NHTSA Complaint #10475699 — 2005 GMC ENVOY

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 GMC ENVOY THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND COME TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE HALT. THE GAS NEEDLE SUDDENLY REGISTERED ON EMPTY (ALTHOUGH THERE WAS FUEL IN THE TANK) BUT THE SUV WOULDN'T RESTART SO I HAD IT TOWED. PER THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSTICS, THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS BAD, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WAS BAD AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH THE TANK. GMC HAD DIRECT MAILED ME A LETTER SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR REGARDING A FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE; IN THAT LETTER, GMC OFFERED TO PICK UP 50% OF THE COSTS OF REPAIRS. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS AND TO CONFIRM THAT IT WOULD BE HONORED PRIOR TO TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH I REITERATED SEVERAL TIMES. DURING THAT CALL, I PROVIDED THE VIN, MILEAGE AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM PER THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE BRIDGED IN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO AGREED THAT THE WORK COULD BE DONE WITHIN A DAY'S TIME. NEITHER PROVIDED ANY CAVEATS TO HONORING THE "SPECIAL COVERAGE" OFFER. BASED ON OUR VERBAL AGREEMENT, I TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO LATER AGREED THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FAILED BUT STATED THE SENDING UNIT AND TANK WEREN'T IN NEED OF REPAIR AS THEY'D PUT IN 5 GALLONS OF GAS AND STARTED THE ENGINE. THEY ALSO PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $1150 FOR ALL OF THE WORK WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT I'D PAY 100% OF THE COST. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS/ESCALATIONS, GMC REFUSES TO PAY ANY PORTION OF ANY REPAIRS NOT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WASN'T FAULTY, BUT BECAUSE MY MILEAGE EXCEEDED THEIR 120,000 MILE "SPECIAL COVERAGE" LIMIT (WHICH WAS ONLY DISCLOSED AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS). GMC HAS SHOWN NO REGARD TOWARDS THE SAFETY HAZARD THE FAULTY SYSTEM PRESENTS TO MY LIFE NOR MY PASSENGERS' LIVES OR ANY UNSUSPECTING MOTORISTS TRAVELING THE SAME COURSE SHOULD THE SUV STALL AGAIN. *TR