continued dealer failure with top replacement.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

I haven't seen my Camaro in nearly 3 weeks.

after the first two failures with them replacing the top, the first being they ordered the wrong top (not the newer design, but the existing one with the issues)

and then the second: the outsourced shop getting the new designed top but not being told what the extra parts and cables were for so they simply cut them/removed them from the top.

I called the owner of the dealership and advised him of my continued dissatisfaction with the service on my Camaro, the ongoing argument with the service manager over this top and the service departments inability to get it right, and follow up with this outsourced company to be sure the work was done correctly. I reminded him that since 1996 I have purchased 9 Chevy's from him personally, and my family has purchased another 6, not to mention the dozens of friends I have sent there, and that this is a 180° turn from the level of service I have come to expect from them.

The owner went out of his way to accommodate me, he had the service manager come to my house and pick up the Camaro and leave me a rental and they ordered a third top, that was 3 weeks ago. They promised the car would not be returned until it was perfect.

Last night the SM brought the car back to my house but it was dark and not much could be seen..


This morning I found a whole slew of issues, and promptly returned the car to the dealership:


cable coming out on both sides, weather stripping is ripping (about a 9 inch gouge in it)





top is sitting over a inch too high, tonneau cover won't fit, and the top sits at an angle, lower on the passenger side than on the drivers side.




in addition it was discovered that the weather striping along the passenger quarter window was damaged to the point that the window will not go all the way up and seal, and as a result the passenger window binds on the quarter window and won't seal.

This morning the inside of the passenger side was damp from the night moisture, I am glad it didn't rain the car would have been flooded.

----

Now I can't fault the dealer 100% here, the problem lies in my opinion with GM and usage of an outsourced shop..

GM should be providing complete replacement tops, the frame, material, everything factory installed and put together so that all a tech has to do is unbolt the old frame and bolt up a new..

This idea to save a few bucks by only sending the dealers the top material and then using a third party to install it is just asinine, it is overly apparent that a tech or shop cannot correctly disassemble the entire top and frame and reassemble the elements.

This is evident by the dozen upon dozen of threads here with everyone experiencing the exact same issues on the replacement tops.

cords not attached correctly
the cable above not routed correctly
the top not sitting fully into the bucket and the arms extending up when the top is retracted..
the creaking and eventual breakage of the bows because the top is putting too much stress on them..
damage to interior panels (so far 3 of mine have had to be replaced because the shop warped or gouged them).



GM you really need to get your $hit together on this and simply ship out a full replacement system and stop advising the dealers to piece this together.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

and for me this is the last trip.


if the top isn't corrected 100% to my satisfaction I will be initiating a buy back / lemon law.

[95birdible]

You are saying exactly the same thing I did back in 2011. Replace the whole damn top mechanism from the factory. They did it on the 4th gens. Heck, you can still buy the entire mechanism for them. The are just cheaping out and hoping that the owner will buy it as fixed. I requested an entire mechanism the first time around. They replaced just the canvas. After replacement, the top still rubbed, it flooded, rear window trim wouldn't seat correctly, a slew of problems. I had it bought back. My new 2012 has been fine so far with the exception of the rub from the trunk deck. I am watching it closely.

[cactuseater]

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

and for me this is the last trip.


if the top isn't corrected 100% to my satisfaction I will be initiating a buy back / lemon law.

This is business as usual at GM for this vehicle. They are arrogant and will not budge until you get a court date. Then they come to the table. Make sure you get a reliable lemon law attorney in your state that is licensed in your state for your lemon law claim. Using the BBB eliminates many of your rights under the law. Mine was also a nightmare. Super glad it is GONE, without any monetary loss on my part. Property damage just like yours too. The three stooges destroyed my car through a slow death over the 200+ days it was out of service in the 9 months we owned it. Sad to hear you're having the dream shattered. Make them ante up and be within full compliance with the law. DO NOT accept any bribery payment or extended warranty - get out of the car before it eats you alive.

[hworth18]

Have you tried another dealership? The reason I ask is that some dealerships seem to have no clue how to fix/replace the top and others do get it right. I was lucky that my dealership had done a few of these and after the initial replacement and a few trips for adjustments, the top is just like new.

[basecar]

Ask the dealership to speak to the factory rep in your area. Where is this person on the formum from GM, why is he/she helping not helping. At this stage the Rep should be stepping in.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by hworth18

Have you tried another dealership? The reason I ask is that some dealerships seem to have no clue how to fix/replace the top and others do get it right. I was lucky that my dealership had done a few of these and after the initial replacement and a few trips for adjustments, the top is just like new.

Originally Posted by basecar

Ask the dealership to speak to the factory rep in your area. Where is this person on the formum from GM, why is he/she helping not helping. At this stage the Rep should be stepping in.

I've spoken to the factory rep, unfortunately there are no other outsource shops in the area authorized to do the work, if I go to another dealer the car will still end up at this same third party shop to do the work.

The dealer isn't the issue, they have gone above and beyond IMO for what it is they can do, my rental has been covered beyond the 7 days that GM allows (and upgraded beyond the $35 daily limit), they have come to my house and dropped the rental and picked up my Camaro @ 5:00 a.m. as not to interfere with my work schedule, as well as filled my gas tank and returned the car to my house after hours again as not to interfere with my work schedule.

The dealer has gone above and beyond, but their hands are tied with having to use an authorized shop, because if they use any other shop then GM won't pay for the warranty service.

I was basically told by the Dealership owner and the local factory rep to just let them handle it, they will fix it to 100% my satisfaction or they will replace the vehicle once the attempts to fix have exceeded the lemon law requirements, the dealer isn't even arguing the point, they even have a 2013 model (that has the newer top) with exactly all the same options and color as mine sitting on the lot, so if this doesn't work out I might be doing a swap for that vehicle.


I will not be signing off on it if even one screw is out of place.

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

I've spoken to the factory rep, unfortunately there are no other outsource shops in the area authorized to do the work, if I go to another dealer the car will still end up at this same third party shop to do the work.

The dealer isn't the issue, they have gone above and beyond IMO for what it is they can do, my rental has been covered beyond the 7 days that GM allows (and upgraded beyond the $35 daily limit), they have come to my house and dropped the rental and picked up my Camaro @ 5:00 a.m. as not to interfere with my work schedule, as well as filled my gas tank and returned the car to my house after hours again as not to interfere with my work schedule.

The dealer has gone above and beyond, but their hands are tied with having to use an authorized shop, because if they use any other shop then GM won't pay for the warranty service.

I was basically told by the Dealership owner and the local factory rep to just let them handle it, they will fix it to 100% my satisfaction or they will replace the vehicle once the attempts to fix have exceeded the lemon law requirements, the dealer isn't even arguing the point, they even have a 2013 model (that has the newer top) with exactly all the same options and color as mine sitting on the lot, so if this doesn't work out I might be doing a swap for that vehicle.


I will not be signing off on it if even one screw is out of place.

My dealership didn't outsource my top replacement, they did it right there at the dealership. That is why I suggested trying another one. Not all dealerships are alike.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by hworth18

My dealership didn't outsource my top replacement, they did it right there at the dealership. That is why I suggested trying another one. Not all dealerships are alike.

As I said all the dealers around here do outsource and they all use the same shop. Already done this research.

[Trekkie]

and then the second: the outsourced shop getting the new designed top but not being told what the extra parts and cables were for so they simply cut them/removed them from the top.

What logic does someone have when here are leftover things to cut them off? That's insane

[not]

Huh, usually one of those GM customer service people that lurk on this site are chiming in with such poignant questions as "Gee, what is the favorite feature of your new car?".

They sure seem loudly silent now...

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Hello Mr. iNCREDIBLE,

We apologize for not responding sooner to this post due to the holiday season, and we are truly sorry to hear of these frustrations with your vehicle. Have you previously spoken with a customer care representative? We would be happy to look into the situation further and alert the dealership's customer care specialist. They will contact you regarding an action plan. Please provide us with your name, address, phone number, VIN, mileage, and name of dealership through a private message so we may assist further.

Jessica
Chevrolet Customer Care

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by Chevrolet Customer Svc

Hello Mr. iNCREDIBLE,

We apologize for not responding sooner to this post due to the holiday season, and we are truly sorry to hear of these frustrations with your vehicle. Have you previously spoken with a customer care representative? We would be happy to look into the situation further and alert the dealership's customer care specialist. They will contact you regarding an action plan. Please provide us with your name, address, phone number, VIN, mileage, and name of dealership through a private message so we may assist further.

Jessica
Chevrolet Customer Care

No offense but I have a good relationship with this dealership and have for 20 years. The last time your group tried to help me with something you damn near destroyed that relationship.

For now I am allowing them to handle it. The dealership owner is involved and I'm sure he will make sure I am taken care of as he has in the past.

[SSCAMAROGUY]

Sorry to hear about your issues. I had all of the same problems until GM replaced my car. The simple truth is that regardless of dealership or out sourced shop, no one is trained to do a proper replacement.