• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Factory Warranty...step It Up GM.

V

victory_red

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2002
Messages
224
Location
Tell City,IN.
Ok,look at the other makes(especially foreign) and look at their warranty. C'mon,10yr/100k miles. Then you have Toyota's 7yr/70k miles. Finally an American company jumped their warranty up to match(chrysler/Dodge). So how come Gm doesn't step up to the plate? Oh this new motor is suppose to be sooo great and dependable(i hope it really is) but Gm isn't backing it up any. And these new trannies are alot better than the older style that was prone to pre-mature failure. Well,we'll see I guess. Alot of talk,but not willing to back it up any are they? Kinda gets ya thinking doesn't. I love GM vehicles and have bought many of them and will continue to do so,but a longer warranty than 3yr/36k miles would be nice wouldn't it? I think so.I know the 3yr deal was the norm back in the early 90's but come on,this is the 21st century now. If Gm has all the technology to build a maintence free(other than oil and filter changes) for 100k mile engine,how come they don't back it up any longer than 36k miles? Hmmmm.
 
Do you mean the limited powertrain warranty? Which is what you see from Dodge since they have a horrible reputation for Trannys....

Or the bumper to Bumper? which is pretty much matches all other manufacturers.

 
I agree 100% seems kinda funny that GM doesn't offer a longer warranty. I always worry about warranty on a vehicle, so I bought the extended 100k on my AV, but it would have been sweet if it had been at least a 70k warranty considering that if you finance your AV (I would assume that everyone is not idependently wealthy, I know I'm not) for 5 years it would be nice to have it covered until it's at least paid for! :C:

 
I am talking about the limited powertrain warranty,ygmn. Like gatorjedi stated"it would nice to have it covered until at least it is paid for". If Dodge has such a bad rep for their trannies(Which I knew they did in the past),You would think the manufacturer would lose some money with the longer warranty wouldn't ya? So if Gm swears by these new powertrains,how come they don't back them up any longer than say they did back in 1990 with the old 700r-4 tranny and the ole 5.7ltr. ? We all know how well the 700r-4 held up!!!
 
I have read somewhere that Dodge is promoting the warranty to help sell cars.....and improve their image...

IT would be nice to have though but I doubt it will be required
 
I think Dodge has finally gotten on the ball with their trannies and thus the reason why they feel confident behind covering their powertrains.....this is still yet to be seen....sometimes it just takes sparking interest in the consumer to hopefully sell vehicles, regardless if the issues have truly been fixed... :B:
 
So NJAV,do you mean that GM doesn't feel confident of the newer powertrains that they are bragging about all the time or do you mean the GM doesn't have to offer any thing else to get people to buy their vehicles? It seems to me if that many people are buying GM and they are truely confident and proud of the newer powertrains,they too would want to "give something back" to the customer by offering a longer warranty. If for nothing else but a peace of mind knowing the warranty is there longer than it was back in 1990...that's 12 yrs ago. I would hope in 12 yrs,Gm has been able to produce a better product and are willing to back it up some. Just my .02 cents.
 
I fully agree. The warranty program is terrible. Not only is it too short, GM tries to save costs as much as possible. Therefore it's hard to even make them repair a problem that should just be routine. What's the point in even having a warranty? GM does need to step it up. So until GM has a better warranty, there's no real point in having a longer one. That doesn't mean we'll EVER not buy GM though because they make great cars and trucks.
 
I am glad I am not the only one that feels this way. I have been thinking this for awhile and agree to the comment that not only a longer warrany but a better one is needed also. With that I mean that common problems should be fixed with out having to make several trips to the dealer just because the tech couldn't get it duplicate the problem or never heard the rattle or the brakes grinding,something along those lines. We have all been there and done that .And we have all gritted our teeth as we went away because they couldn't duplicate it. Maybe since the Gm warranty works this way,they should make it an option and knock off x amount of dollars if the warranty isn't taken! That's the route I would go if it was like that! In other words,what good is it anyhow?
Ok,flamesuit on. I knwo it is coming as I may have over stepped that line,But I am having a bad day and thought I would just let you all know my opinion!
 
I have found all manufacturers treat warranty work the same....Ie "We could not duplicate problem"

But this is a dealership problem not a warranty problem....

Go to a great service Dept and warranty work is done right and usually the first time unless of a parts backlog which is a whol other issue due to Tax on inventory and other economic reasons...

 
lDoes seen strange that some foreign Kiddy car can get a 100K warranty, and our country goes, with few exceptions, the 36K.
Something always seems to pop up at around 39/40K.

Come to think of it that's probably the reason for the 36K, GM, Ford etc aren't entirely stupid.
 
GatorJedi I've been looking at an extended warranty. How much did yours set you back? Is it 7/100,000 $0 Deductable?
 
Darnit!!!
I was just reading an internal article on our intranet at GM today that talked all about this and I forgot to post it. I'll try to find it tomorrow and post it. Basically it said that while Chrysler is beefing up their warranty, it is going to cost them in the long run, and GM is spending their money now on better discounts and financing.

And according to recent GM studies, customers value discounts and financing over warranties. With discounts the customer has the money now, with longer warranties the customer may never need to use it, therefore never realizing any financial gain.
 
Good Point Zimm...

Those extended warranties raise the price of the vehicle up front.....
 
If only you guys would remember the 1yr/12K warranty of not too long ago... :eek:...I think GM IS satisfied that their engines and transmissions will hold up...they have that reputation already so they don't need to add a long powertrain warranty to PROVE that...Hyundai/KIA (Owned by Hyundai) and Chrysler have less than steller drivetrain reputations...therefore the longer warranty to take some of the WORRY out of making your purchase there.
 
I wish I'd get the same service other dealerships offer when getting warranty repairs done also. GM is extremely behind the curve on that one. I owned a Ford F150(yes, I'm ashamed) that, at least, got washed before they gave it back to me and seat protection also. My wifes Audi S4 gets treated like a king when serviced...free loaner car, detail, etc and it was less expensive then my Av. This may be another topic all together...Sorry!
 
I'm going to look into an extended warranty when mine approches the 3yr/36,000 mark. I've read that sence the vehicle is already covered for that time I shouldn't "double warranty" it so to speak. Plus, by that time I'll have a better idea of milage per year I put on it and purchase the extended warranty accordingly.
 
I just happen to be in the middle of GM country on assignment and this was reported today by the honorable Chairman Lutz: Lutz: Incentives OK, not longer warranties.

Consider the possibility that the other guys are betting against the future and could face a raft of claims - I know at least three Durango owners that had major tranny problems in the first 20,000 miles. :7:


 
Here's the GM article I had refered to last night.

Popular GM Executive Expects New Deal From Automaker
Detroit Free Press
August 8, 2002
By William Diem

Aug. 8--TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Bob Lutz is counting on staying at General Motors Corp. as long as he wants.

The popular executive, known as GM's product czar, said Wednesday he expects the automaker to offer him an indefinite contract, replacing the 3-year deal he signed when he became vice chairman a year ago.

The 3-year time frame was meant as an"initial period"to protect the company in case the marriage didn't work out, Lutz said, adding,"there are high expectations on my part that it is going to work out."

GM would not confirm plans for Lutz's contract.

"There's no questioning Bob's effectiveness both organizationally and personally, especially in the up-front planning process, and design has been really working well,"said spokesman Tony Cervone."We obviously don't comment on personnel contracts until the appropriate time, such as when we file"with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lutz, who joined GM on Sept. 1, earned nearly $1 million in his first four months on the job.

Lutz spoke at a lunch meeting with journalists after urging the industry to rely on common sense rather than data analysis during a speech at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.

"I went through my annual review with Rick Wagoner recently,"said Lutz. He said GM's chief executive officer had suggestions for improvements in some areas, but"he pronounced himself on balance satisfied."

Many industry observers say Lutz has made two key contributions since joining GM, after careers at BMW, Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and battery maker Exide. He has encouraged product developers to be more creative in the way they think, and his outspoken passion for products has helped changed the way the news media view the company.

"The longer I'm there, the more you can assume that products reflect my influence,"said Lutz. He said his influence comes not through telling people what to do,"but getting the team to unleash their creativity in the up-front product creation. I want them to stop thinking about it as a rational process and assuming that customers make a rational analysis of their needs."

He said GM"was well on its way to gaining momentum"before he joined the company, and cars like the Hummer H2 and Cadillac CTS were developed before he arrived. His contribution has been to propose"a different way of looking at things. In the next three or four years, you're going to see a lot of surprising vehicles for GM."

Lutz said GM is reducing warranty costs, but there remains a lot of waste in that area.

He said the company would not follow DaimlerChrysler AG in offering a 7-year/70,000-mile warranty on its powertrains.

"We cannot see it doing any good,"Lutz said."Long warranties have come to be associated with brands where people need reassurance. People expect a vehicle to last seven years."

He said that GM conducted a customer clinic to test the value of long warranties by asking customers how they would react if Toyota Motor Co., a company known for quality, would offer a long warranty.

"The feeling was there must suddenly be something wrong with Toyota's quality if they have to reassure people by putting a long powertrain warranty on,"Lutz said.

The long DaimlerChrysler warranty will add to the company's marketing costs, Lutz suggested. He said GM is benefiting more from customer-incentive spending than rivals DaimlerChrysler and Ford.

He said that could be partly because GM was the first automaker after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to offer zero-percent financing. Another reason, he said, is that"there is no longer the continuing drumbeat of `dumb old GM' in the media."

"Today, GM has become a semi-respectable place to buy a car,"he said."The stigma has been reduced, and it will continue to diminish as we roll out more hit products."



 
GatorJedi, is that a GM warranty or is it an aftermarket warranty. I know when I was buying mine the guys was trying to sell me on an aftermarket warranty.
 
Silversport
I thought I was the oldest guy in the club and I don't remember 12K warranties.

Course I was probably in my 20s before I ever bought a new car.

First one was a 56 Chev Bel Air. I have no idea what the warranty was on it. Don't ever remember taking it back either.
 
Well, I bought my first new car in 1974, and I certainly remember 12 month 12,000 mile warranties. In the Dark Ages (the late 70's and early 80's) they were the norm and even with that short timeframe I am sure that the warranties cost companies a bundle. The cars sucked (all makes).

It took the Japanese kicking their butts to get the US car companies to wake up. For the last 10 years or so, the cars are significantly more expensive, but undeniably better, in every respect.

If my 1995 Silverado is any indication, I am not too concerned about the warranty on my AV. Anything that will go wrong and is not wear-related will do it in the warranty period. I traded my Silverado for my AV with 105,000 on it. I got over half of my purchase price in trade and hadn't had a single repair (warranty or otherwise) except oil changes and brakes.
 
My 1st new car was a 1985 Chevy Celebrity Eurosport...1st yr for the 4 speed auto OD and 1st year for electronic fuel injection (on that model) it wasn't even sequential...fired in all 6 cylinders regardless of the one "working" and that was PROGRESS...12 month 12K miles...I lost a trans at 2K and had intermittent problems cured just AFTER the warranty period ENDED...I have always bought the extendo warranties and they have panned out for me...GM warrantees are CHEAPER the earlier you buy them...I got them for both my vehicles. :B:
Ladies and Gentlemen...These ARE the good old days!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top