I sent this to GM on behalf of all of us who feel screwed.
Robert Lange
Executive Director of
Vehicle Safety
General Motors Corporation
P.O Box 33170
Detroit MI 48232-5170
Dear Mr. Lange:
I am pleased to know that I am finally wise enough to call my purchase of a 2004 GTO my last GM purchase.
This letter was directed to you personally because of your title and your understanding of safety issues. In 1999 I made the unfortunate purchase of a Pontiac Firebird. Among many other smaller problems, this vehicle came to me with an engineering defect that caused my transmission valve body and torque converter to fail shortly after warranty. GM refuses to acknowledge it’s mistake which causes the torque converter control valve to leak which causes hard shifting (code P1870) which led to a cracked torque converter drive lug. GM refused to acknowledge the mistake it made on transmissions built before 1999, after which the problem corrected. Mine was one of the last made without the correction to the apply valve. Transmission shops tell me this is common and lots of research confirms it, but still I was out $1,500 by the time it was over.
What put me over the edge this time is that I was stupid enough to buy another GM product. GM refuses to acknowledge multiple suspension issues with the high-performance GTO, namely NHSTA investigation PE07-010 “strut-to-tire rub.” I fail to understand that after multiple accidents, why won’t GM admit it made a mistake by putting tires on the car that were too wide? Why does GM put it’s customers in jeopardy in these vehicles? How am I supposed to have any faith in your products? What am I supposed to do with four very expensive and useless wheels in my garage?
My concern is not that GM made a mistake, but rather that it won’t admit it even though there is a safety concern. Every car maker makes mistakes, but this one can kill people, and it already has. Instead of notifying loyal customers foolish to buy your products, GM hands the problem off to its attorney pool and the NHSTA. GM will not do the right thing unless someone forces it to. I guess you calculate the cost of lawsuits vs. the cost to do the right thing. Four wheel spacers added to the car would prevent the problem. The cost would be cheap and your reputation would be saved. Unfortunately the GM approach is to deny, deny, deny. This forces me to tell anyone I know never to by another GM product ever again. I tell them the same short stories above. So far I have convinced at least two dozen loyal GM buyers not to buy again. You may wonder why Toyota and Honda are beating you up in sales and this kind of customer care is exactly why.
I don’t really expect a personal response to this problem so please spare me the gratuitous automated insincere form letter expressing your apologies for my dissatisfaction with your product and the problems I have had. I would really feel much more gratified if you took this letter, rolled it up in a tight little ball and shoved it up your ass where it belongs. If you have half a pair, you will call me personally and we can discuss this issue. My number is 336-xxx-xxxx.
Former customer,
Darin Alfano
Robert Lange
Executive Director of
Vehicle Safety
General Motors Corporation
P.O Box 33170
Detroit MI 48232-5170
Dear Mr. Lange:
I am pleased to know that I am finally wise enough to call my purchase of a 2004 GTO my last GM purchase.
This letter was directed to you personally because of your title and your understanding of safety issues. In 1999 I made the unfortunate purchase of a Pontiac Firebird. Among many other smaller problems, this vehicle came to me with an engineering defect that caused my transmission valve body and torque converter to fail shortly after warranty. GM refuses to acknowledge it’s mistake which causes the torque converter control valve to leak which causes hard shifting (code P1870) which led to a cracked torque converter drive lug. GM refused to acknowledge the mistake it made on transmissions built before 1999, after which the problem corrected. Mine was one of the last made without the correction to the apply valve. Transmission shops tell me this is common and lots of research confirms it, but still I was out $1,500 by the time it was over.
What put me over the edge this time is that I was stupid enough to buy another GM product. GM refuses to acknowledge multiple suspension issues with the high-performance GTO, namely NHSTA investigation PE07-010 “strut-to-tire rub.” I fail to understand that after multiple accidents, why won’t GM admit it made a mistake by putting tires on the car that were too wide? Why does GM put it’s customers in jeopardy in these vehicles? How am I supposed to have any faith in your products? What am I supposed to do with four very expensive and useless wheels in my garage?
My concern is not that GM made a mistake, but rather that it won’t admit it even though there is a safety concern. Every car maker makes mistakes, but this one can kill people, and it already has. Instead of notifying loyal customers foolish to buy your products, GM hands the problem off to its attorney pool and the NHSTA. GM will not do the right thing unless someone forces it to. I guess you calculate the cost of lawsuits vs. the cost to do the right thing. Four wheel spacers added to the car would prevent the problem. The cost would be cheap and your reputation would be saved. Unfortunately the GM approach is to deny, deny, deny. This forces me to tell anyone I know never to by another GM product ever again. I tell them the same short stories above. So far I have convinced at least two dozen loyal GM buyers not to buy again. You may wonder why Toyota and Honda are beating you up in sales and this kind of customer care is exactly why.
I don’t really expect a personal response to this problem so please spare me the gratuitous automated insincere form letter expressing your apologies for my dissatisfaction with your product and the problems I have had. I would really feel much more gratified if you took this letter, rolled it up in a tight little ball and shoved it up your ass where it belongs. If you have half a pair, you will call me personally and we can discuss this issue. My number is 336-xxx-xxxx.
Former customer,
Darin Alfano
