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Pontiac Grand Am

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Grand Am, Sedan

Messages Page 83 of 259

#819 of 2588 any suggestions? by rgreene5

Mar 15, 2001 (10:51 am)

     The last time I posted on here I was telling everyone about all of the problems I have had with my 2000 pontiac grand am gt and most people seemed to think I got a lemon. Well I took my car in for yet many other problems on Monday of this week. It was in the shop for molding popping off from the rear of the car, a cover inside of the car was coming up which was exposing wires the brakes were messing up again, the mirrors have fades and look like a pale grey rather than black, the passenger side door leaks and there is still a noticeable miss at idle. When taking my car in to the dealership I was told that I should just wax the mirrors because they are supposed to look like that. I told the dealer that I had seen a service bulliten on the mirrors from GM that said they should be painted or replaced. He said he would talk to the service manager about that. I was given a 96 Corsica that had carpet stains beyond belief, the seat moved back and forth when you hit the gas and had an entire collection of cassette tapes which gave me the impression that perhaps this is someone actual veichle. I took the car and said nothing, although I have had many other courtesy cars that were at least comparable to mine. I called Tuesday afternoon hoping my car would be finished so I wouldn't be driving this junk car anymore. I spoke with the service manager and was told everying else on my car had been done and that it was at the body shop having the mirrors painted as we spoke and that I could pick it up on Wednesday so the mirrors would have ample time to dry. I was satisfied with this because apparently they had decided to do something about the mirrors this time instead of blowing me off.
     Wednesday I arrive to pick up the car and I am told that they haven't painted the mirrors yet. I asked why and they immediately started to become defensive saying I was never told it would be ready today. My husband became quite perplexed and insisted on speaking with the body shop which is located on the other side of town. They said that they were gone for the day. Which didn't make any sense so we asked if both shops left at the same time, yes they said, so why were they still there. The guy goes into a back room comes out and dials the body shops number and of course they answer, my husband talks with them saying the mirrors would be painted later that evening. Yet something else that doesn't make any sense. It just seems odd to me that someone is coming in after hours to work on my car, I got the feeling that we were being lied to. So I asked if I could have another car besides the piece of junk they had given me. He said he wasn't authorized to do so. I asked why couldn't he slap a dealer plate on something, he said that wasn't an option. So we just stood there, because we weren't leaving. Again they went into a back room and he took out a dealer plate and put it on a buick skylark, which was far better than what I had previously.
     This morning (Thursday) someone from the parts department calls to let me know my molding has came in. That didn't make any sense because I was told that everything else had been done except the mirrors and besides they still have my car. So I called to talk with the service manager and he said they didn't realize they had my car. What is going on? I asked. He said that after what happened last night about me demanding another car he will not ever give me another courtesy car and that my car would be ready today and then he hung up on me. I immeditly called back and he said that he didn't realize I hadn't finished talking. I told him how rude his service people have been and he said that we rude last night and that was inexcusable behavior.(I could not believe what I was hearing)He said that there was a misunderstanding about my car being finished, when he was the one who said that it would be done. I asked if they gave out compreable courtesy cars and he said yes only if the problem being fixed is a hazardous driving condition but whenever the problem in pidely then it doesn't really matter. I then asked if he thought my problems with my car were pidely and he said well it wasn't a hazardous condition. I asked him if he believed in customer service,I told him I called GM the previous night(which I really did) to complain about what had happened, he replied oh yeah, like that will hurt, I told him that GM seemed to care about it and he said well I hope that they call me and I told him the service there was piss poor and then he hung up on me. Believe it or not this is the guy that GM assigned me to deal with. I was so angry I couldn't think about anything else. I know of course never to go back to this dealership but is there anything I can do about this?

#821 of 2588 Rgrene5 by nerss

Mar 15, 2001 (11:45 am)

I am very sorry to hear that you have had such problems with this dealership. I fully beleive that when a new car gets a bad reputation it is related to how efficiently and quickly the company can remedy the problem. Most of the problems that you have written about should be covered under your warranty and should not have been an issue to fix with that dealer. They would be completely reimbursed by GM for the money that they spend. I would follow up your complaint with GM and also talk to the Better Business Bureau in your area about filing a complaint and then ask them for a reputable Pontiac dealership in the area. I hope that all of the stuff is fixed on your car soon and that you can really nail those SOBs through GM and the BBB. Let us know what happens.

#822 of 2588 rgreene5 by tonychrys

Mar 15, 2001 (12:39 pm)

First, I am not here to defend GM, but everything that you described points to a very, very, bad dealer, which happens with any brand of vehicle.
 
The arrognance you describe almost leads me to believe he is the only Pontiac dealer in your area? If not, I can't beleive they would risk losing you as a customer and getting a bad rep with folks you talk to.
 
GM always encourages customers to try to work it out with the dealer first, which it seems you tried. If I was you I would call the service manager one more time and tape the conversation. Though not legally admissable, it would be a tremendous eye opener for the GM folks if you play it for them. Just a suggestion.
 
After you contact GM, I would contact your local TV station's "consumer reporter", these folks will sometimes intervene if they smell a story.

#823 of 2588 Dealers... by lrymal

Mar 15, 2001 (2:59 pm)

rgreen5, do you use my dealer? grinnn
 
>I know of course never to go back to this dealership but is there anything I can do about this?
 
Wish I could help, but I have to go through the same thing.
 
Basically, my dealer responds positively to anything I suggest, assuming I can qualify what I am talking about. But, my dealer would never dare volunteer a fix, suggest a fix, or do a fix on their own, even if it were staring at them.
 
Case in point: over a year ago, I hit a wild pig on a rural road (this IS Texas, ya know?). They had to replace the entire nose cap. The body shop did the work and got overspray over everything--not just a little bit but a whole bunch.
 
The kid removing overspray never would rub his fingers or hands over the body, but would just simply start doing the overspray removal with the clay and buffer, even over areas that already had overspray removed. He would apply the cleaner, spray the car down and dry it.
 
Not once did he go back and check to see if the overspray was gone. When I returned the car for more overspray removal, they cheerfully put the car in the booth, the same kid started doing a whole car overspray removal, not even checking where the overspray was.
 
Because the front end of the car was the part that hit the offending pig, the headlight assembly had to be removed and the bulbs replaced.
 
Guess who didn't realign the headlights?
 
Finally, speaking of alignment.... Even though the insurance had front-end alignment as part of the repair, it was never done. The body shop computer showed it in the work order, but the mechanic shop did not have it in the work order.
 
Soooo, to make a very long story short, I think rgreen5 and I are using the same dealer, and I think automobile owners should have a "patient's bill of rights".

#824 of 2588 Some inappropriate posts... by L8_Apex

Mar 15, 2001 (3:56 pm)

...have been removed.
 
Thank you,

L8_Apex
Host
Sedans Message Board

#825 of 2588 rpm9/rgreene5 by jkidd2

Mar 15, 2001 (7:35 pm)

rpm9...you are correct, you can always find a dealer that will be willing to sell you a car, no doubt, but expect to be gouged out the whazzo and pay a very high interest rate + they will force you to add options/extended warranties you don't want, etc....(believe me, I know...I went through it in my early 20's. I always say it was the hardest lesson I have ever learned) I guess I was thinking more on the line of when it comes time to buy a house or something like that, your bad credit will come back to haunt you. Good luck to you.
 
rgreen5...you might want to look in the SUV posts under the Infiniti QX4...I can't remember the persons exact moniker, I think it might have been QX4 Lemon or Infiniti Lemon...but he provides a really good history on how he dealt with a similar situation as yours. He also has a website that you can link to from his postings...that is good research for anyone going through an ordeal with a dealer. Might help? Best of luck to you.

#826 of 2588 rpm9 by whacko

Mar 15, 2001 (9:15 pm)

Don't worry that you'll have to pay a higher interest rate due to your bad credit. Just be thankful that our country still allows you to get financed on a vehicle despite credit challenges.
 
The good thing about it is that you'll be sort of forced to buy a more inexpensive vehicle because the bank will not want to take a bigger financial risk due to your unfavorable credit rating.
 
Meanwhile, I admire you and I commend you for having the guts to do what you did. It's not often you hear someone be brave enough and strong enough to let something go at such a dear price. Keep your chin up and you'll do just fine.

#827 of 2588 rgreene5 by midlifecrisis

Mar 16, 2001 (6:38 am)

Whoa, that is one of the worst stories I've ever heard of poor customer service from a dealer. What is wrong with these people? So far, my Pontiac dealer service has been way above my expectations. They've even fixed a few minor things I didn't even request!
 
I realize the service guys may get a little frustrated and annoyed with a lemon car just like the owner does. But I would think they would have some human compassion for the car owner. And besides, that IS their job to work on the cars, isn't it? It's NOT the car owner's job to keep wasting their time bringing the car back to the dealer because the dealer was too incompetent to fix it right the first time. I would get on every message board and post the name and location of this dealership to make as many people as possible aware of their completely unacceptable behavior and service. Maybe in some way you can hit them in the pocketbook, where it counts.
 
Definitely go to the BBB and to GM. If you know of any lawyer, maybe you can write some letters using their letterhead. That ought to shake somebody up.
 
Let us know how you make out. We're all pulling for you on this one.

#828 of 2588 rgreene5 - taping phone conversations by lindsey

Mar 16, 2001 (9:51 am)

It may be more than "inadmissable" to tape a phone conversation; it may be illegal. Just ask Linda Tripp. Generally, you can legally tape a phone conversation if you let the other party know you are doing so at the beginning of the conversation. However, you should check with an attorney in your state before doing so.

Messages Page 83 of 259

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