Ouch - is this a known issue on the CTS?

[synergy408]

Originally Posted by ryanquinn

Well, if it took you 400 miles to notice it, I don't think it's that terrible that somebody on the assembly line didn't catch it. It's probably not an item on their QA checklist. but you're right, they should be fixed.

Its very noticeable as you can see in the pics - the 400 miles were all highway at high speeds so checking out the trim was the last thing on my mind. Let's hope this issue is just with a few cars...

[lordbaby]

this sounds sort of crazy.. my car has different problem. i might ask for a new one if they cannot fix it.

[ewill3rd]

Thank the UAW.
Hey I mean those guys only get like $35 an hour in wages and benefits.... what do you want them to actually look at the parts they put on the car??


I hate to see stuff like that too. Your dealer didn't build the car and they are taking care of it for you.
I hope you take that into consideration.
I didn't think the left one was too bad, but the right one... well that would bug me too.

[08CTS]

Originally Posted by ryanquinn

Well, if it took you 400 miles to notice it, I don't think it's that terrible that somebody on the assembly line didn't catch it. It's probably not an item on their QA checklist. but you're right, they should be fixed.

It's not his job to notice it...it's the job of the assembly line QC person, then the PDI person.

I was a bit frustrated that I had to point out several areas on my car that needed attention before it was delivered. Then at delivery, the paint was moderately "swirled", probably by an automatic car wash. I would have thought these would be polished out before delivery as it was the first thing I noticed. The SM was nice enough to rebate me the money to have my guy detail the car in the spring though, so I left happy.

I just checked mine...it has a slight wave at the bottom, but not enough to bother me..

[synergy408]

I just had new ones replaced by the dealer under warranty and while the waves were not as bad, they were still there! The material is really cheap plastic and our other household Chevrolet (Tahoe) has the same issue! I am surprised that GM allows this to happen. I am sure many CTS's have this issue unfortunatley!

[cts2008lover]

I have it on my CTS but only one and it's too minor..... I don't know I should ask them to replace it.

What do you mean they only get like $35/hr. That is not bad, isn't it?
And, Our... cadillac dealer, they do not fix major issues on CTS for free they also get reimbursed from GM.
Even, QA people found these issues, maybe GM told them to pass it.... or Some of them was on the hot summer parking lot for a while(sorry it's spring now)

[synergy408]

I am really surprised that GM built these so cheaply. I was looking at my BMW and Porsche today and the quality is so much better. The CTS molds them in very thin plastic and then wraps it in cheap fabric. Pretty lame IMO.

[ewill3rd]

I looked at a few more cars down in the PDI bay a few weeks ago when I saw this topic.
The ones I saw did have the look of the right one pictured above, but the left one wasn't that bad.
I suspect it will be hit and miss.
Not sure why it has that ripple. I can see it being an annoyance, but in the grand scheme of things I really don't feel that a couple of trim pieces that are the same on every car is something to really get twisted up about.
To each his own I guess.

My comment about only $35 an hour was meant to be sarcasm.
You take a basically unskilled worker and hand them a power tool that only turns bolts one way, they sit on their keesters and install a part, tighten the bolts and never look at it again.
I used to have an equivalent job in a plastics factory.. and probably a lot harder since the working conditions were not very good. I worked my way up from $4 an hour to $7.25 an hour changing the tools in the presses. A very dangerous job that actually required brainpower and some physical prowise. (I got injured a lot!)
These persons of whom I speak are doing something you could train a monkey to do and getting paid hansomely, to do a crappy job at it.
They SEEM TO BE more worried about getting home to get their beer than they are about whether or not you get a properly assembled vehicle.
Consider that my opinion.

[synergy408]

Originally Posted by ewill3rd

Not sure why it has that ripple. I can see it being an annoyance, but in the grand scheme of things I really don't feel that a couple of trim pieces that are the same on every car is something to really get twisted up about.
To each his own I guess.

All I am saying is that for a $50K luxury car this "ripple" is completley unacceptable. The two dealers that I showed this blemish too agreed. It looks bad and is very noticeable in MANY CTS vehicles which leads me to believe that this is a widespread issue. I still love my CTS, don't get me wrong, but this was obviously an oversight when they built the spec on these pilars.

[ewill3rd]

I can't say I disagree, my only point was to say if they are all the same... then they are all the same.
I would agree it looks funny and it seems odd that they would make it that way.

I have some people I might be able to pass your concerns on to at the assembly plant.
I'll see if I can contact my buddy up there and see if he knows if they are having supplier issues or what.

[synergy408]

Originally Posted by ewill3rd

I can't say I disagree, my only point was to say if they are all the same... then they are all the same.
I would agree it looks funny and it seems odd that they would make it that way.

I have some people I might be able to pass your concerns on to at the assembly plant.
I'll see if I can contact my buddy up there and see if he knows if they are having supplier issues or what.

Much appreciated....maybe they will tweak this for the 09 version

[ewill3rd]

I spoke to 2 very caring people with whom I have had some experience in the assembly plant.
I actually called them about an ipod issue but I made sure to ask them about your concern.

They said they were aware of it and that they had tried to address the issue with the part supplier.
They told me they would look into the matter further and if they find a significant change between the old and new parts they may put together a bulletin to advise dealers of an updated part to address this issue.

I think one of them told me that if you wait a while and have them replace them again you might get some better parts.

I'll let you know if I see a bulletin.

[synergy408]

Originally Posted by ewill3rd

I spoke to 2 very caring people with whom I have had some experience in the assembly plant.
I actually called them about an ipod issue but I made sure to ask them about your concern.

They said they were aware of it and that they had tried to address the issue with the part supplier.
They told me they would look into the matter further and if they find a significant change between the old and new parts they may put together a bulletin to advise dealers of an updated part to address this issue.

I think one of them told me that if you wait a while and have them replace them again you might get some better parts.

I'll let you know if I see a bulletin.

This is great info and will help others as well because I ordered new ones and they had the same issue. Once the supplier corrects the problem then hopefully the next batch will be better. Any further info on this would be great when it becomes available!

[ewill3rd]

Glad to help when I can.

[wiz1der]

Hey Looking through some old threads and noticed MINE ARE LIKE THIS TOO!!

anyone heard of any bulletins yet? Looks rather ugly once you notice.