Lemon?

[72 Rambo]

I'm new to the forum and would like some feedback about purchasing an Av.  I've found a low mileage '04 at a local Mom and Pop dealer at a very reasonable price.  Problem is, it was a dealer buyback under Nevada's lemon law.  The dealer revealed this info to me and furnished a Carfax which is really pretty clean.  Replaced brake booster, radio, and one other item I can't recall.  The buyback was based on the passenger airbag sensor which the po claimed didn't work and had in for repair 3 times.  The dealership was never able to duplicate the situation claimed by the customer.  The Mom and Pop dealer suspect it may have been a ploy by the po to get out from under the vehicle.  I love the vehicle and it's in fantastic condition, but I'm a little leery.  I'm assuming that if GM bought it back, they would have had to go over the vehicle thoroughly before they could sell it off at auction where my dealer purchased it.  Anybody have any experience with a situation like this?  Thoughts/advice?
Thanks!

(The Mom and Pop have been in business for years here and it's a small community.  They couldn't survive if they were screwing people over, so I think they are being upfront)

[MS03 2500]

Sounds like a good AV to me if the price is right.
Local dealer will probably treat you better than large dealers they want your repeat business.

[cadboy1]

I would go for it 

[Intimidatoruag]

I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole .... GM doesn't just buy back a vehicle because it has been in for service 3 times and they can't duplicate the problem ....

I would be really concerned of anyone in the pass. seat if you were to get in an accident and would the air bag work ... or better yet ... would it go off for no reason at all .... it is big bucks to replace an air bag .....

I have dealt with GM on the lemon law 1st hand and it was like pulling teeth to get them to do anything ... granted this was back in 88 but still ... they don't just buy a vehicle back .... I had district reps involved ... I even had a GM tech from Detroit come out and look at it .... plus they even used aftermarket parts at the time to try and fix the issue but after 7 trips to the dealer on the same issue within a year and being at the dealer for more than 30 days of that 1st year I was able to use the lemon law ....

besides that not everything is always listed on carfax .... take the vin and go to a dealer and ask them to run a service history ....

John

[72 Rambo]

I was planning on having the dealer run the VIN to see if I could dig up any more info.  The Mom and Pop already had this done and gave me the name of someone at the GM dealership to talk to. I too have had warranty issues with GM (big time) in the 80s.  What I am not sure of are state lemon laws.  If Nevada has its own law regarding what is considered a lemon, GM is s.o.l. and has no choice but to buy the vehicle back.  They can't stall and b.s. the customer etc.  They have to eat it and move on.  Colorado, where I live, has no lemon laws I'm aware of.  You're at the mercy of the dealer if you get a lemon as I learned the hard way.

All passenger side airbag components were replaced according to the Carfax, even though the dealer could not identify or duplicate the problem indicated by the owner. It was under warranty and safety related, so they weren't about to screw around with it.

[cadboy1]

Does the airbag light flash 7 times on start-up to indicate a self test on the system?

[72 Rambo]

Don't remember.  I'll have to check when I stop in again.

[cadboy1]

You could always spend 5 times as much for a new one and still have problems. My mom bought a 94 Chevy Caprice brand new and on the second day the fuel pump was dead. Point being any vehicle new or used can and will have problems. I would not pass it up based on what you said so far 

[Z66 BUTCH]

If GM bought it back as a lemon I would stay very far away from this one. There are to many good one owner used Avalanches out there with a near prefect CarFax report snd servoce records to take a chance.......

[MS03 2500]

I just notice we are talking about a 04 AVY, so unless you have some strange laws there I don't think it's has anything to do with being a lemon.

[72 Rambo]

Ok, hit the dealer and had them run the history off the VIN.  Repairs are as follows:

Brake booster replacement at 6,390
Steering wheel inflatable restraint module coil replacement at 7,524  17,341 and 17,459 miles (reason for lemon status)
Radio removal and replacement
Transfer Case shift control module at 19,159 miles
Occupant safety Wiring and/or connector replacement at 19,159 miles

It was bought back at 21,453 miles and resold at auction with a 12 mo. 12K warranty provided by GM.  There are no further claims or records of any dealer warranty work during the next 18,000 miles.  Truck currently has 39K.

I know it's a crapshoot any time you buy something with an engine, new or used.  But I'm beginning to feel that if it's been driven for almost 18K miles with no problems, maybe things have been taken care of. Almost no problems except for the air bag system, but it's a critical component. 

Because of its lemon status, the price is over 2K below book which is making it very tempting.  It's a base model, so no bells and whistles to worry about in the future like our '03 Trailblazer EXT.  If I decide to take the plunge, I'll be purchasing an extended warranty through the dealer (she says she can get one), but carefully researching what is actually covered.  We just had to put a fan clutch in our Blazer and the s.o.b. must have been a gold plated low rider edition for what they charged.  An extended warranty would just about paid for itself in one visit.

[Raceman]

What is the price of this truck compared to Edmunds or KBB for a truck with similar options and milage? Are you sure its 2 grand below value?

[72 Rambo]

Kelly etc. come out a tad over $18,000 retail.  Dealer is asking $16,000.

[AVnFun]

If GM bought it back as a lemon I would stay very far away from this one. There are to many good one owner used Avalanches out there with a near prefect CarFax report snd servoce records to take a chance.......

I agree, I would walk away as well. Even if it hurts.

[Raceman]

Look on Autotrader quite a few 2004 for 11-12,000 in the Nevada area

[Intimidatoruag]

all you will be able to get is a 3rd party warr. and they can be a pain in the ass ... you are past the 3 year 36k miles to get a GM extended warr.)  .... especially if they have a preexisting clause in them ... then you would be screwed on the air bag issue ....

I think your next step is to have someone that can run the codes look at it and see if there is any codes saved .... other that the CES codes ... most any auto parts store can run the CES codes but I think you need to go a little futher and have them check for tranny codes .. air bag codes .... any non-ces codes ....

John

[Z66 BUTCH]

....................
It was bought back at 21,453 miles and resold at auction with a 12 mo. 12K warranty provided by GM.  There are no further claims or records of any dealer warranty work during the next 18,000 miles.  Truck currently has 39K.
  But I'm beginning to feel that if it's been driven for almost 18K miles with no problems, maybe things have been taken care of. Almost no problems except for the air bag system, but it's a critical component. 

..........

And maybe not. Maybe the new owner had to work on it himself or took it to a local shop? I do not see that being  a great price and would look around for a better deal.