Long, long story short, here are the key points. Yes, I am cutting out a LOT of details. I'd like your thoughts on what I should ask GMC to do next.
Aug 2022: Bought a 2021 Yukon XL Denali with 38k miles, all highway.
Nov 2022: Car shut off on me in the middle of the highway in Maryland at 80 mph with my kids in the car on our first road trip in the new car. Towed to dealer in the middle of nowhere on a Saturday, had to beg repeatedly to get a loaner until Monday as there was not a rental car place open within 75 miles of the dealership. They gave me one, continued my journey to DC, returned on Monday and met at the agreed upon time of 130p. By 5p, they determined the engine needed to be replaced under powertrain warranty due to complete failure. They were also figuring out numbers if I were to trade-in on the spot so I could get a new one and drive home. By 8pm, they gave me a super lowball offer I rejected, then they told me I couldn't take the loaner car anymore because it was going to be a while before the engine was replaced. At 8pm at night (kids had not eaten since noon, you can imagine the scenario after sitting at a dealership for 8 hours) nothing open in this remote area of Maryland, so drove 70 miles back to Washington DC, got a rental, drove 70 miles BACK to the dealer, dropped off car, got a hotel for the night, then drove back to Ohio. Was in a rental car for over a month.
Dec 2022: Engine has been replaced, vehicle shipped back to me. Vehicle does not start while still on the carrier. Driver messed with the battery, we get it started and off the truck, pull into driveway and it immediately dies. Towed the next morning to my local dealership, they repair some things the first dealer did not complete and get the car ready for me.
Ten days later with one of my kids in the car, the car dies again on the highway at 70 mph. Missed a flight, had vehicle towed to a dealer where after speaking with GMC TAC, they deemed the engine was not replaced correctly by the first dealer and that it needed to be replaced AGAIN. The first dealer's engine lasted 146 miles. Four weeks later, engine is replaced and I drive 70 miles to the dealer to exchange in the loaner they gave me for my car. Had the loaner for a month.
March 2023: Car won't start. Towed to dealership, they assess and find issue with alternator and other engine components. By this point, I have a lawyer involved and GMC is agreeing to repurchase the vehicle, we are now going through all the details. GMC wants me to pay for the repair, I refuse because the issue is again related to the engine which has been replaced twice and killed the battery during the process (long story). I am in dealership loaner car for 32 days, car is finally repaired.
GMC has agreed to a repurchase at this point, if I get another GMC product. I love the truck, just not the one I have, so I agree.
April 2023: Local dealer says he has a Yukon XL Denali for me to see, so I immediately drive up there. He offers me this one, or one with the rear entertainment package coming in 3 weeks. I tell him I will wait and pay the extra 2k, it will be worth it with kids and I am waiting on GMC paperwork anyways.
May 31, 2023: I get a FULL refund of the vehicle and use that money as a deposit on brand spanking new 2023 Yukon XL Denali black-on-black with 2 actual miles on it. They held the car for me for 7 weeks. Local dealer has been great to work with.
June 2023: I own the car 3 days. Bought it on Wednesday, Saturday morning start the car to go out and get an error: Safety Restraint System something. Drive to dealer, they say they will look at it Monday. They determine the upper console has no power, and there is a technical service bulletin about it that came out at the end of April. No ETA on the part. The car has 102 miles on it now. If I drive it as is, the airbags and seat belts will not function correctly.
July 2023: The car is STILL sitting at the shop with zero ETA on the part. The dealership has been great keeping me updated, they were great during the sales process, they have been very understanding of my situation and frustrations and are trying to get some help from GMC. Put me in their biggest loaner possible which is an Acadia, and even rented a separate vehicle for me so I could go to Canada for a weekend trip that was planned months ago. They are trying their best, or so it seems to me from the surface as I don't know the inner workings of these scenarios.
I finally called in to GMC and raised a major stink, as well as asked the attorney to get back involved. I agreed to purchase a new vehicle if they bought mine back, and I fulfilled my end of the deal. I am even understanding that things happen and a brand new vehicle may have a thing or two that needs fixed/tweaked here and there. That said, I have a car payment due in 10 days on a car I don't even drive and have no clue when I will get it back. I have told GMC I feel I should not make a payment on the vehicle as I am not driving, and that at this point they should make additional payments for every month I did not have my previous vehicle as well which was almost 4 months worth. I am paying a large sum monthly to drive rentals and loaner vehicles.
I really, really, really like the product. It took me 6 months of research to settle on a Yukon, but I have lost hope.
What should I ask for at this point?
TLDR: I bought a GMC product in Aug 2022, as of July 2023 I have driven MY GMC vehicle a total of 5 months out of the 9 months I have owned a GM and have never had an oil change because I dont get to drive the car I own. What should I ask for as fair compensation?