Chevy vs GMC warranty

tbarn · August 16, 2017

I had a front wheel bearing go out on a GMC Yukon while on the way to the coast for vacation. My Yukon was out of warranty. I decided to have a dealer do the repairs anyway since I had no knowledge of the local independent repair shops. I searched and found the closest GM dealership, which happened to be a Chevy dealer. . I was at the dealership when they opened the next morning, which happened to be a Saturday. I noticed an employee pull up, so I met him at the door wile he was unlocking. He asked what I needed. I told him that I was traveling and desperately needed a wheel bearing replaced, he replied "We don't work on GMCs here". I made it clear that it wasn't warranty work and he replied "You need to go to the GMC dealership." The closest GMC dealership was another 30 miles down the road. Luckily they had the hub assembly in stock and agreed to squeeze me in on a Saturday morning when they were short staffed and closed at 12:00.

That was a f***** Up dealer. Vast majority will do cross line work. TECHNICALLY, it's only to be used in emergencies while under warranty. Customer pay doesn't matter. But, dealers do cross line warranty all the time. I know. I have to do it. When cross line first started in the late 90's, it was meant for emergencies and if a dealer customer bought a car from another GM line at their store they could service under warranty. That quickly morphed it a free for all with dealers advertising that they service all lines.

reardiff · August 16, 2017

For the same reasons I asked this very same question to the Service Manager at the Chevy dealer down the street. I most likely will be buying a GMC, but for a number of reasons would like to use the Chevy dealer near here for any work to be done. I was told 'No', that they can't perform any warranty work on GMC, but would be happy to perform any non warranty service. This makes no sense to me if GM is footing the bill for warranty repairs. Isn't GM's money is just as green as mine

So now if I get a GMC I have to take time off work and drive 15 miles to the GMC dealer for any little thing that may come up vs.driving literally a mile and walk home if I have to. But as someone said before there's no place on earth where you can get a better deal than Laura GMC, Chevy or GMC so it's looking like we'll roll the dice and hope we don't need much warranty work done.

x219c · August 17, 2017

So, this makes me wonder... Maybe dealers can be setup as a servicing dealer (or authorized) for all GM brands while only selling what they please. Or maybe they're a full fledged dealer for all of the brands, but only order one brand to sell on their lot... That's what I'm coming up with for people taking their GMC to Chevy only dealers and getting warranty work without problems. The dealer in my town sells all four GM products, so it's not a problem for normal stuff...

If this used to be the case, but is no longer... I would think it would be a huge selling point to have a larger network of service centers and wouldn't specifically disallow this on their website.

Something I saw, which backs up my father in law's worry: US Chevrolet dealerships outnumber GMC dealerships by nearly two to one (3,079 vs 1,590), according to Automotive News, as of January 1, 2012.

GMC Website (http://www.gmc.com/owners/warranty-faqs.html) at the bottom.

CAN I TAKE MY GMC TO ANY GM DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS?

Repairs must be performed by an Authorized GMC dealer, except in a situation where you are significantly inconvenienced and when a covered part or a GMC dealer is not reasonably available to the vehicle owner. It’s in your best interest to take your GMC vehicle to a GMC dealer for all repairs since they are the most knowledgeable about your vehicle.

tbarn · August 17, 2017

CAN I TAKE MY GMC TO ANY GM DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS?

Repairs must be performed by an Authorized GMC dealer, except in a situation where you are significantly inconvenienced and when a covered part or a GMC dealer is not reasonably available to the vehicle owner. It’s in your best interest to take your GMC vehicle to a GMC dealer for all repairs since they are the most knowledgeable about your vehicle.

That's what I said.

x219c · August 17, 2017

CAN I TAKE MY GMC TO ANY GM DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS?

Repairs must be performed by an Authorized GMC dealer, except in a situation where you are significantly inconvenienced and when a covered part or a GMC dealer is not reasonably available to the vehicle owner. It’s in your best interest to take your GMC vehicle to a GMC dealer for all repairs since they are the most knowledgeable about your vehicle.

That's what I said.

Yup, I was just trying to be clear that GMC is saying exactly that on their own website... If they wanted to sell more trucks, I'm sure it would be beneficial to say we have over 4k GM dealers who can service your vehicle at any time. What they're saying now is we have 1.5k dealers who are authorized to fix your vehicle, and in a situation we deem exigent, we can allow one of our other 3k dealers to fix a problem.

By spelling it out, it suddenly looks less attractive.

I am glad most people aren't having this trouble, but it seemed valid to at least bring up. The other question.. Is there a Chevy dealer that prices aggressively and advertizes kinda like Laura?

L86 All Terrain · August 17, 2017

Is there a Chevy dealer that prices aggressively and advertizes kinda like Laura?

What I did when I bought my last one, I dealer search all of my GM's, so once my local dealer gives me a VIN of my truck that they intend to trade stock for, I took that VIN to the next nearest GM dealer and had them both price it. Then I just haggle between the two without them ever knowing or talking to each other. I ended up getting an extra 2K off the incentive price and got a set of Gator-back flaps and black running boards thrown in after going back and fourth on 3 offers from each dealer. They weren't too happy with my technique this time locally but they seem to treat me fairly well since. It will only work when you dealer search so neither actually have possession of the vehicle.

Silverado Steve · August 18, 2017

Check out this dealer, seems like some of the best prives on a chevy.

http://www.reliablechevytexas.com

Yup, I was just trying to be clear that GMC is saying exactly that on their own website... If they wanted to sell more trucks, I'm sure it would be beneficial to say we have over 4k GM dealers who can service your vehicle at any time. What they're saying now is we have 1.5k dealers who are authorized to fix your vehicle, and in a situation we deem exigent, we can allow one of our other 3k dealers to fix a problem.

By spelling it out, it suddenly looks less attractive.

I am glad most people aren't having this trouble, but it seemed valid to at least bring up. The other question.. Is there a Chevy dealer that prices aggressively and advertizes kinda like Laura?

x219c · August 19, 2017

Check out this dealer, seems like some of the best prives on a chevy.

http://www.reliablechevytexas.com

Thanks, they look promising.

2017SierraSLT · August 19, 2017

Fortunately, I just bought my 2017 at a full GM franchise dealer, so no issues will be encountered with warranty repairs if need be.

Boardmember · August 19, 2017

I'm fortunate. My selling dealer is GMC/Chevrolet (30 miles away) but I have a Chevy-only dealer about 3 miles from my house. The Chevy only guys just changed my oil for "free" and have ordered a warranty part for me. So the rule is not hard and fast.

Ownership decision apparently. And as service is such an important part of the dealership profitability, the dealer OP tried to go to apparently doesn't need the business.

parthery · August 20, 2017

My regular servicing dealer is a Chevy only store. They have no issue getting warranty claims paid.

I've also had warranty work done at a local Cadillac only store. Again-no issue.

Mark Diedrich · August 20, 2017

So for all of you saying that your dealer is only a Chevy, or Cadillac or what ever, but you regularly have your Buick or gmc warrantied there, my question is this..... Are you sure that they don't have another dealership someone else with the other brand? and that's why you are not having a problem with warranty?

I have seen numerous times where a dealerships owns multiple franchises hundreds of miles apart, and their service depts just warranty back and forth since they are tied together...