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Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD


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terrain_cath
New User

Oct 12, 2012, 11:13 PM

Post #1 of 6 (2924 views)
Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD Sign In

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone who knows things about cars will be able to help me out with some information.. I unfortunately don't know a thing and no one at GMC has been very forthcoming with info, though not for a lack of asking. I'll try and keep this as short as possible! Please let me know if there is any further information you might need!

I bought a dealer demo 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD (4CYL). When I drove it off the lot it had just under 11k on it. The dealers had said they had done an oil/filter change just prior to me taking it, but I found out later they had not, although they had reset the info saying they had..

So, I bought this car August 2011. Things were ok for the first few months, ok fuel economy (though not close to what was advertised), but then the car started to drive rough. I brought it in for my first oil change at 26000km, let the techs know that it had started to drive/sound 'rough', but they found no problems. I had moved since I bought the car and the new dealership had asked for documentation showing the 0-15k oil change had been done, and i explained it was done prior to purchasing as it had been a dealer demo. My new local GMC called where it was originally purchased, and they told them they had never done this prior to me driving it off the lot.

The car continued to drive rough, and at the next oil change the techs again said they had a look but could not identify any problems.

In July, the engine light came on while I was out of town. I brought it to the local GMC and they said that it was a computer glitch, that they had reset it and that would fix the problem. I drove back home the next day, and as i pulled into the gas station in town the car stalled. I was able to get the car home, but it stalled 3 or 4 more times on the short drive to my house.

I brought the vehicle into the GMC here where I live, and they ended up having to keep the car for more than a week. I'll list the description/correction for all of the things that were 'fixed' during this visit. it is the most lengthy:

Case 1
12635447 - chain pkg-tmg
12646783 - valve asm-cm/shf posn actr int sol
12646784 - valve asm-cm/shf posn actr exh sol
11588714 - bolt
12621505 - actuator
12645237 - chain asm-w/pmp & barl shf
90537300 - tensioner
11588844 - bolt,cm/shf posn actr
11589123 - bolt
24435052 - gasket
12584041 - seal
12609291 - gasket kit, cm/shf cvr
11588522 - bolt - hvy hx flg hd shldr
11588714 - bolt
Tech Cause: P0011 and P0014

Case 2 - added operation - replace DI pump found on job 1. tech cause - leaking fuel pressure. tech comments -replaced direct injection pump
12641847 - pump asm-fuel
12608374 - pipe asm-feul feed inter


the car began leaking oil in our drive about 2 weeks later, and you could also smell the oil in the car occasionally. We brought it back in, and this is what was found/done

Case 1
992878 - *80c
12609291 - gasket kit, cm/shf cvr
tech comments - camshaft cover gasket replacement

Case 2
12608374 - pipe asm- fuel feed inter
tech comments -L0170 0.3 + 0.4 Fuel feed intermediate pipe replacement


A few weeks after this was replaced (they again had the car for a few days to sort this) i started noticing a funny noise when the gear was changed to/from any position ie P to D to R to N whatever. Also, the air conditioning began working only intermittently, and the rear power windows became VERY slow, and often wouldn't go up or down without manual help (ie pulling window back up or down). Back to the shop.

Case 1 - the noise
Tech comments - started vehicle and hear click noise from front suspension. found bulletin #09-04-95-001D and will require washers in drive shafts. parts on order.. (This was nearly 3 weeks ago and we have not yet heard back from them).

Case 2
tech comments - refit and secure right rear door weatherstrip

They didn't even bother to look at the AC problem and said they'd look next time we brought it in..

So, I really have no idea what any of this means, but it seems like an awful lot going wrong in a car that is just over 1 year old. I think my biggest concern is that these problems will keep on happening once the warranty has expired, and i really can't afford all of these repairs. would any of these problems that have already happened lead to more problems happening in the future? i know if the head gasket goes that could cause more probs and i'm wondering if i may be in a similar situation.. i've tried figuring this all out on my own but i'm having a tough time 'getting it'..
i would like to give a call to GMC head office, but i would like to be a little more informed before I call, and i don't know a thing about cars..

Also, when I first purchased the vehicle, I would get ~750km/tank highway driving, ~500 in the city. Consistently for the last at least 6 months, probably closer to 8 or 9, i get no more than 300km in the city, and about 600 hiway driving. Eco or not, it's always the same. i don't speed, do hard and fast stop and starts, so that's not affecting the fuel economy either.

When the vehicle is at a stop (it's been doing this since day 1) it's like the car lurches forward a bit then rocks back, and even when stopped the revs are probably halfway between 0 and 1 (never idle at 0).

i know this post is quite long, but i would really appreciate any advice/feedback anyone would provide..

thanks in advance.. i hope i've posted this in the right section!

catherine


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 13, 2012, 9:04 AM

Post #2 of 6 (2866 views)
Re: Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD Sign In

Your going to have to check with your state to see if your vehicle could fall under the provisions of the lemon law. Usually if there is a problem that affects the safety, use, or value of the vehicle that keeps popping up after many attempts to repair it, it may fall under the lemon law in your state.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 13, 2012, 9:44 AM

Post #3 of 6 (2856 views)
Re: Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD Sign In

Most lemon laws only apply to new vehicles, not used.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 13, 2012, 9:51 AM

Post #4 of 6 (2852 views)
Re: Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD Sign In

Depends on which state you live in.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 13, 2012, 10:40 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2845 views)
Re: Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD Sign In

I realize that but i never heard of any state applying a lemon law to a used car.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



terrain_cath
New User

Oct 13, 2012, 1:15 PM

Post #6 of 6 (2839 views)
Re: Lemon 2011 GMC Terrain SLE AWD Sign In

Hey. Thanks for responses so far. Car was a dealer demo, sold to me as new, had no previous registered owners since it was only the dealer demo. But I live in Canada and we have no(!) lemon laws in this country anyway. GMC does participate in CAMVAP though which is binding arbitration in disputes been vehicle manufacturers and owners. Can result in full refunds with interest or swapping out to a brand new car - whichever the owner prefers, if the owner wins, of course. This would be no cost to me.

I know a couple of people who had GMC cars (not terrains) that in 1 situation they swapped out the vehicle for a brand new one (head gasket went when car was 16 months old) and GMC provided a full refund in the other case, though I can't remember what the issue(s) was with that vehicle. The owners had to kick up a bit of a stink, but GMC did eventually make things right in both cases without having to go to CAMVAP.

I guess that is my question. Is it worth my time to talk to GMC at the corporate level and see if they will help, and if not go to CAMVAP? Could the fact that the original dealership did not do that first oil change as they were supposed to (documented by my new GMC garage) have lead to all of these other issues that have since arisen?
I have no idea what any of the issues that have so far happened with my car mean. Should they happen to a car this new? Since its had these problems already does that suggest these issues will continue for the lifetime of this car? Do I have a case if I try and get GMC or CAMVAP to get me in a car that works or a refund?

Please advise! And thanks again for all of the info given so far.

Also, car has 51k on it now if that's important.






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