NHTSA Complaint #10563185 — 2006 HUMMER H3

OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2006 WITH NO PROBLEMS--REGULARLY MAINTAINED, 125,000 MILES. MY WIFE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD "LOW COMPRESSION." AFTER THE REVIEW, THE MANAGER SAID HE HAD BAD NEWS, THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TRADED IN/SOLD IMMEDIATELY AND NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT WAS BECAUSE THE PISTON WAS DEFECTIVE. I VERIFIED THE RESULTS WITH 2 OTHER MECHANICS THAT THE 5 CYLINDER H3S LOSE COMPRESSION OUT THE BLUE. THE SHOP MANAGER BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO SELL/TRADE IN THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I HAD DONE SO, APPARENTLY THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO 06 H3S RELIGIOUSLY WHERE THE COMPRESSION DIMINISHES AND LEADS TO THE ENGINE DYING. WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN PUNCHED IN THE GUT BY HUMMER. HOW CAN A CAR PERFECTLY MAINTAINED ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE "LOW COMPRESSION" AND LEAD 3 PROFESSIONALS TO ADVISE US TO SELL IT IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN BY HUMMER (PIP3935D) AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. WE CALLED GM AND THEY WANTED TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE TO DIAGNOSE IT THEMSELVES. PISTONS 2 AND 3 WERE BAD. OUR VIN NUMBER IS COVERED BY THE PIP3935D BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST US UNLESS WE PAID $6000 FOR THE "REPAIR"--BUT THIS ISSUE WILL RE-OCCUR. I HAVE MADE A CALL TO GM CORPORATE BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY. IN THE MEANTIME WE STILL OWE OVER $4000 ON THIS VEHICLE THAT WE LEASED IN 2006, THEN PURCHASED. OUR VEHICLE IS UNSELLABLE AND WE DON'T HAVE $6000 TO FIX THIS KNOWN HUMMER 2006 H3 DEFECT. GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE DEFECT SINCE 2008 AND REFUSES TO ACT LIKE PROFESSIONAL, UNDERSTANDING, COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF A GM AGAIN BASED ON THIS LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE. HOW CAN A DEALERSHIP (THAT THE US GOVERNMENT BAILED OUT OF BANKRUPTCY) TREAT ITS CUSTOMERS THIS WAY? WE HAVE SPENT $30,000++ SINCE LEASING/PURCHASING IT IN 2006. *TR