Took my HHR in today to get the reflash, hoses worked on, and to talk about a repaint (I've given up on the running board thing). Spoke with the service manager a week ago and presented the TSBs in order to schedule the appointment.

Sat for three hours today just for them to tell me nothing was wrong. Mind you I DO have the remote start cutoff/long crank problem. I DO have the noisy hose problem and I DO have paint chipping.

Dealer response: We could not reproduce your remote start issue. We could not reproduce your noisy hoses (and I quote: "They sound fine to us"). And last but not least, your paint chipping and sandblasting is NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

Not only am I the customer complaining of distinct problems, but I have shown you your companies documentation that shows that they are valid and have occured with some frequency. So what.

Long story short: They refused to perform any of the TSBs (reflash, hoses, or repaint) and I'm left with a 1 year old car that has documented problems that I have to live with. I bought a new car because I didn't want to live with any problems for at least three years or 36,000 miles of warranty. Needless to say, I think I'll take the hit on my quick-to-depreciate Chevy and try again...this time with a little more homework on its problems and its manufacturers willingness to fix them.

p.s.
This is the 3rd dealership in my area. The first didn't know what a TSB was and the other "never got back to me".

 

WOW! I'm really sorry to hear that. It's a shame so many dealers are like that. Not all are, so no bashing here. The one we bought mine from is horrible, but then the one we bought my wife's from couldn't be better to work with!

 

yeah, Im not trying to bash the dealer either, which is why I won't post the name of it. Its really sad that Im in this situation and even worse that its not just chevy or gm. This is my first new car purchase and this experience has made it not worth it. If I wanted to live with noises, malfunctions and appearance defects, I could have kept my Supercharged Riviera. I know that it can happen on any car but its hard to swallow when you pay a note every month and the dealer just flat out refuses to make repairs like this.

 

Sounds like it's time to call GM direct.

They would love to find out about this!

Anyone have the 800 Hotline # handy?

 

I know it's out of your way, but call Herb Connolly in Framingham. 508-879-0300 X145. Ask for Justin Brown. He's the Service Manager. Tell him John Kendall suggested them to you. They are a full warranty center for the Metro West area. The worst he can do is say "sorry". I've been going to them for years and never had a problem. If Justin isn't available, ask for Jay Martin. They are good guys. Trust me..................

 

Chevy Customer ASSistance Center # 800-462-8782. As far as the paint, if you're talking the side sandblasting they should take care of it. However, if you're talking anywhere else forget it. Been there done that. Hope you have better luck.

 

Teech, sorry to hear about your issues, man, I have been so fortunate to have my dealership (McComb Chevrolet in Peoria, Illinois) I hope no one is offended by the shameless plug but these people have been incredible, it stinks that you can't find a place like this in your area. Others have given you contacts higher at Chevrolet and I definitely would drop a dime on the dealerships that have left you holding the bag...Good luck !!!

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'll put it all to use. Its a shame that you have to make a stink to get things done. I almost don't trust THEM to do it If I have to go to higher ups. I don't like forcing anybody to do the work...prime opportunity to screw you over for making them look bad.

I call your dealer firewatcher and see if I can make a trip out that way next time I get some time off work. GM direct will get a call as well and I'm looking for a place to send an unhappy letter.

 

That really stinks teech. Sorry to hear they are giving you such a bad time. I'm sure if you look in your owners manual, you find all the contact info you need. Good luck buddy...and keep us posted.

 

First, it is very difficult to believe that a GM Chevy Dealer, let alone 2 of them, did not know what a TSB was!!! I can certainly believe they were not familiar with the ones you showed them, they get many, but all dealerships are REQUIRED to keep a TSB manual, by year of the car.

Now as to your specific problems. Why don't you simply ask the service manager to take a ride with you and point out to him/her the noises you are hearing? It would be very difficult for him to say I don't hear a thing, if you are standing/sitting right there next to him and hearing it. If he says it is a normal sound..and gosh knows there are strange sounding engines...then simply ask to go for a ride in another HHR (new or used) and see if you hear the same thing. Could it be the dealer may be right and the noise is not a problem? Maybe something you do not like..but really not a problem?

As to paint chipping and "sandblasting" being normal wear I would say that all depends. Certainly some of us are more prone to chips depending on where we drive, how we drive, how we care for our car (waxed/polished?), etc. So a chip here or there, especially on the rear flare, is in fact a normal thing on an HHR...hence the TSB. But it would have to be a "lot" of chipping for the dealer to authorize painting of the car..they aren't gonna do it for one or two chips on the flare just because there is a TSB. But if it is excessive and in other areas of the car then one has to ask...why? You suspect it is product quality problem..that somehow, on that particular day when your car was painted, there was something wrong with the paint that caused your HHR to be the exception to the norm and to have so much "sandblasting". Surely you can see why the dealer, or in your case THREE dealers would question this.

BUT, no matter who is right or wrong you have recourse...and hating GM, accusing GM of not backing their products, etc...is not one of them. Simply ask the dealer to schedule you an appointment with the Area Representative next time he visits their dealership...generally every 3 to 4 weeks depending on size of dealership and size of town. All GM dealerships get visits from area representatives on a regular basis for a wide variety of reasons, one of which is to solve situations such as yours. You will find that generally if your position is at all reasonable, they will side with the customer over the dealership and the dealership doesn't really care as the area reps authorization will assure them they are getting paid.

Don't want to wait that long? Ask to speak to the dealerships General manager, a step above the service manager. Again, don't holler, scream , yell, repeat all kinds of past problems, etc...just ask him for five minutes of his time to sit in your car and listen to the noises you hear and see if he hears them. Bring someone along with you that acknowledges the noises too so they can agree with you that there is such a noise. Show the General Manager the chips.

Regarding the starting problem, to me this would be so simple it is ridiculous. You tell the guy it doesn't work..he says they can not recreate the problem. Why don't the two of you stand side by side at the car, and you show him the problem!!! It either starts right or it doesn't. If even you can not recreate the problem right there in front of him, then what is he to do? If you can recreate the problem right there in front of him, he sure would be red faced and have to do something.

Best of luck.