Chip Retrofit Lawsuit?

[SpartyCubsFan]

I've got a 2022 Yukon Denali indicating "later retrofit" on the parking sensor systems, and I'm just about at a year of having paid for and financed a depreciating vehicle without that functionality. My sales guy continues to harass his GM contact every 2 weeks, and my efforts to contact GM over social media and via phone have resulted in them telling me to pound sand. No date, no estimate, no nothing. I know I'm one of many, many people in the same boat.

My question is this: Has anyone spoken to an attorney about the situation to see if there's any remedy? My non-legal mind would think that forcing people to pay for the systems they don't have (or finance them at a high interest rate) may get into some type of provable harm. Looking for any and all options at this point with no end in sight, and yeah, I'm fairly hacked off about it.

 

[martinajm]

How again were you forced to buy the vehicle and forced to finance at a "high" interest rate?

I too am waiting on a couple of retrofits, but you are barking up the wrong tree on this one.

 

[Jellyfrosh]

I've got a 2022 Yukon Denali indicating "later retrofit" on the parking sensor systems, and I'm just about at a year of having paid for and financed a depreciating vehicle without that functionality. My sales guy continues to harass his GM contact every 2 weeks, and my efforts to contact GM over social media and via phone have resulted in them telling me to pound sand. No date, no estimate, no nothing. I know I'm one of many, many people in the same boat.

My question is this: Has anyone spoken to an attorney about the situation to see if there's any remedy? My non-legal mind would think that forcing people to pay for the systems they don't have (or finance them at a high interest rate) may get into some type of provable harm. Looking for any and all options at this point with no end in sight, and yeah, I'm fairly hacked off about it.

They make it very clear when you buy the vehicle that it's missing features. If that bothered you so much why did you buy it?

 

[H1Chester]

Yes but we did pay for the features and they were promised to be installed.

 

[Silverado4x4]

Law suit law suit law suit that's all people think about now a days. You have been credited the amount of the missing feature or chip and signed a contract knowing the feature is missing to be a later retrofit so where is your case for the law suit.Get real man. Jezzzz

 

[SpartyCubsFan]

Gotta love the internet. Asking a simple question here folks. While verbal, I was promised that my retrofit would be completed Q3/4 2022. Some would consider that a verbal contract, though probably by someone without the power to make one in my dealer. Now I essentially get told to go blank myself by GM customer service.
And of course I wasn't forced to buy anything. But with no end in sight and the p!ss poor customer service, I'm honestly shocked at what people will gladly take. Thus the reasonable question on an open message board. Similarly, no one's forcing you to reply

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Folks, we don't need to bark at a new member comments. This member was venting, and we do allow venting on this Forum, as many of us have vented here, ourselves. All members who post questions or comments on this Forum should be respected, IMO, unless they are A-holes, and this new member certainly isn't.

@SpartyCubsFan First, welcome to this Forum from NH.

Many folks on this Forum are in the same position as you on this issue. It's frustrating as H-e-l-l to be in that position, I'm sure, but as previously stated, you were aware of the issue when you purchased this vehicle. What you and other folks in this predicament did not know was that the length of time to resolve the issue was far greater than anyone had expected, and thus the frustration. A lawsuit won't make the chips available any sooner, so IMO, that would be a waste of your time and money to pursue one. From what I've read regarding GM's response to customers who have this issue, GM needs to improve its customer communications and transparency. Patience is the only path forward, IMO.

 

[olyelr]

I dont feel the op was disrespected at all in any of the prior comments. Just people voicing their opinion about his question…isnt that okay…on a forum?

To the op…what would suing accomplish when the car manufacturers have no parts/chips to do the retrofit? Or are u insinuating that they do, but they are not holding up their end of the bargain? Im confused.

 

[navyseal334]

While it's a bigger issue that a single lawsuit might not solve, there is a case to be made that chips ARE available to perform these retrofits; Chevrolet has produced multiple 2023 models with these features (including mine back in October).

A case could be made that GM should have resolved its obligations to 2022 owners before contracts were filled with 2023 owners but those obligations were loosey-goosey commitments instead of a contract.

Again, this would likely require something at the level of a class-action lawsuit to make something happen given how many 2022s are still "waiting for chips". Chips have been available for months now; GM is just arbitrarily allocating those chips to newer (and likely more profitable orders). Until the chip supply exceeds the log of new orders, I think it's unlikely they'll start filling the back-log of old retrofits.

The company's highest priority is pushing vehicles and turning a profit and, unfortunately for many, retrofits help in neither regard. Some will argue that they're alienating future repeat buyers - which is true - but many people learn to live and move on; they may be counting on vehicle owners looking past it next time they're in the market.

Retrofits were promised in an unprecedented era when manufacturers were faced with either putting out incomplete vehicles or crimping their vehicle sales even more. Promises were made without knowing how long the chip shortage would last. Reality has refocused manufacturer's attentions on optimizing the current circumstances, which still leaves them with a shortage and small incentive to make good on their promises.

 

[GoNoGo]

Maybe consider having a local car alarm/radio/window tint specialists who also installs aftermarket parking sensors to hook you up by utilizing some of the hardware that/s in your SUV now, like the bumper holes/sensors. Might be less costly that you'd expect and turn your frown upside-down