When are they going to issue a recall for this?

[Blue hedgehog]

When are they going to issue a recall for this?

I've heard this question hundreds of times. If its not a safety issue, or emissions related, it will never be recalled. I don't care if gm finds out that every radio ever produced will turn into a brick tomorrow, its not a safety issue. Same goes for the water pumps, heated seats, turbos etc. Basically, if its not putting life in danger or pissing off tree huggers you're SOL.

 

[Natesriv]

breathe!

 

[sx sonic]

How will this affect my warranty? And does this only happen to GM?

 

[laborsmith]

What did I miss? I'm pretty sure the ignition switch does not apply to the Sonic vehicle line.

Laborsmith

 

[Blue hedgehog]

Sorry, I've seen countless posts about people asking when GM is going to issue a recall for something. It's almost always something they will never ever issue a recall for. I've posted what they will and won't issue recalls for in the past. So I figured if I started a thread about it maybe people would see the title and read the 1st post.

That being said, if GM sees a common problem, that's not safety or emisions related, they may put out a technical service bullitin (TSB). In a TSB they may tell the service departments of an updated part or new procedure on how to fix the problem.
The difference between a TSB and a recall is:
A TSB repair will be paid by GM ONLY while covered under warrantee.
A recall will be paid by GM regardless of vehicle age or milage.

What did I miss? I'm pretty sure the ignition switch does not apply to the Sonic vehicle line.

Laborsmith

No the ignition switch doesn't cover the sonic. I wasn't referring to that. Like I said, too many people (at least to me) keep pointing out how "this is a common problem, when will they issue a recall?"

 

[Blue hedgehog]

How will this affect my warranty? And does this only happen to GM?

Those are other questions I've seen asked too many times also. Since all but 1 new car purchase have been GM I can't realy speak for other companies.

 

[laborsmith]

Makes sense.

I whole heartedly agree.

I sometimes wonder if some car "aficionados" understand what a Warranty means.


Laborsmith

 

[SuperSonicRS]

Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

 

[Isambard]

Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

-Which car company do you work for?

-A major one.

 

[mitdr774]

Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

Seeing as how recalls are safety related and the NHTSB (or whatever they call themselves now) wants every safety issue reported in a timely manner, cost of a recall is of little importance.

Now special policies on some prone to failure issues are based on the factors you mentioned. Special policy and recall are two completely different things. One has legal ramifications for the manufacture if they ignore it, and the other is potentially just a minor nuisance.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

Back in the mid 90's when I was in school for GM they told us point blank. Safety or emissions will get a recall. Anything else won't.

Your math above does come into play with the safety portion though. Prefect example, 1970 something GM pickups. It was a well known fact that when hit hard enough in the side the fuel tanks would leak, causing a fire. GM never issued a recall because the cost of the repair X amount of affected trucks = too much money. There were 2 cases (if I remember correctly) where GM was sued and paid out a S load of money. Both cases the customers (or the families) had the same lawyer. No other lawyer was able to prove GM had a design flaw, and knew about it. GM put the lawyer on retainer so he couldn't represent other victims.

 

[sx sonic]

Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

-Which car company do you work for?

-A major one.

-Hmm you can see where the kids braces got knocked off and landed in the ash tray. It'd make a nice anti-smoking ad.

 

[ChrisJ]

Back in the mid 90's when I was in school for GM they told us point blank. Safety or emissions will get a recall. Anything else won't.

Your math above does come into play with the safety portion though. Prefect example, 1970 something GM pickups. It was a well known fact that when hit hard enough in the side the fuel tanks would leak, causing a fire. GM never issued a recall because the cost of the repair X amount of affected trucks = too much money. There were 2 cases (if I remember correctly) where GM was sued and paid out a S load of money. Both cases the customers (or the families) had the same lawyer. No other lawyer was able to prove GM had a design flaw, and knew about it. GM put the lawyer on retainer so he couldn't represent other victims.

I think that was late 70s. Early 70s had the tank behind the seat which as far as I know never caused problems oddly enough.

 

[ahtoxa]

People often confuse a TSB with a recall, where those two are not the same. A TSB applies only if your car has the specified issue and you actively bring it in for service. A recall is where the manufacturer will actively ask that you bring your car in for service for a specific issue, whether you currently display symptoms of the issue or not. They will normally identify a specific production batch, which to recall.

 

[Blue hedgehog]

I think that was late 70s. Early 70s had the tank behind the seat which as far as I know never caused problems oddly enough.

My comment of 70 something was meant to be read as sometime in the 70s. My bad. No I wasn't referring to the tanks behind the seat. The tanks were mounted between the side of the bed and the frame rail on those pickups.