Steering and Alignment Problems

ALi3N · Post by **ALi3N** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:55 am

Well, here is another rant about a service department.Just out of laziness i will post the e-mail i sent to the service department manager that has been working on my car.'Greetings, I feel i need to make a complaint about the service i am receiving in the service department currently.I purchased my new 2003 Pontiac Vibe GT on 4 November and upon delivery i noticed the alignment was off. I brought this to the attention on Irma in the service department and she advised me to bring the car back in after the "settling period" of about 3500 miles. I did so and since then my car has been in the shop 4 times (it is currently in service) and not only has the problem not been remedied it has gotten worse every time i pick the car up. After I picked the car up the first time they didn't even have part so i had to come back in a week when the parts they needed came in. After i picked it up the second time the alignment was more off than it had been before i brought it in. The third time i picked the car up (which was just last friday evening) the steering wheel was not on straight (crooked to the left) and the car still pulled more than ever to the right side. To top it off when i took it back in this morning to let them know they didn't get it, i was told by Irma that basically i was stuck with a broken car. She said "There's nothing else we can do for you." That is totally unacceptable to me. She guessed that maybe the tires were no good then suggested that I go to the tire maufacturer myself and try and get new tires. I am not doing anything to fix this car, that is what the warrantee is for. I don't care what has to be done to make it work but i did not just spend $24,000 at your dealership on a new, warranteed car to be told that i have to "deal" with a faulty part. I need this rectified ASAP. You guys still have my car.'Any input or ideas as to the real problem would be appreciated.

ALi3N · Post by **ALi3N** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:04 am

I e-mailed Pontiac Customer Care earlier this morning and i am still waiting on a response. I was thinking of taking the car to another, larger Pontiac dealership for service but i would like to see the dealership i bought the car from get the job done right.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:21 am

I would be furious. What does Irma do there? Sucks to lose all that time taking the new car back to the dealer, and then to be told that they can't fix it. grrr. I recommend calling the customer care phone number, even if the dealer is able to fix it this fourth time. Although the dealership might not like getting reported, GM will want to know that one of their dealers is failing so miserably in customer relations. be reassured that there is something that they can do about it, they should be able to get the alignment correct. the vibe is not inherently un-alignable. Even if the car seems ok when you get it back, I wouldn't trust them and would probably take it to another dealer to get it verified. Definitely find someone else to work on it the next time you need anything done.You should also post in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=5682 definitely sound like it fits the criteria of "dealers which have caused SERIOUS damage, inconvenience, or have performed poor, unreliable, or unapproved work to your car."Quote, originally posted by ALi3N Â»... After I picked the car up the first time they didn't even have part so i had to come back in a week when the parts they needed came in. ...Something must have been defective if they needed to order parts for a realignment. Do you know what parts they had to replace?

Post by **NSimkins** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:35 am

Sorry about your dealer issues - I would take the suggestions given in this thread and contact the Pontiac Customer Assistance line (via phone preferrably). Also, if you have given up hope with the Pontiac Cust Assist, I wouldn't hesitate to go to another dealer. It's sad to say, but some service depts. just seem to be pretty incompetent with the simpliest tasks.When I first bought my Vibe, the steering wheel was a little crooked when straight but no abnormal wear or pull was detected. I ended up bringing it to my local Chevrolet dealer (closer than Pontiac) and they performed the alignment with no problems or hesitation. After that, the steering wheel was straight on. Only exception was this was after the 12,000 mile "free-alignment under warranty" rule and I had to pay for the alignment (due partially since I installed aftermarket springs).Hope you are able to resolve the issues. You're not alone.

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 6:07 am

Quote, originally posted by NSimkins Â» Only exception was this was after the 12,000 mile "free-alignment under warranty" rule and I had to pay for the alignment (due partially since I installed aftermarket springs).They kind of reminded me of that too when i took mine in after I changed my springs. LOL ALi3n I hope pontiac customer service helps you out. no service rep should tell you you have to deal with a broke car......

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:08 am

As a service advisor at a GM dealership, I am really disapointed with how you got treated. Definatly complain and try another dealership if you really need to. But a good ol phone call to the General (GM customer assistance) will do the trick.

ALi3N · Post by **ALi3N** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:56 am

Thanks guys.I think i lit a fire under their buts down at the dealership. This morning they called me to inform me that they are still working on my car, they are going to try a few things to get it right. When i get it back i am going straight over to the other, larger pontiac dealership right down the road and have their service dept look at it. I will continue to post updates on this issue here.Oh, and Irma is my service rep.

ALi3N · Post by **ALi3N** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:02 pm

Ok, I got the car back the other day and everything is working correctly now. The service manager went over everything with me and Pontiac Customer Care offered me a free alignment coupon with to expiration date.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:56 pm

Sweet, glad to know they got you all fixed up.

hooch1 · Post by **hooch1** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:35 am

I am new to GenVibe, but this is the reason I started looking for the forum. I got my Vibe 12/02 (base, 5 spd). It was delivered with the steering wheel 10 degrees left going straight and a pretty good pull to the left as well. I brought it back for an alignment and it is better now, but it still has an some issues. Steering effort is different left vs right and it still has a tendency to wander left on the highway. I have run my course with the 12,000 mile free alignment(s) at the dealer. Could you tell me what the diagnosis on your car was. I would love to be able to help them along. I almost suspect the wheelbase is off, but I am not sure where to measure it. - G

Steering and Alignment Problems

Steering and Alignment Problems

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (Salsa!)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (ALi3N)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (ALi3N)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (NSimkins)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (scherry2)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (Mavrik)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (ALi3N)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (ALi3N)

Re: Steering and Alignment Problems (ALi3N)