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Chevrolet TrailBlazer Speedometer

280 messages,  Last post on Nov 02, 2012 at 6:41 PM

You are in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, Electrical, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 9 of 29

#74 of 280 Re: 04 Trailblazer problem and problem with GM [gregw44] by rpleb35

Mar 27, 2009 (7:08 am)

Replying to: gregw44 (Mar 26, 2009 2:23 pm)
Greg....
 
Heres the letter I wrote:
 
General Motors Corporation
PO Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232
 
Dear Sir,
 
I have been a loyal GM buyer for 25 years buying at least twelve of your vehicles with the exception of one Ford which was a mistake. I am currently the owner of two Chevrolet cars. A 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo and a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer. I was having a problem with my Trailblazer and I am hoping your company will stand behind its product and help me. This vehicle has 47,000 miles on it and my speedometer and tachometer quit working. My speedo would stick at certain areas and never move and my tach was stuck at 0. I took it in for diagnosis and my mechanic told me the problem was a cluster motor and that it would run about 500 dollars to repair. I was a bit shocked at the price and only paid for the diagnosis at that time leaving the speedo at its current setting. I was then told that this is a common problem in the Trailblazers and that he (my mechanic) fixes at least 15 to 20 a year. After doing my own investigating, I found out that this IS a problem with the Trailblazers. I have found numerous complaints about TB speedos in GM's own forum on its website along with edmunds.com, justanswer.com and a few other. I also read that GM has a recall on this same problem for Tahoes and Silverados along with a couple of class action suits in Washington and Oregon. I am wondering why GM would have a recall on two vehicles for this problem and not the Trailblazers. It has to be the same components in all three vehicles.
I had no choice but to fix my problem because it was irritating and a safety issue. I feel that this is a part that should never go bad on a vehicle. I have had a couple of cars with over 200,000 miles on them and have never experienced this before. My Monte Carlo has 110,000 miles on it and that speedo works just fine. I believe that GM should make this right for me since I am sure GM is quite aware of this problem.
Enclosed is my bill for what I paid to fix this problem. I am not asking GM to cover the entire bill but either the part or the labor.
I am beginning to question my loyalty to GM after I called customer service and was basically told there was nothing GM could do. Why should I be loyal to a company that isnt loyal to me? I am understanding now why foreign cars are taking over this country. I have never owned one but will definitley take a good look at one as soon as I am ready to buy another vehicle.
 
Regards,

#75 of 280 Thanks PLEB35 by gregw44

Mar 27, 2009 (9:18 am)

RPLEB35
 
 Thanks for posting the letter. I have a few other things that I am trying first but I will try that if I cannot get a resolution another way. Thanks again for your help.
 
Greg

#76 of 280 CASE CLOSED! by ehoffbuhr

Apr 08, 2009 (11:18 am)

Hey everyone!
 
So I have a 2004 Trailblazer with the same problems as all of you, but since I am in OR I have been researching this mysterious "lawsuit" I keep hearing about. It turns out it is real and the case has been closed....WE WON! GM/Chevy lost the case and ALL OWNERS IN THE UNITED STATES are covered for this problem! Here are the links to the attorneys involved and the outcome:
 
http://tbscases.com/tbscases/casedetail.php?id=19
 
www.speedometersettlement.com/
 
But, OF COURSE, I just called my local dealership to schedule a time to fix this problem and they told me they had never heard of such a lawsuit and they would call me back after they researched it. But the information is valid and if they tell me NO there will be some problems! I will definitely call the Chevy 800 number if the dealer tells me they won't do it, because they are required by law to fix this! I will repost when I get a response from the dealer. Hope this helps some of you from this RIDICULOUS problem!

#77 of 280 Follow up... by ehoffbuhr

Apr 08, 2009 (6:15 pm)

So here's a follow up for the previous post... I talked to to the dealer AND the Chevy customer support line, and both places denied that the Trailblazer was eligible to be fixed for free. I told them that I was literally staring at an attorney's website that explicitly states every 2004 Trailblazer owner with less than 70k miles will get the cluster fixed FREE.....and they both said there was no such ruling and I would have to pay to fix it. Needless to say, I am heading down there tomorrow, printed documents in hand, and am having a talk with the manager. I will let you all know the outcome.

#78 of 280 Re: CASE CLOSED! [ehoffbuhr] by gregw44

Apr 11, 2009 (8:18 am)

Replying to: ehoffbuhr (Apr 08, 2009 11:18 am)
EHOFFBUHR....
 
Just wanted to say thanks for the head's-up. I have printed the necessary forms and obtained all the necessary information and will send in this weekend. I am at 72000 miles so I will only be getting a partial refund but... it is better than nothing.
 
You haven't, by chance, heard anything about a problem with the transmission... have you? That just went out as well... I am really starting to not like this vehicle very much. Oh well.... Wish me luck and thanks again for your help.

#79 of 280 Re: CASE CLOSED! [gregw44] by ehoffbuhr

Apr 11, 2009 (2:36 pm)

Replying to: gregw44 (Apr 11, 2009 8:18 am)
Well I took my Trailblazer in to get checked out and the guy told me it would be $480 to fix the cluster, but that he talked to someone at Chevy and they ARE in the process of honoring the lawsuit outcome. He told me if I send in the claims form after paying for the new parts that I would be given a refund. Now I just hope it isn't like most refunds that take a year before you get any money back!
 
And gregw44, as for the transmission, my brother has an 05 Trailblazer and he had to replace his transmission about a year ago. I am definitely going to sell my car as soon as the speedo is fixed so I can avoid all of the problems he has had!! Whether the transmission is a widespread problem, I'm not sure. But I know that after my brother fixed his, the car basically started falling apart so I wouldn't be surprised if it is happening to a lot of people.

#80 of 280 GM in trouble? No wonder by bcorp

Apr 11, 2009 (6:38 pm)

This does not seem to be a random failure, but a consistent problem for many GM customers. Mine is similar, yet intermittent. The speedometer goes haywire when the ambient temperature reaches around 85 F, then it just goes wild, standing still it reads 80-100 or more. Temperature drops and a few days later it is operating normal(?). This is just a guess, what is normal when one does not have any reliable consistency? From what I have discovered there are small plastic motors that operate the indicator arms. These motors are made by Swatch, the watch guys. These obviously are not dependable, maybe their watches should be called into question also. What would be the right thing to do? We all know what that is, but do we live in a country where people and companies are responsible anymore? No, it seems as though our government has seen fit to reward the failures and to punish those of us who support these companies. I have owned only GM products since 1959, many autos and trucks. Never have I seen neglect like this in the past. This reflects why GM has to go away or change it's approach to business and their customers.

#81 of 280 What is the latest? by didih1963

Apr 21, 2009 (1:20 pm)

I have the same problem with by 05 Trailblazer. I'm going about 160 mph at a stand still and my gas gage always says I'm on empty. What is the latest with this? Are the local dealers now aware that they have to fix this?

#82 of 280 Re: What is the latest? [didih1963] by ehoffbuhr

Apr 21, 2009 (1:53 pm)

Replying to: didih1963 (Apr 21, 2009 1:20 pm)
Well I am pretty sure the dealers are aware of the trial outcome (in Oregon at least) but they are saying they still haven't gotten the go ahead from Chevy to cover the cost of the repair. So for now we just have to pay for the repair and then send in the claims form that can be found at http://www.speedometersettlement.com/. The claim form says you should hear within 60 days if they will pay you back or not.

#83 of 280 The run-around... by ehoffbuhr

Apr 22, 2009 (12:58 pm)

Hey guys...here's a little update to my never ending Chevy saga:
 
So about a week ago I submitted my claims form along with my repair invoice and payment receipt to the address provided on the claims form...and I got a call today from a RUDE RUDE RUDE GM customer service rep saying Trailblazers are not covered under this lawsuit. WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT??? On the attorney's website for this class action settlement, it EXPLICITLY states that Trailblazers are covered. The customer service rep argued with me and finally hung up on me after I told her I wasn't taking no for an answer. I just emailed the attorney involved in this lawsuit and can't wait to hear back. I will let you all know what they say. I do know one thing, however...CHEVY IS GOING DOWN!

Messages Page 9 of 29

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