Washer Heater Recall Discussion

[midwestkel]

I don't want to get rid of this feature! How is it right for them to not fix it? I was hearing from somewhere that you can get an after market system for $30? Anyone else hear about this or want to complain or want to tell me that I am overreacting?

[xc80002]

I loved the heated washer fluid, it Im going to miss it on my new one. If the was an aftermarket I would put it on both car and truck. I park outside at work and when it snowed or had ice issues it would strip it off.

[AvalancheZ71]

I am starting to sense discontent from the masses. I don't want to lose this feature either!

 

I did some poking around and I think that the same heater module is available on the aftermarket, but the wiring might be different. Maybe someone can figure out how to rig it OEM style.

[BrockwayMT]

Somebody must make one. The GM one appears to have been a Webasto Hot Shot, it looks the same without the name on it.

[pm26]

This is just incredible and quite embarrassing. A company like GM cannot come up with a decent reliable heated washer fluid system. And cannot come up with a good and easy fix for the one they made! Maybe if they used decent US made parts in it, they would not have all the problems.

[X-man]

I like the heated fluid feature and I'm leaning towards keeping mine, but I am concerned that if I ignore the recall, the insurance may not pay out if my truck burns to the ground.

I've heard that GM will pay $100 for the loss of the system so obviously they have figured out that it would cost them more to develop a replacement module and are trying to tske the cheapest way out. I bet they would have valued it at way more if they had sold it as an accesssory.

The proposed recall remedy is not acceptable in my opinion.

[STINSAN3]

I'm keeping mine, if something happens, it happens. $100 would be good for some gas money though

[C. Charles Hahn]

This is just incredible and quite embarrassing. A company like GM cannot come up with a decent reliable heated washer fluid system. And cannot come up with a good and easy fix for the one they made! Maybe if they used decent US made parts in it, they would not have all the problems.

 

GM didn't manufacture, or even design/engineer the system they were using. The parts supplier they got it from went out of business.

 

End of story. Not GM's fault.

 

The main gripe I have is that they're pulling the plug after only 5 reported incidents. I understand wanting to be proactive with correcting the problem to avoid becoming another Toyota, but 5 out of 1.5 million is such a statistical blip that I can't even begin to believe the risk factor is high enough for me to worry about.

[BigBlueLB756]

Just get your $100 and get one of these:

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/__?_from=R40&a...ter&_sacat=

[liebemshats]

I am getting sick and tired of GM. First they have issues with insulation under my seat which heats up some module> solution? rip it out. Now they have issues with the washer heater> solution? rip it out. $100 compensation is a joke.

What's next?

 

I'm keeping my washer. It's a nice feature, I bought it, use it and it's mine. GM is not touching my truck anymore.

I'll let the next owner worry about it.

No more GM for me.

[AvalancheZ71]

This is just incredible and quite embarrassing. A company like GM cannot come up with a decent reliable heated washer fluid system. And cannot come up with a good and easy fix for the one they made! Maybe if they used decent US made parts in it, they would not have all the problems.

 

GM didn't manufacture, or even design/engineer the system they were using. The parts supplier they got it from went out of business.

 

End of story. Not GM's fault.

 

The main gripe I have is that they're pulling the plug after only 5 reported incidents. I understand wanting to be proactive with correcting the problem to avoid becoming another Toyota, but 5 out of 1.5 million is such a statistical blip that I can't even begin to believe the risk factor is high enough for me to worry about.

 

 

 

According to this story, GM did play a hand in putting the supplier out of business by withholding payments after the first recall.

[pm26]

This is just incredible and quite embarrassing. A company like GM cannot come up with a decent reliable heated washer fluid system. And cannot come up with a good and easy fix for the one they made! Maybe if they used decent US made parts in it, they would not have all the problems.

 

GM didn't manufacture, or even design/engineer the system they were using. The parts supplier they got it from went out of business.

 

End of story. Not GM's fault.

 

 

 

Well, isn't it GM's responsibility to provide a comprehensive specification for the part or assembly in question to the vendor supplying that part or assembly? This includes qualification and acceptance testing criteria, components part specifications, including target mean time between failure (MTBF) numbers, etc. When the vendor makes the part or assembly, GM should do their own testing to verify if the part meets the spec criteria. So I would not be so quick to exonerate GM from any wrong doing without examining all the facts.

 

Be it as it may, the decision to disable these washer heaters is not a good one and reflects poorly on the company. As mentioned, it is a nice feature to have. Many Mercedes cars have had similar heaters for decades. I cannot imagine Mercedes Benz issuing a recall and disabling these heaters instead of providing an updated, properly functioning module.

[Crazy Canuck]

This is just incredible and quite embarrassing. A company like GM cannot come up with a decent reliable heated washer fluid system. And cannot come up with a good and easy fix for the one they made! Maybe if they used decent US made parts in it, they would not have all the problems.

 

GM didn't manufacture, or even design/engineer the system they were using. The parts supplier they got it from went out of business.

 

End of story. Not GM's fault.

 

The main gripe I have is that they're pulling the plug after only 5 reported incidents. I understand wanting to be proactive with correcting the problem to avoid becoming another Toyota, but 5 out of 1.5 million is such a statistical blip that I can't even begin to believe the risk factor is high enough for me to worry about.

 

 

Can't say that I agree that GM is not at fault. I purchased the truck from them, it is their responsibiltiy to make sure that any part that they source from somewhere works. If your wheel falls off (a brand new truck), do you go talk to the tire manufacturer?, the wheel manufacturer?, the guys who made the lug nuts?, stud?, no, you go to GM as it is their truck.

 

I do agree that they are pretty quick on the draw pulling this out here, it seems that the issues are pretty few and far between for a $150,000,000 + dollar recall.

[Bish]

I had the original recall done where they put the inline fuse in the harness. I also REALLY like the feature. I doubt that I will take it in to have them disable it. Then again, I always was considered a risk-taker

[TexasAl]

Well,

 

If you want to keep your feature, be careful when you go in for service. They might pull a fast one on you, and rip it out while they are working on something else. The computer will probably flag your vehicle as soon as the VIN is entered into the computer...