[william10609]

2012 Cruze ECO 1.4 turbo. Came home today with my new heater core and good old antifreeze smeel. But that is OK! GM passed through the dealership if I would be interested in trade-in incentives, Told them I like the Equinox. GM has raised the white flag. They trade it and do not have to report a buy back. Smart, but I will warn them not to try and resale it. I will pay a carfax check in about a year. BBB auto line is a good place to start if you want arbitration. GM knows I filed and said they did not expect a favorable outcome. Even considered another Cruze, would not be happy if I walked into this again. Good luck and thanks for being there. After six Chevrolet vehicle, one lemon, still a Chevy fan.

 

[Ginaberrie]

GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT MY HEALTH
I have had repairs done on my cooling system 6 times and the smell is still there. They tell me (3 different GM service garages) that they can't smell it. There is nothing wrong.
General Motors told me today that "As far as General Motors is concerned your car is fixed"
Well NO IT ISN'T.
I asked her to switch cars with me she said well, no that isn't going to happen.
The short term affects of smelling antifreeze are headaches, nausea, eyes burning, and scratchy throat. Long term affects are KIDNEY FAILURE!
I am tired of being a guinea pig for General Motors.
I do not want to drive this car anymore, I am tired of headaches and burning eyes, I am so sick of taking tylenol and ibuprophen. I did not bargain for this. The car that I once loved is going to kill me.
They want me to keep driving the car, I told her I don't want to, she says that is my choice, well actually since I don't have another car, there really is no choice.
I asked her for her supervisor, she refused to give me her supervisor's extension, it is a big secret obviously.
I am trying to contact the CEO of General Motors now.
She is Michelle her extension is 41247, she is not very nice and does not care if I live or die but one thing for sure is that she wants to me to breathe those fumes. She wouldn't though. What makes her better than me? What makes GM so inferior that we all have to drive these cars and suffer every day and risk our health when THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS REAL???

 

[XtremeRevolution]

GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT MY HEALTH
I have had repairs done on my cooling system 6 times and the smell is still there. They tell me (3 different GM service garages) that they can't smell it. There is nothing wrong.
General Motors told me today that "As far as General Motors is concerned your car is fixed"
Well NO IT ISN'T.
I asked her to switch cars with me she said well, no that isn't going to happen.
The short term affects of smelling antifreeze are headaches, nausea, eyes burning, and scratchy throat. Long term affects are KIDNEY FAILURE!
I am tired of being a guinea pig for General Motors.
I do not want to drive this car anymore, I am tired of headaches and burning eyes, I am so sick of taking tylenol and ibuprophen. I did not bargain for this. The car that I once loved is going to kill me.
They want me to keep driving the car, I told her I don't want to, she says that is my choice, well actually since I don't have another car, there really is no choice.
I asked her for her supervisor, she refused to give me her supervisor's extension, it is a big secret obviously.
I am trying to contact the CEO of General Motors now.
She is Michelle her extension is 41247, she is not very nice and does not care if I live or die but one thing for sure is that she wants to me to breathe those fumes. She wouldn't though. What makes her better than me? What makes GM so inferior that we all have to drive these cars and suffer every day and risk our health when THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS REAL???

Million dollar question: have you gone to a different dealership?

Going to the exact same dealership repeatedly despite them being not able to reproduce the problem is setting yourself up for massive amounts of frustration.

I assume you have a case on file with GM? Is this a customer service rep, or a district case manager you're dealing with?

 

[obermd]

I'm assuming the statement

They tell me (3 different GM service garages) that they can't smell it.

indicates three different dealerships. The big question is are they owned by three different people.

 

[Blue Angel]

GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT MY HEALTH

Gina, unfortunately it would seem that your service manager doesn't care about you. That doesn't mean GM doesn't care about what's going on. I can imagine how frustrated you are, but as others have suggested you need to switch things up a little, try another dealership or talk to someone else at your dealership. If that fails start a Lemon Law claim process. Call GM directly, but don't expect to talk to the CEO.

There's a Gm Customer Service rep on this board named Stacy, get her involved, give her your dealership info and plead your case with her.

In the short term try to identify what things seems to make the problem with your car worse. If you're always driving at really high speeds when this happens, try slowing down and/or taking a different route. Try turning the recirculation function from "frsh air" to "recirculated air" and open a window. Try different things to keep the car from venting fumes into the cabin. If nothing works stop driving the car! It's not worth your health.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Ginaberrie]

Did they ever find a fix for your car? This is really affecting the quality of my life and I can't wait until this is over.
Please let me know how things worked out for you. Or if you are still in progress.
Thanks so much

 

[Ginaberrie]

I have been to 3 different dealerships. The problem for me is that I live 74 miles from work and I HAVE to drive for 3 hours a day. I got home last night and went to the dealership to pick up my car and by the time all was said and done I was home at 7:30. Now I have to do this again.
I am dealing with a GM agent from the Business Resource Center.
Te mechanic at the last dealership really seems to care, I am thankful for that, but he is soooooo far away. I have to take another day off work to go there. He is like an hour from my house after I drive to and from work. I have a family and I am studying for my Master's Degree, I can't do this anymore.....

 

[BigSkyMontana]

I'd be pretty livid if I was in your position. After all that work, the car still smells of antifreeze? I'm curious to hear what your case specialist says.

GM specialist called today. Confirmed that vapors are still entering the cabin after PI maintenance. I was informed that the specialist is advancing this problem to the the next level and they will contact me on Friday. I did ask what GMs plan was and was informed that a discussion would have to take place with other GM representatives to answer my question.

I believe that I have exhausted what my dealership can do for me. They have been very supportive and even though it took them 3 attempts to complete the PI correctly they took responsibility and ensured that they did what they were directed to do the best they can. I could allow them to yank the water pump, heater core, or other components, but I don't think this is proper use of management, time and money and as of now there is not any reason to remove/replace these parts. They are the "nuts and bolts" level of intervention, not the engineers. I believe the vapor problem lies elsewhere.

My intentions now is to exhaust all avenues within the GM headquarters for a answer. My hope is that they will have some good news on Friday giving me or my dealership the next direction to resolve this issue. I have and will give GM the opportunity to make things right. I know there are other resources that many of us can utilize if we come to a dead end with GM. But, for now I will exhaust all levels of intervention that I have available through my dealership and GM. I want GM to make this right for everyone and I do have expectations of them to resolve this issue. If I have to utilize the BBB, NHTSA, lawyer or other resources I want to feel like I gave GM the opportunity to make things right first. If I have exhausted all avenues available through GM and my problem is not resolved then I will feel justified to take additional actions for resolution. My hope is that this problem is rectified not only for me, but for everyone who is dealing with this issue through GM.

 

[fastdriver]

GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT MY HEALTH
I have had repairs done on my cooling system 6 times and the smell is still there. They tell me (3 different GM service garages) that they can't smell it. There is nothing wrong.
General Motors told me today that "As far as General Motors is concerned your car is fixed"
Well NO IT ISN'T.
I asked her to switch cars with me she said well, no that isn't going to happen.
The short term affects of smelling antifreeze are headaches, nausea, eyes burning, and scratchy throat. Long term affects are KIDNEY FAILURE!
I am tired of being a guinea pig for General Motors.
I do not want to drive this car anymore, I am tired of headaches and burning eyes, I am so sick of taking tylenol and ibuprophen. I did not bargain for this. The car that I once loved is going to kill me.
They want me to keep driving the car, I told her I don't want to, she says that is my choice, well actually since I don't have another car, there really is no choice.
I asked her for her supervisor, she refused to give me her supervisor's extension, it is a big secret obviously.
I am trying to contact the CEO of General Motors now.
She is Michelle her extension is 41247, she is not very nice and does not care if I live or die but one thing for sure is that she wants to me to breathe those fumes. She wouldn't though. What makes her better than me? What makes GM so inferior that we all have to drive these cars and suffer every day and risk our health when THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS REAL???

ginaberrie-

As I have told others here who had the transmission problem with the 2011 Cruzes, GM will not do a thing because there is NO fix for the 2011 Cruze transmission issue just like there doesn't seem to be any fix for the coolant smell either. I went the same route with THREE different people at the "Business Resource Center" concerning my transmission problem. WHY three, I have NO clue! Maybe each one was higher up the food chain? Finally, I called GM corporate myself and dealt with someone there for MONTHS and got nowhere because a GM engineer who looked at my car and drove it for 13 miles, came to the conclusion that it was "operating as designed"! In the case of the coolant smell, you people are getting a different response- I don't smell anything! How can one person smell it and someone else can't? It is an overwhelming smell GM is just giving you lip service and stringing you along.

The first thing you should do is file a complaint with the NHTSA online. It's fast, it's easy and if they get enough complaints and see a pattern, they can MAKE GM initiate a recall! https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Secondly, look up the Lemon Law for PA and get that rolling. Certainly the coolant smell could be considered a SAFETY ISSUE- a health safety issue!

Third- look for a local Lemon Lawyer.

Fourth- maybe send CEO Dan Akerson a CERTIFIED, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED letter since I'm sure you can never get to him directly unless you were some important CEO yourself or a movie star!

It aggravates me to see all you people being jerked around by GM! You can't blame the dealers because their hands are tied! My servicing dealer KNEW that there was nothing that could be done with my Cruze's transmission because he saw MANY like mine! He even told me that he had talked to a GM engineer, I assume NOT the one who looked at my car, who told my service manager-" what do you want me to do about it? They're all like that"! WHERE do you go from there?

I say- DON'T wait for any help from GM because you are wasting your time with these serious issues! Good luck.

 

[fastdriver]

GM specialist called today. Confirmed that vapors are still entering the cabin after PI maintenance. I was informed that the specialist is advancing this problem to the the next level and they will contact me on Friday. I did ask what GMs plan was and was informed that a discussion would have to take place with other GM representatives to answer my question.

I believe that I have exhausted what my dealership can do for me. They have been very supportive and even though it took them 3 attempts to complete the PI correctly they took responsibility and ensured that they did what they were directed to do the best they can. I could allow them to yank the water pump, heater core, or other components, but I don't think this is proper use of management, time and money and as of now there is not any reason to remove/replace these parts. They are the "nuts and bolts" level of intervention, not the engineers. I believe the vapor problem lies elsewhere.

My intentions now is to exhaust all avenues within the GM headquarters for a answer. My hope is that they will have some good news on Friday giving me or my dealership the next direction to resolve this issue. I have and will give GM the opportunity to make things right. I know there are other resources that many of us can utilize if we come to a dead end with GM. But, for now I will exhaust all levels of intervention that I have available through my dealership and GM. I want GM to make this right for everyone and I do have expectations of them to resolve this issue. If I have to utilize the BBB, NHTSA, lawyer or other resources I want to feel like I gave GM the opportunity to make things right first. If I have exhausted all avenues available through GM and my problem is not resolved then I will feel justified to take additional actions for resolution. My hope is that this problem is rectified not only for me, but for everyone who is dealing with this issue through GM.

I applaud you for your patience in dealing with this issue! My patience ran out after 6+ months of dealing with GM "customer service" about my transmission issue on my 2011 Cruze. That car is gone and was replaced with a 2013 Buick Verano Turbo on 1/31. SO far, so good! I wish you luck with your problem and hope you have a happy ending, but I wouldn't make any bets about that.

 

[cdncruze]

Having been told by my local GM dealer that no coolant leak was found back in Dec 2012, I returned there today and told them to fix the problem, then return my car. They found coolant leaking through the threads of one water pump mounting bolt. A new water pump was installed under warranty and all is good. I was advised by the service manager that there will be a VIN# cut off for this problem. I hope this helps with many of you to solve the issue. Cheers.

 

[hawkeye]

What's the build date of your cruze? Does this go into the 2012's for the mounting bolt? Mine is a 2011 with a May 2011 build, and I do have the coolant tank that needed to be added to.

 

[Blue Angel]

I returned there today and told them to fix the problem, then return my car. They found coolant leaking through the threads of one water pump mounting bolt. A new water pump was installed under warranty and all is good.

Today? I hope all is well, but I'd feel more confident after a few days of driving the car to be sure the problem doesn't come back. It would seem the root of the problem for most people is not a leaky water pump bolt.

 

[Chevy Customer Care]

I test drove a 2012 Cruze 2 weeks ago and commented to the salesman that the side driver's window seemed to be fogging up. He said that's just from the thorough cleaning and that the water will evaporate. That seemed reasonable to me so I forgot about the issue (obviously a big mistake) and a few days later ended up buying the car. On my way home from the dealer the window fogged again. This has continued every time I have taken the car on the highway since. By the way, it has been very cold here in Minnesota the last couple of weeks. Today I brought the car to the dealer and they could not locate any leak, but put dye in the cooling system. I'm scheduled to return in a week. From reading through this thread (and the earlier one) it sounds like the dye will not disclose anything. I am sitting here very frustrated by this whole thing and can only hope the GM comes up with an effective fix very soon in the form of some type of recall. In the meantime, it seems like it would behoove GM to let their dealers know about this problem and that it is being worked on.

Truepath,
I would like to apologize for the issues that you are having with your Cruze. I would like to look into this for you. Can you please send me a PM with your name, address, phone number, VIN, current mileage and the name of your dealer? I look forward to hearing back from you.
Thank you,
Stacy Chevrolet Customer Service

 

[Yates]

Are you sure that you don't have the RECIRCULATE BUTTON on? That will fog up your windows! You need OUTSIDE air.

Yea, Im sure. I have been driving for 40 years and I know what the rec button is for.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Today? I hope all is well, but I'd feel more confident after a few days of driving the car to be sure the problem doesn't come back. It would seem the root of the problem for most people is not a leaky water pump bolt.

It's a known issue with the water pump. The replacement solves the problem.

 

[Blue Angel]

It's a known issue with the water pump. The replacement solves the problem.

I stand corrected! I was not aware... is this one of the failure modes for people with the coolant smell inside the car?

I may look at this on my car; my overflow is a little low, I can't see any leaks anywhere and I have never experienced the smell inside the car. If it hadn't been for the coolant smell threads popping up I may not have even looked at my coolant level until the spring!

Regarding the VIN cutoff, do we have any information regarding the builds that are affected?

 

[bryanakron40]

Figures Steve likes every bad post....lol. SO predictable.

 

[Sunline Fan]

I lol at anyone who thinks they can contact the CEO of any large company and actually get somewhere. That's like showing up at the White House and expecting the President to care about your problems.

My grandpa is one of these. Somehow he wrote a letter to Jacques Nasser and got the tires on his new S-Type replaced with Michelins because the dealer wouldn't change out the factory ones (can't remember, maybe Conti's?). I have no idea how he did it, but maybe being a retiree with 30 years at the company had something to do with it.

 

[bryanakron40]

That's because they think if they call up and are upset they will get up the ladder. That is why people are in the positions they are. My question is this? Has the person, Gina was it, gone to a doctor or sought medical attention to get proof that it is the smell? Not saying it isn't, as people are different and some are highly sensitive to things most of us show no effects. That would go a long way to getting GM to take notice. Besides, if it is that bad, you do what you have to do to get out or make it better. Claiming you don't have time is not an excuse, you make time. You expect GM to drop everything and make it right for you. Yet you won't even help yourself beyond just going to the dealer. I know people who have had mold issues in their house and didn't have the money just hanging on the tree out back, but they did something about it because it was their health. They had to find a temporary place while remediation was done. It was hard but they did it.