What makes a service bulletin different than a recall?

[Coyote machine]

I ran into a similar event last week with my 2012 Chevy truck. Two weekends ago, I drove it to NY and hear a rattling. When I opened the hood, I found the transmission dipstick tube broken and hanging. Was it safety related? Well, it could have puke transmission fluid all over the hot catalytic converter.

There are two separate TSBs on this. But the dealer would not fix it, even under "powertrain warranty". The tube was not much money, but the trans flush was.

New tube has a foam cushion pad zip-tied on.

Very ticked about it.

If you paid for it with your credit card; dispute the charge, in writing, and let the dealer sort it out with your card company. This is part of consumer protection laws.

And for an earlier poster concerned about buying used vehicles with no knowledge of prior recalls- the NHTSA has records available for vehicles that have had recalls. Search their database for it.

 

[Capricious]

"..If you paid for it with your credit card; dispute the charge, in writing, and let the dealer sort it out with your card company. This is part of consumer protection laws..."


I don't think I would do that.

If the repair that the shop does appears to be substandard in some way, then one has a right to dispute the charge.

If, however, the shop properly performs the repair, and the customer was advised ahead of time that the repair was for the customer's account, then I think one will
run into some trouble denying payment to the shop because the customer feels the manufacturer should pay for it. I believe that qualifies as "fraud."

One might also check the fine print on the "work order" for the repair that one usually has to sign. Usually there is some "fine print" about
agreeing to pay the charges.

Maybe not the way it should be, but that's the way it is.

 

[3930dave]

I ran into a similar event last week with my 2012 Chevy truck. Two weekends ago, I drove it to NY and hear a rattling. When I opened the hood, I found the transmission dipstick tube broken and hanging. Was it safety related? Well, it could have puke transmission fluid all over the hot catalytic converter.

There are two separate TSBs on this. But the dealer would not fix it, even under "powertrain warranty". The tube was not much money, but the trans flush was.

New tube has a foam cushion pad zip-tied on.

Very ticked about it.

Unless you've been using your truck as a Baja pre-runner, that sounds like a defective original design.

That's doubly irritating, after paying for a warranty.

Most likely it's your fault though (JK), as the event didn't happen on a Tuesday with a blue-moon.
Yes, I'm not impressed by many warranties today - in practice they often don't pay.

Could have been a lot worse, and I'm sure you'll consider this datapoint when purchasing your next truck.

Rgds, D.

 

[Coyote machine]

"..If you paid for it with your credit card; dispute the charge, in writing, and let the dealer sort it out with your card company. This is part of consumer protection laws..."


I don't think I would do that.

If the repair that the shop does appears to be substandard in some way, then one has a right to dispute the charge.

If, however, the shop properly performs the repair, and the customer was advised ahead of time that the repair was for the customer's account, then I think one will
run into some trouble denying payment to the shop because the customer feels the manufacturer should pay for it. I believe that qualifies as "fraud."

One might also check the fine print on the "work order" for the repair that one usually has to sign. Usually there is some "fine print" about
agreeing to pay the charges.

Maybe not the way it should be, but that's the way it is.

I suspect you were quoting what I said for crashz to do regarding his dis-satisfaction with the repair, because you didn't include me as being the author....
You don't have to do what I suggested. What I suggested IS the way to deal with unresolvable issues at the point of sale with the retailer, within 50 miles of one's home. It's stated in the fine print of every credit card agreement ever written.
It's not fraud if the buyer is being honest about feeling the dealer, in this case, is not treating them right regarding a repair. This is a short form of arbitration, and it protects the consumer in situations exactly like this. The credit card company and the merchant work out the details because the consumer and dealer could not come to a satisfactory arrangement. The consumer is at the mercy of the dealer's opinion, which does not make it right. The dealer is at the mercy of credit card companies, (owned by banks that issue their credit card services to the merchant, and ultimately to the consumer via the merchant) for which the merchant has a agreement to resolve consumer complaints via this process. It is how the 'playing field' is leveled in favor of the consumer not being ripped off by merchants who try to wield an upper hand.
Fraud would be if the consumer purchased a stereo, for instance, and decided to not pay for it for no apparent reason, other than they didn't want to pay.

 

[Capricious]

I suspect you were quoting what I said for crashz to do regarding his dis-satisfaction with the repair, because you didn't include me as being the author....
You don't have to do what I suggested. What I suggested IS the way to deal with unresolvable issues at the point of sale with the retailer, within 50 miles of one's home. It's stated in the fine print of every credit card agreement ever written.
It's not fraud if the buyer is being honest about feeling the dealer, in this case, is not treating them right regarding a repair. This is a short form of arbitration, and it protects the consumer in situations exactly like this. The credit card company and the merchant work out the details because the consumer and dealer could not come to a satisfactory arrangement. The consumer is at the mercy of the dealer's opinion, which does not make it right. The dealer is at the mercy of credit card companies, (owned by banks that issue their credit card services to the merchant, and ultimately to the consumer via the merchant) for which the merchant has a agreement to resolve consumer complaints via this process. It is how the 'playing field' is leveled in favor of the consumer not being ripped off by merchants who try to wield an upper hand.
Fraud would be if the consumer purchased a stereo, for instance, and decided to not pay for it for no apparent reason, other than they didn't want to pay.

You had best re-read the "claims resolution" paperwork that comes with every new vehicle.

When you buy the vehicle you agree to follow that procedure.

 

[Coyote machine]

You can do what you want. I don't need to re-read anything. Credit card purchases have their own set of consumer protection laws. Disputes with dealers over what they will cover under a warranty are issues that arise daily, and get resolved daily. Boilerplate legal agreements for manufacturers don't even come into play in situations like this. Banks take chargebacks against merchants all day long, and when the issue is resolved the merchant either gets paid or the consumer get a credit against the purchase. The consumer is obligated to have tried to resolve the issue with the merchant before filing a dispute, and that is their main obligation.
I know this; I've been a merchant in several business I've owned, including a foreign auto sales and repair shop, as well as having worked in a dealership selling vehicles.
Dealers are always trying to get out of covering work, and consumers need to find ways to protect themselves, especially in instances of manufacturer defects like the trans dipstick as one for instance.

 

[ultrarunner]

You could contact the GM in writing and if you are not satisfied... last I checked, GM is committed to arbitration to resolve consumer market place disputes.

I have contacted GM for friends and what has generally happened is GM will reimbursement for the cost of the part... not the labor... especially for "Loyal" GM customers.

We have a fleet operator in our area and his Dealer takes very good care of him... he as many of the same model and if something comes out his Dealer lets him know.

Relationships and time spent cultivating them...

 

[Capricious]

"... I don't need to re-read anything..."


You might want to read your credit report, so when the judgment shows up you are aware of it.

The dealer is not warranting anything- read your paperwork. The manufacturer is. Not paying the dealer for work performed
is just going to get you legal trouble.

His options are to deal with GM through their resolution process, which will probably lead to arbitration through an arbiter of their
choosing.



"...Boilerplate legal agreements for manufacturers don't even come into play in situations like this..."

Good luck with that...

 

[ultrarunner]

Once the consumer decides to go the arbitration route... a list of 5 arbitrators is provided with a brief bio and each party is asked to rank 1 to 5 in order of preference... first called is the arbitrator having the same rank by both parties... so if you and manufacturer both rank a person number 3 that will be the person asked... of course it also depends on availability... at least this is my California experience.

GM arbitration is really swayed towards the consumer because the consumer is free to accept or reject the decision... the manufacturer does not have this option... also, it is provided at no cost.

Arbitrators I know are extremely fair and will allow each side to make their presentation in full as long it is not a rehash of what has already been said.

The last thing I want is for either party to walk away from a hearing and say/feel they were not allowed to present their case in full or were stopped short.

Some cases are heard by a panel... usually consisting of 3.

 

[Coyote machine]

"... I don't need to re-read anything..."


You might want to read your credit report, so when the judgment shows up you are aware of it.

The dealer is not warranting anything- read your paperwork. The manufacturer is. Not paying the dealer for work performed
is just going to get you legal trouble.

His options are to deal with GM through their resolution process, which will probably lead to arbitration through an arbiter of their
choosing.



"...Boilerplate legal agreements for manufacturers don't even come into play in situations like this..."

Good luck with that...

You want to quote me, then do it right, as shown above; otherwise don't pull text from what I've said without proper acknowledgement, and out of context.

The dealer is an agent/authorized representative/franchisee of the manufacturer; and the customer paid for work performed. He has a legitimate gripe, and their are various ways to resolve that. One of them, most often used, is via credit card disputes, a legal form of resolving issues with a retailer. No judgement will be showing up from a 'credit report' either.
Boilerplate legalese in the purchasing agreement of a new car has NOTHING to do with this situation.
You're very confused, and not on track about what you're spewing out, on any level.
We're not talking Lemon law, or similar; merely a dissatisfied customer who feels strongly, and probably rightly that he should not have to pay for something that is a manufacturer defect.

Going to the dealer GM, (general manager), is a choice a consumer can make, but it does not guarantee any outcome, satisfactory or not. It is one of various choices, not the only one, especially if the consumer paid by credit card.

All this nonsense is just derailing this thread, and the person, crashz, has not replied to the suggestion I made originally.
I suggest you change your user name to Mercurial; it seems to better suit you...

BTW, I don't need to read my 'credit report', which has NOTHING to do with a credit card dispute....

End trans. Next issue.