GM's Windshield washer recall

[GreatWhitehunter]

I know DP, started a post about this which turned into the usual brand loyalty fight. But I just found out that you can't even opt out of the recall. The thing that really infuriates me is that I use this feature alot and it cost more than $100 for the option. Has anyone found any other solution for this other than disabling it? Also are the dealerships just pulling the fuse or what?

Matt

 

[beenthere]

Don't have a clue what you are talking about. I have GM cars. No recall.

 

[reddog176]

From a quick google search, I came up with this: GM News - United States - News

 

[Diamondpilot]

From what I hear from the few I know that own GM cars you must participate in the recall. One contacted a lawyer and there is a class action suit being started. I usually do not like lawyers but I feel this is a good thing because it sets a prescience for future such recalls. I would refuse to have it done if mine. From what I understand from my reading and from my friend they pull the entire unit from the vehicle.

The one kicker is if your car does have a fire you are screwed. The guy said the lawyer told him that if something happens to a object you own that was part of a recall insurance can deny your claim.

Good luck.

Chris

 

[wvpolekat]

There is no such thing as a "mandatory" recall. GM cannot force you to have the work done. Even if you bring it in for something else, I seriously doubt that they would REMOVE something from YOUR car without consent. They may note that you refused it, but ultimately, it is YOUR car. GM has no legal right to modify or "repair" it without your permission, no matter how bad they want to.

But, you also have to deal with the fallout of your choice. If the car bursts into flames because of it, you will be left holding the bill. Although, it would be a trivial matter to identify what they are doing and do it yourself.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I was told by the dealer that if it came in for anything they'd disable it and I had no say. I contacted another dealer and was told the same. The flip side is another company asumed the design an has made an oem direct replacement which cost only $68 and is plug an play. Up here in the unpredictable NE the heater wipers come in super handy. And this recall doesn't apply to all GM vehicles.

Matt

 

[timswi]

Not this issue again...I'll bet this ends up closed within a day.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I was told by the dealer that if it came in for anything they'd disable it and I had no say. I contacted another dealer and was told the same. The flip side is another company asumed the design an has made an oem direct replacement which cost only $68 and is plug an play. Up here in the unpredictable NE the heater wipers come in super handy. And this recall doesn't apply to all GM vehicles.

Matt

This is crazy. If another company can make one for $68 why in the world is GM not putting it in to satisfy the recall?

Chris

 

[FlaDon]

This is crazy. If another company can make one for $68 why in the world is GM not putting it in to satisfy the recall?

Chris

It could be a temporary fix until they get the parts into the system. Or they could be doing safety testing to prevent having problems with fires like Ford did with their cruise control switches for over 10 years.

 

[FlaDon]

I was told by the dealer that if it came in for anything they'd disable it and I had no say. I contacted another dealer and was told the same. The flip side is another company asumed the design an has made an oem direct replacement which cost only $68 and is plug an play. Up here in the unpredictable NE the heater wipers come in super handy. And this recall doesn't apply to all GM vehicles.

Matt

Guess who the company is. The same one forced into bankruptcy by the 2008 recall.
And the replacement units also have already been found to have defects. That came out June 15th. So my earlier post to DP shows GM still says they aren't safe to use. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100615/OEM01/100619915/1147 Ford also dropped their contract with them.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Hey if its no good, its no good. GM is doing the right thing not putting in something that will just cause more problems but they still should have to find a supplier that can make one that is safe or build it themselves. They are or were a freaking world class manufacture so they should be able to make a fix for a small accessory.

But that still would not let them off the hook in my eyes. I would want the vehicle brought back to the same specs as it was when I took delivery of it as long as its under warranty.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Oh heck, let's just outsource the whole darn car and put our badge on it!

That is very close to how it is....

Chris

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

There's a youtube video that shows one apart. Any good EE can come up with a fix for this. The biggest issue is GM blames the manufacture and vice versa. I talked with the manufacture yesterday and was told it was redesigned and guarantee'd. Here's a link:AlphaTherm Heated Wash AT-37GM is direct replacement for ALL factory installed General Motors “GM” heated washer fluid modules

Matt

 

[Diamondpilot]

If that is the case tell your dealer to order it and install it in lue of the $100 credit. Seems simple enough to me. I am sure they will not due to all the red tape.

If enough people complain and the lawyers get involved it will get fixed right. The shame is I do not like dealing with lawyers but when I have it came out in my favor. 2 times with GM in the late 90's.

Chris

 

[FlaDon]

There's a youtube video that shows one apart. Any good EE can come up with a fix for this. The biggest issue is GM blames the manufacture and vice versa. I talked with the manufacture yesterday and was told it was redesigned and guarantee'd. Here's a link:AlphaTherm Heated Wash AT-37GM is direct replacement for ALL factory installed General Motors 敵M heated washer fluid modules

Matt

From your links site:

The original supplier of the heated wash for GM was Microheat. Microheat produced a 3rd generation heated wash that
GM installed on 77,000 vehicles. This 3rd generation design was the basis for AlphaTherm's AT-37GM. This week, a
news paper article quoted GM spokesman Alan Adler, that GM found no cases of failure in those specific units"

From the site I linked to:

But GM installed a later-generation HotShot module that was designed by Microheat to handle higher-voltage currents on about 77,000 vehicles.

GM found no cases of failure in those specific units but said it found other cases of melting and saw the potential for fires caused by another part within the HotShot module. That finding prompted the June 8 recall of 1.5 million vehicles.

AT is playing fast and loose with its quotes. So while it may not have caused a fire in the new units, the potential is still there.

 

[ibew]

does anyone know where the class action suit is? where the web link to the attorney is?