Car: 1997 Cavalier Z24 - Recall # 2002199 -
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Recall Details
On certain vehicles, the lower pinion bearings retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997 may fail and permit the ball bearings to escape. If the problem were to occur, the driver would have to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel. Correction: Dealers are to inspect the condition of the lower bearing, and replace the lower pinion bearing or the rack and pinion steering gear assembly, if necessary.
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My rant:
I have been dealing with GM to try and get re-imbursed for a recall that was performed on my car by an independant mechanic. I have been told that GM would indeed re-imburse me for it, so I had it completed and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Now I am being told by the dealership that they will not be re-imbursing me because the re-imbursement period expired in 2004. They aren't providing me with anything on paper that says this, so I am beginning to wonder if that is true or not. No one I spoke with mentioned that there was an expiry date until the Service Manager called me and told me. Can someone assist me that either has gotten the notice or works for GM? I don't think GM had me on file to send me the recall notices, so they are trying to duck out from paying for the repair. I can understand their point of view, but I am out a lot of money because their employees failing to inform me that the recall had expired.
Quick Timeline of events:
(Friday Feb. 3rd, 2006) -
- My car's steering messed up - Took it to an independant shop
- Shop started work on the vehicle
- Found out from friend that this could be a recall related problem
- Called GM Dealership to find out if work would be under recall or if I should have it stopped mid-way to bring in the vehicle- Spoke with Service Advisor - They assured me that GM would re-imburse me, and that they "do it all the time". I got the work completed at my shop.
(Monday Feb. 6th, 2006)
- GM representative called and assured me if the bill matches, that I would be re-imbursed.
(Monday Feb. 13th, 2006)
- I brought my car into the dealership, and they said they would re-imburse me the money in the form of a cheque. The cashier said she could not write out the cheque, as their cheque dept was closed today. Told me to pick up cheque Tuesday evening. I left happy.
- I get a call in the evening, and a service advisor tells me that they were mistaken, and that everyone missed the stipulation on the recall notice that the re-imbursement program had expired in 2004.
- Everyone I talk to now, from GM to the Service Manager pretty much seems to have the attitude of not wanting to help. Everyone feels bad for misinforming me, but no one seems to care to help. Needless to say, I am not impressed with their communication skills.
Any thoughts would be appreciated... oh and get your recalls done and get them to put you guys on file if your not there already. Cause they will try and screw you if you don't and you need help fixing a defective part.
People think that recalls expire. They don’t, except in special circumstances. (Tire recalls, for example, expire after five years.) As long as a manufacturer remains in business, it or its distributor or retailer is obliged to honor the settlement negotiated with the lead government agency or face civil penalties. Yet over the years, Consumer Reports readers have routinely complained that companies have disconnected toll-free customer-service recall hotlines, insisted a recall was outdated, or denied the existence of a recall in the first place.
Taken from this
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/consumer-protection/trouble-with-recalls-804/overview.htm website.
I would make the link a clicky but it don't work since this Forum Warning
Warning: The subject of a post is important to bring people to read that post, and to effectively summarize the topic. Thus, it is important that the subject line does not mislead, and makes sense. Subjects such as "Read This", "Click Here", etc. are not welcome.
Expires: Thursday, February 9, 2006 12:45 PM PT
See the main issue I have is that they promised me something and then turned on their word after I had gotten the work completed. Totally misinformed me and caused me to waste my time and money. Now, they are totally denying me any help whatsoever. I never knew GM's customer service was this poor. I sold my Volkswagen cause of the poor customer service they provide... They can keep their measly $600 bux they stole from me, cause my plans to purchase another GM vehicle is out the door at this point.
Funny thing is that I have 4 GM cars at home sitting on my drive way... lol. When I told them that... they couldn't care less. Their service sucks. Anything to save a dollar. They will try and find loop holes to get out of it, even though they know it was their defective part that caused the failure in the first place.
Argh!
They did misinform you that they would be able to make restitution for that. The recall never expires. However, the time for restitution does. Unfortunatly for you, the work had started before you knew about the recall. You would have still had to pay a portion of the repai to the shop that started even if you pulled the vehicle from there and took it to the GM facility. You are not upset with GM. You are upset with that dealer. The best information I can give you is to call the dealer and get their GM dealer #. Beat them until they give it to you. Then call (800) 222-1020. That is the # for Chevrolet Customer Service. Give them the dealer # and make a complaint against the dealer. The will investigate and most likely decide to help you out cause they aren't gonna want to lose a customer for $500.
STLWACO (Mike S) wrote:They did misinform you that they would be able to make restitution for that. The recall never expires. However, the time for restitution does. Unfortunatly for you, the work had started before you knew about the recall. You would have still had to pay a portion of the repai to the shop that started even if you pulled the vehicle from there and took it to the GM facility. You are not upset with GM. You are upset with that dealer. The best information I can give you is to call the dealer and get their GM dealer #. Beat them until they give it to you. Then call (800) 222-1020. That is the # for Chevrolet Customer Service. Give them the dealer # and make a complaint against the dealer. The will investigate and most likely decide to help you out cause they aren't gonna want to lose a customer for $500.
You sir are correct. My main problem is with their Dealership. Thanks for the advise! I will see what happens... gotta make some phone calls!
It's just ticking me off that I sent them another inquiry from their web form as a follow up to tell GM my problem and no one has responded back. Hrmm... I think they are brushing me off! Oh well... I am not concerned about the money as I am with the fact that these people who work there talk outta their arses. They don't have correct information, but will still tell it to you. If I call up a store and ask them if I can refund something that is over their return policy, and they say yes, they cannot say no to me when I come into the store. It's mind boggling to see how they deal with these situations.
Thanks again, it is appreciated.
Also try writing a letter to the editor for your local newspapers, go to the dealer and talk to the manager, the sales person that sold you the car and the dealer sales manager. Also it never hurts to call the BBB and make a complaint.
does this problem ever jhappen with other years? on my 01 w/ 122k miles i get a pop sound every 1/2 turn or so on the wheel
2001 2 door five speed 122k.
custom steering linkage pop
2000 s10 (THE WORKS)
