Why My CTS (which I happen to love) SUCKS!

[ngiardina]

So anyway, I haven't been posting much in the past couple of months. This is due to the fact that my CTS has me quite disgusted. I will elaborate.

It has been to the dealer for warranty work 8 TIMES in 8 months and only 9000 miles.

My troubles started the day I took delivery, and there were about 10 initial quality items that I found at the dealer. (Already posted on this one)

Next up was the navigation screen squeaking as it goes up or down. Still unresolved, technician could not duplicate customer claim. BS!

Then, the a-pillar trims were replaced, due to warpage. The idiot who replaced them, after three months of waiting to get them, used a razor to0 cut open the shipping boxes and damaged them. He installed them anyway. At the same time, he installed a large amount of ass-grease on my cashmere leather interior.

Next up, my On-Star light goes red. The dealer tells me they reflashed it and it's fixed. I later learned that the VCIM can't be reflashed (courtesy of ewill3rd). Light is still red. Dealer finds out about a TSB concerning the antenna cable that runs from the antenna pigtail into the VCIM, but doesn't replace it because he says the rear package tray is covered in sound insulation (DynaMat), which it isn't. The a**hole didn't even look, he just assumed by the fact that my trunk is DynaMatted, that it would be under there. What a d*ck.

Now on to the really cool parts. My manual trans grinds everytime it is shifted into 5th gear above 3500 rpm. Car goes in, they say they have the fix, which included synchros and a 4th gear replacement. First time I get the car up to highway speed and shift to 5th, CRUNCH! Still unresolved.

My DIC displays "Service Stabilitrack" and "Service Traction Control". I call the dealer, he calls it "logic lock" and to disconnect the battery for 20 seconds and reconnect. I do so, and it is fixed. Isolated incident? No. Approximately 20 times over the next 30 days I have to repeat this procedure. OnStar and my Service manual both tell me that the EBCM needs to be replaced.

The express-up feature on my front windows has decided to work whenever it wants to, and my steering wheel makes a horrible creak when turned left or right of center. My center-stack spontaneously went dead. My trunk decided to start leaking water (on to my new tan suede!) and I found out on my own that it was the third brake light wiring chase that was leaking. A little bit of caulk and problem resolved.

As I write, the car is at the dealer for the transmission, EBCM, express-up, squeaky steering wheel, and onstar antenna cable. We shall see how much of that list they leave unresolved this time....

BTW - Greatest car I've ever owned. Beautiful, powerful, confident, and comfortable.

[The Tony Show]

That sucks, man. Sounds like a lot of the problems could have been resolved if the Dealer wasn't blowing you off on the first or second visits. Let's hope they step up and actually give you the warranty service you're entitled to on this latest visit.

[CIWS]

Sorry to hear you're having so many issues, but it is the first year model of a redesigned car. You are part of what they get to use to resolve issues. It's great to have the nice new car out, sucks that you help get to discover the other items they didn't. But part of those are also dealership related items.

Edit - some of us get those too unfortunately.

[radbag]

sounds like a combination of a lemon CTS and a dealer that sucks! 9000K miles? can you ask them to give you a new one?

[Fire and Ice]

That's a lot to go wrong in a short amount of time. Granted the dealership probably could have handled things better, like not install damaged A-Pillars and cleaning your car before delivery, but things happen.

Anyhow, I hope you get everything fixed right this time so can enjoy your new ride from now on.

[Zymurgy]

Sounds to me like you need to find a better service department. I would not tolerate what you have gone through. I would have switched to a different dealer.

[Northern SRX]

My sympathies, amigo. Hard to love a car that has that many issues. Still, it is a CTS...

[voodoodr]

I'm sorry to see that you are going thru so many struggles (most of which seem to be service related) with your beautiful CTS Nick.

I hope that the dealer bends over (!!) backwards from this date forward to make things right for you and you are trouble free the rest of your ownership.

If not, then I jus hope they bend over....

[WhtDmnd04CTS]

Nick man I'm sorry that sucks. I was wondering why we haven't been graced with your presence as much anymore. I really hope everything works out.

I have a question for you, I sent you a PM.

[CopperSunburstCTS]

Sorry to hear your troubles. I would be livid. I have never had as many troubles with any of my used GM cars as some of you guys have had with your CTS's. I hear stories about CTS's being in the shop for 2 weeks and such. I had a couple electrical issues with my CTS, but nothing like some of the issues I have heard about Gen 2, the worst being the vibration issues that they don't have a fix for, and the people who live in super cold climates have the door latch feeze issue. I think your post, coming from a loyal CTS owner such as yourself, along with the release of the pics/features of the awsome 2010 LaCrosse, is the straw that is going to make me wait either for the 2010 CTS or the LaCrosse. Hopefully by the 2010 model year Caddy will have the bugs worked out and hopefully come out with some exciting colors. It would kill me to have a new car in the shop for anything, muchless for all the stuff you and others have had problems with, I dont want soemone monkeying around and climbing all over my new car, that' seems to defeat much of the purpose to buying a new car. I had a manual tranny CTS as well, it had 65k miles when I sold it, no problems what so ever with the clutch or gears, but it was the Getrag, not the Aisin that I believe u have in yours. Well, i hope u get things eventually taken care of, I feel your pain, man. Keep us posted.

[proexpert]

Please indicate the dealer so we know where not to go. Sorry you have so much trouble with the CTS.

[MoFex]

Nick
i really feel for you. Such a great car and such a poor quality on both GM and the dealer side! Sad that you have to go through all of it. have you consider lemon law! I am sure you would qualify. And stay away from this inept dealer as far as possible!

[ngiardina]

I have considered the Lemon Law, but I would take a HUGE bath on the $10k+ I have put into the car in mods. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[Mac141]

Originally Posted by ngiardina

I have considered the Lemon Law, but I would take a HUGE bath on the $10k+ I have put into the car in mods. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your misfortune Nick. Darn shame. You've put a lot of work and money into that car. I assumed it was in good shape given your mod list. But IMHO, it is a big leap of faith that folks take when they modify a car soon after purchase, especially when it is a next gen model. While many have the Mod bug, it is worth hanging back a bit....see how things are running before making any major investments. Okay...maybe do some (easily removable ones).

A lesson for all who are thinking about it for sure. And what makes it worse, you are at the mercy of a service group that has issues.

Keep us updated and best of luck. Chin up.

[Fire and Ice]

I will say, at least your service department didn't void your warranty for any of those $10,000 modifications... whatever they may be.