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~Lance
P.S. I must admit I have a bit of a lead foot around town and I use a radar detector to help me avoid accumulating any more speeding tickets (and to avoid those speed traps
~Lance
I know on lots of older cars the dash would crack and warp from the sun's rays/heat. Do today's cars still have that problem? A co-worker told me not. Still, I put a sun screen in whenever I leave the car in direct sun.
I can't help but think it's a good thing to keep the direct sun (and heat) off of the dash.
In less promising news, I've had several quirks with the 'bells and whistles'. My compass is usually wrong, the steering wheel am/fm doesn't work, and the connection to onstar is continually going out. I'm hoping the GM warranty will cover anything the factory doesn't. Has anyone else had these problems come up?
Happy driving.
So far, that's the biggest complaint I have. If that's the worst problem, that's not too bad. The risk of a first year vehicle I guess.
Does or has anyone had a problem similar to this that can help me out!
BOILING MADD
Sunny 100+
Phoenix, AZ
~Lance
I went through lemon law litigation for about 6 months a year ago on my 99 Trans Am and trust me, it pays off. My T/A was in server a handful of times (probably 6) to try and fix the T-Tops and yes, you're right - it was more than 30 *working* days. GM bought the car back last July and I bought my RDV for about $2000 from the Buick dealer who actually handled the buy-back. The fact of the matter is I tried to contact the "Regional Service Manager" and that resulted in numerous calls and no results... it wasn't until I enlisted the services of a lawyer that I actually began to see results and once GM recieved my certified letter I got a called from the brand manager of Pontiac personally appologizing and asking what he could do to remedy the situation. He was even willing to do an even trade on a 2001 Trans Am with no questions asked, however I told him I was in the market for a SUV and he offered to drop an Aztek off for the weekend so I could see how it "improved" my lifestyle and I told him "thanks, but alternative lifestyle marriages are frowned upon in Illinois." Of course I was joking, but you'd have to be odd to want an Aztek... So Woody Buick in Bensenville ended up handling the whole buy-back and last I heard the car went to auction last September or so, who knows where it is now. I've had my RDV for just about a year and I'm pretty happy with it, but now that I've got about 13,500 miles on it, some problems are starting to pop up - I just hope I don't have to call that lawyer back again. Oh the gret thing about lemon law lawyers is they usually don't charge you anything until you settle your case and most of the time they only act as a segway between you and a dealer who ends up settling everyhting anyway... but good luck and hoepfully you get everything cleared up before you have to call a lawyer.
~Lance
I know that the Lemon Law pays off (both from a personal and a professional perspective). A major manufacturer recently repurchased my 2001 leased vehicle due to steering problems and I used the cash back for downpayment on my RDV. What most people don't realize is how long the process can take. I formally filed in January 2002; the arbitration was held in April 2002 and I finally turned in the vehicle in early June 2002. Six months in all, but it was worth it. Hopefully, bringing this matter to the attention of Buick National will elevate this matter and bring it to resolution *without* having to hire an attorney.
P.S. In Wisconsin, you can represent yourself (no attorney needed) in Lemon Law cases. Save the attorney fees.
Well a few things... I'll make a list of what I can think of...
1.) The hatch doesn't pop anymore... I think the struts are loosing their gas... the weight of the hatch itself tends to push the mechanism back into place when I use the release on the center console... when I use the key pad and then immediatly pull it up there's not problem which would lead me to believe it's the struts.
2.) I'm pretty sure one of the bearings in my right-rear wheel has either slipped or blown completely... I've got that horrible "sqeeuk" that gets faster in relation to the rotational speed of the wheel.
3.) HARD SHIFTS. My gosh, they're horrible! I drive this car VERY easily and at lower RPM's the 1-2 and especially 2-3 shift is VERY harsh and sometimes even causes the car to bounce. I'm not sure if it's a bad tranny or what but it needs to get looked it.
4.) I'm not sure if it's my RDV or all of them, but when I have the interior lights on the pulse... especially if I have just one on. If they're all on I feel like I'm in a dance club with strobe lights all over... it's getting to the point now where so I just set my interior lights to off and save myself the headache.
5.) This is a weird one but my speedometer is about 3 MPH off. I was driving through my neighborhood on 3 seperate occasions when they had the little radar station thing setup and it registered 28 when my HUD claimed 25, same w/ the speedometer. I'm wondering if my computer has become mis-calibrated.
6.) Finally (for now) my brake rotors get scoring very badly. There are deep gashs in the front and rear drivers side brake rotors, almost as if something is loose on my caliper and gouging into the rotor itself... I'm not sure how serious it is or if that is even the cause but nonetheless they are there...
That's it for now, if I think of more I'll post them, but when my RDV goes in for it's next oil change, which will be soon since it should have been at 13,000 and I'm at 13,500 right now (oops!) I'll make sure the dealer addresses all of my concerns... I'm going to go check the NHTSA's TSB database and see if any of this is listed in there...
~Lance
This may sound ridiculously simple, but try pushing your thumb (or palm of your hand) directly on the words "HORN" or "AIR BAG" on the steering wheel. The horn also sounds if you press on the Buick logo in the middle of the steering wheel, but not as easily as when you press on the words "HORN" or "AIR BAG".
I've also noticed that the right side of the driver's seat cushion seems to rub a fair amount on the center console. The passenger side does not. Anybody else notice this?
I've also noticed that the right side of the driver's seat cushion seems to rub a fair amount on the center console. The passenger side does not. Anybody else notice this?
Hi "netnerd",
Re: "driver's seat...rub...on center console".
Mine does the same thing. I weigh 225 lb. and feel that my weight "flattens" the seat out to the point that it "rubs" on the console. My wife weighs 135 lb and she doesn't have this problem.
"Sveikas",
DWS 41
Thanks
~Lance
~Lance
Steve
~Lance
I have had a new problem that I haven't seen mentioned here. A few weeks ago something went weird with my brake light. Although neither the brakes or the parking brake were on, the really, REALLY annoying brake light and alarm would suddenly go on for no reason (there was nothing wrong with the brakes). It did it twice in one day. The only way to get it to turn off was to stop, set the parking brake, and then release the parking brake. I took it in, they replaced the BCM, and everything's fine. Well, this morning, it did it again, and nothing would get it to turn off! I noticed that both times, this happened on a rainy day. I wonder if there is a leak somewhere and the BCM is getting wet. I'll find out tomorrow morning when I take it in. Another way to look at the problem is that maybe the brake light had nothing to do with the BCM, but everything to do with something (a wire maybe) getting wet. It seems pretty odd that my BCM would go nuts in the exact same way both times. Doesn't the BCM control almost everything? There should be other problems if a defective BCM was the case.
What a ride thru Sacramento. I-5 was loaded and slow, and the hot air was getting hotter. Finally my wife pulled over in the shade of an overpass. The fresh air was a life saver. And for a moment the windows operated. I took over the driving, when all of a sudden the horn started to randomly blow. A real attention getter in gridlock traffic.
Tomorrow makes two weeks that the car has been in the dealer's hands. Supposedly the "part" was shipped on Wednesday, Aug 21. We were told it would take 4 (yes four) days to arrive. Obviously not coming via FedEx. On the 27th we were told the part's arrival was imminent and that we would be the first to be informed. So far, no call. And our suggestion that the part be removed from one of the RDVs on the dealer's back lot was not enthusiastically received. I must say Buick service leaves a lot to be desired.
JoeLuke
What do you want to bet it's the BCM?
I guess since it's the computer that controls everything it's got a lot to do and therefore more chances to go wrong, but it sure seems like a lot of people here have had problems with it.
Of course, if it's not the BCM, disregard my previous statement.
The high end Japanese and German car owners are experiencing the same problems.
1. The car has experienced acceleration problems on tight corners.
2. The individual programming for the keys does not always work.
3. I experienced a complete failure of the BCM in which all the displays went zero and the alarm system came on. This condition would disappear when the key was turned off and reappear when the engine was started. OnStar could not diagnose the problem because their software could not get into the BCM.
GM replaced the BCM two weeks ago and it was apparently bad or the fuze block was bad because they had to order both to solve the problem. We still do not have the new BCM or fuze block and are "awaiting parts" due to a shortage of "BCMs".
Currently the Intrusion Alarm, Backup Warning, some cluster warnings, and the Key 1 programming are not working along with a few more things. By the way the AC is working correctly for the first time since we purchased the car. Something we complained about a year ago.
We do not have a lot of faith in the dealer or GM with regards to solving the problems with our RDV.
Earl
I just experienced by first problem with the RDV stallling. Drove about 1/2 mile through 2 stops in neighborhood with no problem. Went to pull out on main road (4-lane) and the RDV would hardly go! I got into my lane, stopped, put the car in Neutral then back in Drive (thinking it slipped into Neutral) and stepped on it. The RPMs showed over 3 and I could hear the engine roar but the car was moving about 1-2 mph. Since cars were coming behind me I managed to pull off onto a side street. Put the car into Neutral again then back to drive - no good. Then put all the way into Park then back to Drive - after a 1/2 second delay the car "jumped" into action and was fine for the rest of the drive. Since I am afraid this may happen when pulling out into heavy traffic or on the highway (like ewalters? post) I am taking it in this week to get checked. I have no desire to be in a major accident.
Other "problems" I have noticed in my 6000+ miles are:
1. Doors don't unlock when the key is removed from ignition
2. Temp gauge is usually wrong (high)
3. Compass is wrong - thanks to nextman I now know I can reset it
4. Engine seems to occasionally turn over a time or two too many when starting car - for a new car
5. Break dust - I didn't know what it was until I read posts here!
6. Trunk hard to close - yes, I am 112lbs and I about kill myself closing the rear hatch. They need the pop-open window like my Explorer had for us little ladies!
* My mileage is about 20 around town. A Nebraska guy with an identical RDV CXL said he was getting 25mpg. The power on the smaller engine seems fine to me and I can be a lead foot. I need to check out the passenger mirror tilt as I have not noticed any movement.
My only other complaint is the backup warning chimes go off when backing off a curb, I assume from the ground setting it off, or if I am next to a pillar that is clearly next to the car, not in a potential crash zone.
I have a story about my dealer. Received and letter in the mail date Aug 29th stating the part were in, but the dealer did not call until after 10AM on Sep 3rd to tell us the parts were ready for install. Real Buick Customer Service. J. D. Powers where are you.
If you are experiencing problems with your dealer, I *strongly* suggest you contact Buick national and share your concerns. Buick does not want their dealers to treat their customers like this and they need to know. They may also be willing to have a chat with the dealer to make sure this does not happen again. In my lemon law case (not against Buick -- against a large Japanese company which starts with Isuz...), the manufacturer stressed over and over that they wished they had been involved EARLY when I was having troubles with my dealer -- and that some of the problems could have been avoided.