Whether the panel is/was there to serve to help aerodynamics, gas mileage, and/or to prevent water, road debris, or other liquids from reaching the engine and other essential parts that needed to be protected, it no longer can serve the purpose it was initially designed and put there to do after this recall! Obviously, Chevy wouldn't have designed this panel the way they did if it benefits the car in some way. Obviously now, we know that the engine shield/panel could be a possible fire starter if certain fluids gather or are trapped. I just don't see how cutting the panel up and changing the overall design of it, could not also now negatively affect what and why it was designed the way it was in the first place?! I see this recall causing more harm then good.
To me I see this recall as like when EA tries to fix Madden games year after, because in their pursuit to fix one or two issues that would make the game perfect, they wind up making more problems and making the game worst rather than better. I see this being the same case with Chevy having to cut the panel. I personally like how others have suggested that it would likely be better and feasible for Chevy to just drill a few appropriately placed holes in the panel instead of hacking it all up and leaving the underside of the Cruze (especially the engine and transmission) over exposed to road debris and the elements, especially when winter (snow, ice, road salt,pot holes) and Autumn (tree branches, acorns, and leafs, especially if you parking over them) rolls around.
Having a over exposed engine, transmission and underside of a car is never a good thing and I don't see how the panel that was built and designed to prevent problems such as water maybe leading to engine stall, if not for any other reason, can now properly do the job it was built to do? I would like to know how Chevy plans to go about the actual redesign/cutting of the panel during this recall visit and what tools will be used to do it, if any at all? I just see this leading to possible cracks, leaks and punctures on the things that used to be protected prior to this recall if cutting and reshaping the panel is what's taking place.
In this case it just might be that with this new panel, comes a new design, which will come with new problems, and new complaints, and more new so-called "solutions" and so therefore more new unhappy costumers and so on. A snow ball effect really, but let's hope not and pray that Chevy/GM really thought this thing out before issuing this recall and knows the possible negative side effects that this new panel design could have on all aspects of the car, as well as knowing how they would go about being proactive and pre-countering any new foreseeable issues in a effective and thorough manner!!
All this is just IMHO and those more knowledgeable about it, I guess can tell me to shut up, go to **** and that I don't know what I'm talking about, but this is just how I feel about the whole thing. I personally was looking to buy a 2013 Cruze but I would like to know with confidence that this new recall resulting in altering the engine panel or whatever, won't be causing any new problems in the current/newly built 2012 Cruzes or the 2013 Cruzes coming out down the road.
