"GM Decided Against a Recall Because It Doesn't View a Broken Speedometer as a Safety Issue."
Well neither does the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, apparently, as it's not going to issue a safety recall for the 3.5 million full-size GM pickups and SUVs built in 2003 and 2004 at risk of speedo failure. GM says it will repair faulty units– as long as the trucks so afflicted have less than 70k miles on the [hopefully functional] odometer. KXAS-TV tells the tale of a GM customer who disagrees– but can't do a damn thing about it. "The speedometer in Sonia Martin's truck makes her look like a speed demon. With her husband on disability, Martin said she can't afford the $400 it would cost to fix it. 'I didn't have that kind of money, and I took it to two different dealers… You have to hope and pray you're not going to get a ticket or get in a wreck or get run over by a semi.'" After learning that Ms. Martin's truck is only 1k over the limit, GM told the TV station that dealers can make free repairs in cases where the mileage is close to the limit. So… why didn't they? Once again, GM and its dealers show their true stripes.
More by Robert Farago
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The only car I've ever had a speedometer failure on was an '84 Cutlass, when it was 11 years old. This seems like a fluke, which happens to anything that is mass produced. However it sounds like GM is doing their level best to come out looking like a monkey attempting intercourse with a football...again. We've had superb luck with Ford handling warranty issues. I'm taking my 11 year old Crown Vic to get a recall of the cruise control module taken care of, at no charge to me.
Read all about the settlement terms on http://www.gmspeedometerrecall.com. My Silverado VIN was not covered. Given the extent of the stepper motor problem, GM really should issue a recall and stop hiding behind their lawyers!
Good Day Terry, I purchased my GMC Yukon with 4 miles on it. I maintained it and completed all the required maintance update at the required time. At 85,000 my coolant fluid began to vanish and I didn't know what was going on. I took it in to the dealer and they informed that it was the head gasket and a tune of $2,000. Than I found out this was a known problem, so I asked the dealer who repaired the GMC and he asked me if I expected GMC to warranty the repair after 85,000 miles on it. I told him that no I did not expect them to warranty a part that should not have gone out in the first place. I had a 1997 Ford Explorer that I put 300,000 miles on it and the only part that went out on it was the brakes. I still have my GMC with 120,000 miles on it and the speedometer is now sitting at 50mph parked in the garage. This not an up keep problem, but more of a part gone bad and the company knowing that it’s going to go bad. I expected GMC to contact me and repair the bad head gasket along with the speedometer. I will be in the market for a new SUV again in 2011. GMC has lost me; it's sad that my boy hood dreams of owning a GMC has been crushed by a product that is not dependable. My dad for 60 years owned GM vehicles and this year he switched to a Ford. One by one we are walking away, so there will be no need to warranty the units. They will not be on the market no matter what the Government tries to do Dream Crushed
Just an update, I still ahve the truck and still have the problems 1. Speedo not fixed 250,000 km 2. GM not willing to acknowledge the crap they sell and do not stand behind. 3. Recieved a letter that it would be repaired under warrranty if you qualified within the mileage/date restrictions I wonder in light of the recent history of the "Government Motors" if the Parts and Service VP's were feeling thier collective necks before and during the bankruptcy and were not willing to put thier names on the call to not repair the speedo. Will they now do the right thing and do that which is the right thing. Wonder if Akerson will be advised of this or will he stick his head in the sand and let it die a slow death until there are no more customers? Come on Ed and Dan show us what the new GM is really about, or is it the same old GM where your words meant nothing.