2004 Escalade NAV buttons worn out - Warranty?

Blownsclade · #1 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 01:57 AM

2004 Escalade 17.jpg

I recently bought a beautiful 2004 Escalade. Vehicle is a dream (supercharger, upgraded sound, DVDs in headrests, 22 OZ Canyons) except for the buttons on the damn stock Nav system. They are worn through even much worse than in these pics from the August e-bay ad. Has anyone else had this issue and how did GM treat you?

So far GM Canada warranty department and one local Cadillac dealer is giving a stiff one where I don't need it, saying that they have never heard of reports of premature wear and tear, but yet this must be wear and tear, since the buttons get pushed. I think they are pissed that I saved about 20g and bought the vehicle in San Antonio rather than in Canada....

I just don't get how there can be such 2 bit buttons on such an expensive vehicle.

At any rate, if others have navigated sucessfully through this problem, I would appreciate your tips for doing so. I don't feel like dumping 2g for another stock nav system. Whom might I contact to get a reasonable answer?(aka they replace the Nav system). GM may think this is a nuisance but my other vehicle is a 2003 Denali, which I have already purchased extended warranty on, and I am considering getting extended on the Sclade, but they ain't getting any moe money out of me if they cannot stand behind their vehicle while it is still under factory warranty! Included some other pics of the whip for fun as well.2004 Escalade 18.jpg

2004 Escalade 1.jpg

2004 Escalade 4.jpg

2004 Escalade 12.jpg

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TSS · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 10:54 AM

Mydealer replaced the buttons on the non-nav radio in my wife's 01 SLS that were not nearly as bad as yours (just faded) when the vehicle was almost 6 years old under the certified warrantee. Your butttons should absolutely be covered under the standard warrantee. Actually, I think they simply replaced the whole head unit, because they could not or did not want to replace just the buttons. Either way, it was covered and written up just as decribed - "customer complains of faded buttons on radio".

By the way, great looking truck.

rippypartsmaster · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 11:09 AM

If you've got factory or certified warranty then you should be okay. We do that here a lot. If you're not under warranty then I would think hard about living with it, or re-painting them. I'd live with it...

Viking88 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 01:16 PM

exact same problem on my 04 EXT, so I sympthize. I touched them up with black nail polish. Looks better than the peeling. Check ebay for a new nav radio if GM wont play ball. It occurs to me that a new one could be had for well under 1K.

Blownsclade · #5 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rippypartsmaster

If you've got factory or certified warranty then you should be okay. We do that here a lot. If you're not under warranty then I would think hard about living with it, or re-painting them. I'd live with it...

Indeed I have 2.5 months (til Dec 29, 2007!) and 12,000 miles of warranty left, so I don't know why I am being treated like this. Even GM Canada is being helpful. Wonder is GM USA would be more help?

I will try Cadillac Customer service and see if they can be of more assistance. Glad to hear that others have been successful in getting this problem taken care of. Thanks for weighing in!

Derrick

DLE · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 02:37 PM

I bought my '04 from a "used" dealer and my buttons were all peeling like yours. It was still under Factory Warranty, so I took it to the dealer and they replaced the whole unit with a Brand New unit for free.

How many miles is on your truck? If you are over 50K miles (over factory warranty), depending on the dealer, but they might cut you some slack and hook you up with a new one anyways. Just be hella nice to them when you come in. Bring them cookies or something. lol

If they wont do it, then ebay is your best solution. You can find them way under $1,000. Good luck!!

Nice truck by the way!!

hueterm · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 03:26 PM

I had mine replaced as well, right before it went out of factory warranty. It's a CPO as well, but I'm not sure if they would have done it under that or not.

I had zero problems the dealer who did mine (other than the lousy loaner/rental car).

Mike

Blownsclade · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLE

I bought my '04 from a "used" dealer and my buttons were all peeling like yours. It was still under Factory Warranty, so I took it to the dealer and they replaced the whole unit with a Brand New unit for free.

How many miles is on your truck? If you are over 50K miles (over factory warranty), depending on the dealer, but they might cut you some slack and hook you up with a new one anyways. Just be hella nice to them when you come in. Bring them cookies or something. lol

If they wont do it, then ebay is your best solution. You can find them way under $1,000. Good luck!!

Nice truck by the way!!

Thanks for compliments on the truck, fellas, I am quite proud

DLE - I tried to PM you back but I can't until I get 20 posts ... LOL. E-mailed you instead from my work e-mail. If I cannot get any satisfaction, just may have to take you up on your offer, although if I have to you can be sure GM is not getting another plug nickel out of me for any type of extended warranty ever again.

Really glad to hear so many stories though of people who have been treated right. I guess it really comes down to the dealer but it would be nice if GM encouraged the dealers to provide this type of service for ALL customers. God knows we pay enough for these rides to expect GM to stand behind their product!

**Rolex** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 10:47 PM

That's an awesome Escalade.

Those wheels are subtle but add a lot to your truck. I like the speaker set up too. You've done a great job with your Lade.

Blownsclade · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-07, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolex

That's an awesome Escalade.

Those wheels are subtle but add a lot to your truck. I like the speaker set up too. You've done a great job with your Lade.

Thanks so much. But I really can't take any credit. Just picked it up like that off of e-bay last month .... Took a chance and got lucky! So Kudos to the previous owner, whom I won't name........

Big shout out to Nelson Motorsports in San Antonio for helping me with the vehicle inspection and tuning and meth kit though. Being in Canada, Allen was of great assistance!

Blownsclade · #11 (**permalink**) 10-18-07, 08:39 PM

Wow - talked with Cadillac Service rep today (ironically same department as warranty). Same person I talked with a couple of days back after I asked to be contacted by someone in service! LOL.

Still no help to me. Unless I can get a dealer to acknowledge that it is a defect (which it clearly is - I mean the up-down-select button is completely devoid of any paint now and is see through clear), they will do nothing for me. Wow - this is terrible.

I read in the owners manual that there is a mediation option group available to customers as well. Does anyone know the name or contact number of this group for Canadian customers? I am not going to let this one go, so cheesy. I am sure it is just Cadillac Canada pissed that I did not cough up 20 g extra and purchase an Escalade North of the Border. Very disappointing treatment, to say the least. Oh well I will either persist and they will help me or I will persist for quite a long time about how badly they look after their customers. This sort of treatment is just not acceptable.

I think the thing that annoys me the most is the level of glee the service/warranty person has in her voice when she is telling me how unhelpful they will be. No professionalism whatsoever. Oh well, I had a similar situation 10 years ago with a Chrysler Canada warranty person, but her tune sure changed after the local news people helper got ahold of Chrysler Canada and they agreed, under pressure to fix my vehicle as a "sign of goodwill".

Sorry for the rant, just thought I was getting away from this type of crappy customer service when I moved up the vehicle food chain, so to speak.....

hueterm · #12 (**permalink**) 10-18-07, 09:21 PM

Are you near another dealer to try? Or what about a U.S. dealer -- are you near the border?

Does anyone know if there is a TSB on this topic? If so, get your hands on one and email it to the fool in Cust. Svc.

Blownsclade · #13 (**permalink**) 10-18-07, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hueterm

Are you near another dealer to try? Or what about a U.S. dealer -- are you near the border?

Does anyone know if there is a TSB on this topic? If so, get your hands on one and email it to the fool in Cust. Svc.

No, but maybe I need to go on a quick roadtrip

To a place where the dealers are not starving cuz everyone is buying vehicles from another country on them cuz theirs are grossly overprized.