I use cap locks for EMPHASIS and NOT yelling! If it wasn't for the crappy shifting transmission and the lousy "customer service" from GM and their DENIAL that there was anything wrong with it, I would still have the Cruze because I did like it! There was no way I was going to take a chance that I would get hit OR killed when stepping on the gas and the car went nowhere!

Say what you want, but I feel people should be informed about problems like this because there was NO cure for it. The TCM was replaced and did nothing. The dealer told me that putting in a new transmission would do nothing to resolve the problem because he had done that with other 2011 Cruzes. Putting in a 2012 transmission was not an option either according to GM corporate.

If you're happy with your Cruze and have no problems, I'm thrilled for you! Mine was a problem and I will continue to tell my story whether you like it or not.

 

Whatever.....your story is told.

No sense in beating a dead horse is what I'm trying to say...

 

The horse might be dead, but not everyone is aware of that fact, so I do want to inform those unsuspecting future customers so that they will NOT have to go through what those of us who did have problems went through!

Then, there are those customers with 2011-2013 Cruzes who had the antifreeze odors that were especially upsetting because there were several causes for that odor! A Google search will certainly bring up the transmission problems and the antifreeze problem.

An informed consumer is a smart consumer. I'm just thrilled that I leased my Cruze because GM got it back and I took NO loss in value! Those who purchased theirs have to deal with poor resale value which is probably why so many people want us to shut up.

 

#4 in the Market......nothing more to say on this subject....

Auto Sales - Markets Data Center - WSJ.com

 

I wonder how the 2011 models would rate. What a lot of us object to is being the "test" for GM-problems in 2011s fixed in later models...makes you wonder what they tested on the millions of miles of testing that they claimed to have done. Even more offensive is how GM handled us as customers. Lifetime GM/Chevy driver (over 45 years) but never again. Check out resale values on the Cruze- says a lot about it.Not believing any surveys etc.(obviously easy to buy-2011 was car of the year!)

 

Like I said before, you and those like you who congregate here are a minority. your part of the less than 2-3% of people who have had problems.

I am just one person, and So far, since the Cruz has come out, and I've been talking to over 100 some people and more about their cruz, they love the car.
They never have any issues.

Granted there will be people like you who have a few problems and complain nonstop about it, but there are EXPONENTIALLY MORE people who love the car and the car is perfect for them, with no problems.

There exists a software update for the trans control module for this automatic design, take it to the dealer and ask for the software update.

If the car is having issues, record the issues, and recreate the issues yourself with the dealer tech or mechanic there.

Many of these side shops like lube stop and wallchart are not really "experts" at diagnosing and fixing cars. they simply change tires, line up wheels, and do brakes and exhaust.

Also, the engine, transmission, ECM, software, and such used in the Cruz is 93% THE SAME As the ones used in the Sonic, buick, and one or two other vehicles from GM.

If the transmissions and engines were really as bad as your boasting, cars like the sonic, buick, etc would show the same problems, and they do not.

------------------------

Your previous driving habbits also have a lot to do with how the transmission shifts.

Government wants better milage, people want more power, as a trade off, you have smaller engines with higher output, and a transmission and car designed for it.

Well, the transmissions these days are not like those of the past.

Like the 3T40 and the 4T60 transmissions, you could press the gas, it would upshift as needed and downshift as needed in a linear fashion.

What the auto transmissions in the newer cars today do, is if you peg that gas peddle, the trans will downshift, and depending on conditions, it will either hold it in that lower gear for a bit, or it will shift back.

This happens because the trans is keeping the engine ready for more power faster if needed.

Sometimes, people who floor it will see a delay, well that happens because sometimes people will peg the gas, and then release, this is happening because the car is attempting to give you higher mileage and less power, if you keep your foot there, it will shift and go.

This is how I observed its functions, this is somewhat how it was designed.
I myself had a VERY HARD TIME getting used to this new program design for how the trans shifts.

I have learned how to press the gas in a controlled orderly fashion and how to drive the car and work with the car to achieve power and milage when I want.

You have to remember, they design cars and build them a certain way that is the most commonly desired way, or best way to build and design it.

They are not going to cater to each individual person and build every car specific to each person in every way.
Granted they do this somewhat, and you have several options to chose on the car to personalize it. But beyond that, there is a standard.

Fords vehicles will shift the same way, they are using the same programming principles in their shifting commands.
The foreign auto makers are doing this as well, they always follow the leader anyways.

----------------------

As far as the coolant smell in the vehicle, out of all the cruzes sold, there are only about 2% with this issue.
The media and others like to blow things out of proportion, and if this is happening, tell the tech and say you want it repaired.

Chances are, there is a small defect in the heater core letting the coolant leak out.

EVERY car has this happen at some point, And thats no lie, some times it happens new, sometimes many years later, but it will happen eventually.
Does not matter if its GM ford or foreign junk, it happens eventually.
Plastic only lasts so long.

---------------------

You say an informed customer is a smart customer, well go get informed and start figuring out why your car or house or bicycle or whatever is acting a certain way.

95% or better of the public does not even know how to change a flat tire, let alone open the engine hood.

You buy a car, even if you lease it, that does not stop you from figuring out ""WHAT IS HAPPENING.""

---------------

For example, I bought an 88 Beretta, the clutch would barley disengage and was tight.

I did not know the first thing about a clutch job let alone how to drop the transmission to do the job.

Well, I got informed, I started looking what is where, I took it apart, investigated what does what, and changed some parts, still not knowing.

Afterwards, it still didn't work, so I looked more, turns out I had to align the master cylinder, so I did and it works great now.

There is nothing stoping you from opening the engine hood, the car doors, maybe taking a few things apart on the car, and looking to see what is where.

I'll bet that if you poked around a little bit, you would have been able to tell the mechanic, I think the heater core is leaking.

-----------------

Some would say, I leased so the dealer has to look.

Well knowing you smell coolant, taking the car to the dealer, saying I smell coolant, and then leaving the car is on NO HELP at all.
You need to be interactive with the tech's and the car.

Yes the tech's job is also to investigate, but you have to throw a bone, otherwise they might not know why you brought the car in the first place.

You just can't put gas in it and expect it to last forever, its a machine, it needs care at some point.

This is why ALL manufacturers and ALL new cars come with some form of warranty, because sometimes things can go wrong.

For example, we had a venture van, and the right rear window got stuck open, we took it to the dealership and said the window is stuck open.
We also said, that we pressed the button to open it, and then to close it and nothing happened.
(Granted this is an easy fix), it helps make the tech's job easier and faster, he was able to deduce that the motor failed, it happen to be defective.

-------------------------------------------------

There is one person I know who practically lives in his Cruz, he drives over 70 miles one way to work each day, then 70 back.
Well, he owns a Cruz, he has always owned it, its several years old, and over 100K miles already and climbing.

He has never had any issues, he takes it in and gets its fluids changed on a regular basis as well, which is regular maintenance.

This is not "special case" this is a "Common case," as like I said 97% or more who have a Cruz use it like this guy.
And he easily gets over 45 mpg, sometimes 47 on the freeways.
That is WAY better than them hybrids that the foreign auto makers have.

 

I agree and think you have some very good points here.

Driving habits are huge these days with respect to gas mileage and how modern Transmissions react...and with Forum screen names such as "Fastdriver" one can only wonder.....

 

I wholly agree with this, even if you are not mechanically savvy.. you can do yourself a favor by doing some basic data collecting for the service writer or tech... i.e. it sounds like or smells like its on the front passenger side... it does it at 40 not 60... when I turn left or right....provide every detail, it was hot or cold out, I just started it, or it was already warmed up... provide all you can and let the tech weed out what he doesn't need....

 

I'm having a similar customer (lack of) service issue.

I have a 2012 Chevy Camaro SS and it's stalling while driving. It's happened 3 times in just under 12 months. I 've taken it in to the dealer but they cannot duplicate the problem so they send me on my way. The first couple of times this happened I was in my neighborhood moving at 25-30 and the car stalled. All the lights, stereo, steering, brakes, etc. I let it roll to a stop and it started right back up. I brought it to the dealership and they didn't find a code so they sent me home.
This time it happened 3 weeks ago while driving 75 mph on the freeway. I was scared to death. I let it roll to a stop and did my best to man handle it away from traffic. I brought it in and again, no codes. They have driven it for 3 weeks and keep telling me to come and pick it up. I contacted the GM regional office and was given a case number and a towing number so I can have it towed for free next time this happens.
I understand intermittent problems are the hardest to diagnose, but my dealership/Chevy really isn't putting any effort it. I called on Monday to ask if they found anything over the weekend and they said "No, no one has been in it since Friday." I have navigated all the appropriate channels and I'm out of options. I asked how much they would give me for a trade it (it's under warranty, convertible, with every upgrade the SS has) and they said $22k. It blue books $31-33k. It's insulting how this is all playing out.
I bought it used so I don't have any lemon recourse, but are there any other options? How can a car under warranty be rejected by the dealership? They didn't even look under the hood. If there are no codes and it can't be duplicated, that's really it?
A few highlights of my customer service include: no loaner, a lecture from the service department about how they don't get paid to put miles on my car, and a call asking for permission to put gas in my car - and I would be paying for that gas.

 

ohheyfay-

So sorry to read this and the way the dealer has dealt with the issue! This is probably why the original owner turned it in! Somehow, you have to have a GM dealer run the VIN in their computers and see what service has been performed on the car since it was new! It can be done at ANY GM dealer. Do you know anyone who might be able to do this for you? If you are on Facebook, ask if anyone works at a dealer or knows someone who does. This might have been an issue previously.

MAYBE the fuel filter is clogged? That most likely not would throw a code? I don't know. Just guessing. Have you tried calling GM CORPORATE in Michigan? Most likely it wouldn't be much better than just the plain old "customer service" number from what I have experienced. It's worth a call. I'm so glad that Mark Reuss, I think that's his name, was given to job to RETAIN GMs CUSTOMER BASE! With service like this, I don't think you'll be rushing to buy another Chevy or even another GM car.

I just don't understand how the dealers get away with this CRAP! Just because there's no code, that's it. Tough luck for you! Very sad indeed. I would go to GM Inside News Forum and find the Chevy section and see IF you can get some more ideas there as to what you can do.

Good luck. Please keep us informed.