So as many of you know, I am having issues with my Cobalt's rear brake assembly. The car for whatever reason is not safe to operate...and has been sitting at the dealer waiting for parts since the 20th of December. Even more upsetting...GM has told me that the spare parts for the car WILL NOT be available until February 9th.

With all this in mind I decided to head out to my dealer today to do two things. The first to do an actual visual check up on my car to make sure it wasn't dented/scratched etc. from being on the lot for so long. Thankfully and as expected it was fine...so I then moved on to job 2 which was talking to the service advisors.

So I get in and talk to both my service advisor and the parts manager. Both tell me that they feel my pain and that they are doing EVERYTHING in their power to get my car back to me. From what I gathered they have contacted as many regional reps as they could and nothing could be done.

This was what I had been expecting to hear, so I immediately asked for the GM customer service line so I could in fact start a formal complaint process with GM as a company. I wished to do this in hopes that I would be able to jumpstart some sort of action, and begin setting myself in the right direction should my lemon law claim actually move forward.

So I call the hotline and a woman answers..

The following is a description of the phone call as I best can recollect.

GM: Hi thank for you calling the GM Customer Support line *blah blah blah* How is your day going?

me: Oh hi, not so well actually

GM: What can I do for you

me: (I restate the story about my brakes, and the length of time of going without my car. I then state that I wish for GM to establish some sort of resolution as I find this to be unacceptable

GM: Sir I'm sorry there is nothing we can do

me: What? Why?

GM: Well due to the suspension in production, we are no longer compensating or performing acts of good will to this issue. It is due to factors beyond our control

me: Wait...so your telling me that you can do nothing to satisfy me, a customer who has made a payment on a car that he hasn't seen for three weeks or will see for another month?

GM: Sir, I feel your pain but there is nothing we can do

me: *agitated* But I'm making a payment on a car I'm not driving...what kind of sense does that make??!

GM: *condescending* Well sir, we DID give you something to drive correct?

me: Yes but it's a rental...

GM: (reiterates standard corporate apology of understanding my frustration etc..)

me: So before I hang up...I want you to state once again...that there is absolutely NOTHING that your company can do for me the customer concerning this issue

GM: No sir there is not

me: Ok then...thats all I need to know

GM: Thank you for contacting GM...


So that's it...I'm pissed...and am fully waiting for the 20th to come to pass...because I plan to try to get a resolution through the Pennsylvania Lemon Law.

All I wanted was my car back (as it was/is a great vehicle)...or a little sympathy from GM in the form of a covered payment...or SOMETHING! Since this phone call occurred though...they have just gone and ticked me off permanently.

I don't know how GM hopes to survive...if they are going to upset the fewer and fewer people that support their products in the first place.

 

Well that sucks for you, that is for sure. But no car company in the world is going to make your car payment while it is sitting on the lot waiting for parts. They would be making a lot less money then they are already.

I am sure the service manager is trying hard to get parts, but there is not much that you can do until the parts do come in. Just keep beating up the rental.

 

I am sorry to say but that is the dumbest thing I ever heard! I understand where he is coming from as my car was in the shop for 2 whole months and I was still paying 506$ a month to drive around a base model sunfire!! Unlucky for me that I am in Canada and lemon laws do not exist or my piece of crap would be gone!

 

so you want him to end up payin for the car they gave him? lol

 

I would be starting the process the day after the 20th. Start looking into getting something else. It's only going to get worse as the lemon law process isn't exactly quick. That's another month of haggling.

 

read up on the lemon law, it doesn't sound like it applies to you, but I don't know the whole story
but ****, that sucks
if you lease it, they extend the lease by every day it sits in the shop

 

can't you tell the dealer they have to pay for aftermarket parts (ie a "big brake" replacement kit) if the OEM replacements cannot be ordered or delivered within 10 days? or something like that.

 

wat xactly is wrong w/ your breaks?

 

Sorry about your situation man but I kind have to agree with what DoubleLP wrote. Look at it this way, your car will be this much closer to being paid off without having a single mile put on it. I like driving my car but if someone gave me one to put miles on for free you'd be damned sure I'd drive the bloody hell out of it and grin the whole way. I'd miss my car but in this economy-oh well.

 

what you need to do is spray the **** out of the rental and blow it sky high. lol

 

At least mileage isn't being put on it? I don't know man, try to look on the bright side?

The same would apply with any company man. It's not just GM. Try to keep that in mind at least, even with as shitty as it is. Good Luck.

 

I completeley agree with you. Although he isn't driving his car he still has transporation which is nice of the dealer to do. It sounds like the dealer is being pretty diligent in trying to find parts for the repair.

I put my car away for the winter and I do not expect to stop making payments when I don't drive it. Although it is somewhat different the principles are the same.

 

I can see what you are saying but it is not the same at all..... He didnt choose to stop driving his car!