Why GM Sucks

"Your engine died with only 70,000 miles on it?  That shouldn't happen!"  This was the statement made by the service manager at a Virginia dealership when our car was towed to his shop early in 2003. 

Brief History: In 1998 we bought a new Pontiac Grand Prix.  Over the last 5 years we have taken very good care of the car, including regular maintenance and oil changes among other things.  In April, 2003, while returning from a trip to North Carolina, the engine ceased.  At the time the engine had a mere 70,000 miles on it.  The car was towed to a dealer in Richmond, VA and the service manager told us our only option was to replace the engine - at a cost of $4300!  Given that the car was out of warranty but had been well-cared for (we have all receipts for everything, including oil changes) we were hoping for at least a 50% discount on the parts and labor.  After several calls and visits to local dealers, service managers, regional managers, and GM Customer Care (an oxymoron in itself) we were informed that we were not entitled to any cost consideration.  So even with regular maintenance and care one cannot expect a GM engine to last more than 70,000 miles.  We will never own another GM vehicle.

What exactly happened to our engine?  We were not satisfied until we could get a precise diagnosis as to why the engine died.  We had the dead engine shipped to an engine building shop in Northern Virginia.  They took it apart and determined that the engine ceased due to lack of oil, which was attributed to a failure of the oil pump.  The oil pump is integrated into the timing chain cover on the 3800 engine, and that original part was mysteriously absent when our engine was replaced.  The service manager at a local dealer claimed that the engine ceased due to lack of oil in the pan, but the dealer who replaced the engine verified there was plenty of oil in the pan when they replaced it.  Also, the fact that the engine stopped after traveling 100 miles at 65 mph, plus the absence of major leaks, rules out the possibility of no oil in the pan.  The failure was due to a defect in the oil pump.  However, GM claims no responsibility for the defect.

Other makes are better quality.  We have owned many cars and most have lasted well beyond 100,000 miles without major engine problems.  Our '83 Subaru went 98,000 miles.  Our '85 BMW went 112,000 miles.  My '76 Toyota that I had in college went 130,000 miles.  When I finished grad school in 1982 I bought a new Chevrolet Monte Carlo - my first new car - and it lasted 13,000 miles before the transmission went.  Later we bought an '88 Buick Century Wagon and that engine had to be rebuilt after only 38,000 miles.  There's definitely a pattern of GM vehicles failing. 

Problems with the Grand Prix began in 2000 when one headlight lens popped off and then 3 months later the other did the same thing.  The lens cannot be replaced by itself; you have to buy the entire assembly for about $90.  The GM parts technician who sold me the replacements told me this is a common problem with that particular headlight assembly, which is also used in several other GM models.  Yet it has not been a recall so the consumer pays.  Then one of the window motors died and so did the moon roof motor.  Still I considered myself lucky that we had no significant engine problems.  That was until Easter, 2003.  Now we are thoroughly disgusted with GM and will never own another GM product.  I hope to share this story with many people and discourage potential GM buyers.

What next?  We will keep the Grand Prix because even though we've had a miserable experience with GM the car now has a brand new engine in it and should last with the best care and maintenance.  Perhaps another 70,000 miles?  We know not to expect more.  There's no way we'd ever get true value for the car if we tried to sell it because although the engine is new the rest of the car is now 6 years old.  The car will be driven by my daughter once she obtains her license.  We will then buy a new car with a better reputation for quality, probably one made outside Detroit.  You can bet it won't be a GM of any sort.