Leigh
Columbus,#2Consumer Suggestion
Wed, December 03, 2003
I have been reading several of the Catera horror stories on this site. About a year ago, I had had it with my Catera. I managed to get a free extended warranty out of the dealership and then sued GM under the Lemon Law. I am not sure about your state or the fact that you no longer own the vehicle, but look into it. I managed to get a small settlement... Not enough to get me out of the car though. Keeping my fingers crossed - the transmission just went out!
Gene
Scottsdale,#3Author of original report
Mon, May 05, 2003
In my previous message, I made a point of mentioning that I had tried contacting General Motors seeking restitution for the defective vehicle, without a satisfactory result. I even had the car inspected by a certified mechanic before the lease expired, and was stunned to discover that the problems were worse than I imagined, with serious defects noted discovered with the brakes, driveline and steering mechanism. Note that this mechanic is not in the business of doing repairs himself and thus isn't inflating the severity of the defects to make some money. Actually, he provides consulting services and serves as an expert witness for a local lemon law attorney. Upon learning that GM's CEO was retiring on May 1st, I wrote a letter to him, not expecting a response. Ten days later, someone from the executive office said they had reviewed the information but could not grant my request for a few refund because I "no longer owned the car." As if that had anything to do with it. Clearly, GM is not capable of satisfying the many disappointed customers who have been inconvenience with this defective model. If anyone is planning a class action lawsuit, I'd like to know about it, as I'd gladly participate. They should not be allowed to get away with it!