dollar, car-for-car. Sales up 20% from last year.

Recall, of course, that the Malibu is in its fifth model year of the same iteration, and was no doubt "built out" since there would be a gap between the ending of it and the beginning of the 2013 models which are now trickling into dealerships.

uplanderguy

Busiris, that chart brings questions to my mind. How could BMW sell zero domestic cars in March 2012? Also, Toyota's import production is over 42% of its auto total, and GM's is .13% of its auto total?

Very interesting.

Assuming those numbers are right, I'm shocked.

busiris

Easy answer... BMW makes only X vehicles here, which would probably fall under the category of light trucks on the charts. I can't say for Toyota or GM. There's no explanation of what falls into each category.

I'm guessing Toyota's numbers include Lexus vehicles, which IIRC, are largely foreign constructed. I'm clueless to how GM derived its numbers.

Notice Ford had Zero imported cars... .???

The BMW plant exports approx. 65% of its production, which they claim makes it the largest exporter of vehicles ($-wise) of any US based automaker.

I also noticed no breakout of domestic/imported vehicles for Hyundai/Kia, so a large part of the reported numbers may be due to how each manufacturer determines and reports its own numbers.

Just a guess.

uplanderguy

Apparently, Mexico and Canada are considered 'domestic'.

busiris

If nothing else, charts and reports such as those demonstrate you can't simply follow published facts and figures as the gospel truth without knowing the underlying data as well as how they were derived.

The Malibu case is the perfect example of how coming to quick conclusions can point one in the wrong direction.

busiris

Apparently, Mexico and Canada are considered 'domestic'...

Careful, there... Let's not be giving our elected politicians any ideas, such as claiming Mexico's and Canada's tax revenues and applying them against the US deficit!

imidazol97

>as claiming Mexico's and Canada's tax revenues and applying them against the US deficit!

LOL

dave8697

it's plagued with several problems:
1. It needs constructive criticism because someone called it a good value
2. The inventory of the dealers is high for trucks in the face of cheap gas
3. The executives of the mother company may have been highly paid but possibly should have been paid less.
4. It's sibling car 'almost' had a cheaper interior.

I was once pulled over by a cop who proceeded to tell me that "I was almost speeding" and he wasn't including any buffer above the limit. Who else pulls out of a shopping center at 2:30AM and races up to someone's bumper just as the speed limit changes from a 30 zone to a 25 zone. I thought 'almost' only counted in horseshoes and hand grenades? I slammed the brakes on to slow from 30 to 25 and his headlights disappeared for a second below my trunk. He 'almost' had to eat his donuts with no coffee.

circlew

Your car was the first home run from GM when it debuted. :shades:

Too funny about the pursuit saga!! Luv it!

Regards,
OW

busiris

For those of us that own a Rolls-Royce Ghost, along with a few other model updates...

http://wot.motortrend.com/recall-roundup-2012-toyota-prius-v-and-rolls-royce-gho- st-bmw-7-series-investigation-193497.html

dieselone

Who else pulls out of a shopping center at 2:30AM and races up to someone's bumper just as the speed limit changes from a 30 zone to a 25 zone.

Didn't your mom teach you nothing good ever happens after midnight;)

imidazol97

>just as the speed limit changes from a 30 zone to a 25 zone.

Ohio has a law that the villain has to be given a buffer of something like 250 ft. or yards after a speed limit sign for clocking. If your case was in Indiana, do they also have a buffer?

The buffer causes a problem with our local cops (good guys) being able to cite habitual speeders after they enter our city before a natural barrier gives them 300 yards or so to slow down before they can be clocked from roadside or moving radar. Our police don't like to clock before the natural barrier because it leave it questionable if they were clocking within the legal buffer.