Over the years, I have purchased many new GM vehicles. Since 2001, I have specially purchased multiple Yukon Denali vehicles. In Oct 2018 last year, I purchased another new Yukon Denali, believing GM provided a highly reliable vehicle and stood behind their products.
In July 2019, we took a family vacation. In Rapid City, South Dakota, I came out of my hotel to find that my GM Yukon Denali would not start. The Battery was dead. I called GM roadside assistance and they sent a tow truck, which jump-started the Yukon Denali and got me to a GMC dealer. At first, the dealer stated they could not check my vehicle until next week. After stressing that I was over 1,000 miles from home with no other transportation, the dealer finally agreed to check the vehicle. After 2 hours, the dealer informed me that they had finish checking the vehicle, and they could not find anything wrong with it. The dealer sent us on our way.
After driving most of the day, we stopped at a gas station in Limon, Colorado. After returning to our vehicle, again it would not start. I purchased a set of jumper-cables at the gas station and got a jump-start from another vehicle. I called GM Roadside assistance again and asked them what to do. They recommended I get the vehicle to one of two GMC dealers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. First, I called Ferguson Buick GMC , they stated they could not see me. I explained it was urgent, that my vehicle would not start after being turned off. Again, they stated they could not see me.
Next, I call Alpine Buick GMC, they stated if I could get the vehicle to them the next morning, they would take a look at it. So I went to my hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado and waited until the next morning. Again, the vehicle would not start, I used the jumper cables purchased in Limon, Colorado and got a jump-start from another car. I drove to the Alpine GMC dealer and left the vehicle with Eric in service. On arrival, Eric checked the CAN messages and stated it was showing dead battery with low voltage errors. After 4.5 hours in the waiting room, I was told that they had checked the vehicle and could not find anything wrong with it. I explained that every time I shut off the vehicle, it had to be jump-started. They stated they understood, but could not do anything according to GMC policy if the battery wasn’t showing a problem. I re-explain that the vehicle had been jump-started 4 times now, and needed jump-start every time it was turned off. They stated again that they understood, but could not replace the battery according to GMC policy. I explained I was over 1,000 miles from home on a family vacation and could not take the chance of jump-starting the vehicle every time we shut it off. They stated they could replace the battery at my expense. I paid $243.35 for a new battery. Once the new battery was installed, I drove 2,056 miles finishing our vacation trip and returning home. There were no more or additional issues with the vehicle not starting after the new battery was installed!
After returning home, I went to my local dealer (Bob Poynter) where I purchased the Yukon Denali vehicle in Oct 2018, and explain the situation. BTW, the day I purchased the Yukon Denali vehicle, the dealer had to jump-start it on their lot, the battery was dead. I explained to the Bob Poynter Service consultant that this battery replacement was because of having to jump start the vehicle every time it was shut off. I explained I believed on a vehicle with only 16,294 miles, this battery replacement should be covered under the vehicle warranty. This vehicle is less than a year old and has low mileage. They explained they could not refund the battery cost under GMC’s policy.
This battery issue and situation is very disappointing. In addition to ruining our 2019 vacation and causing me to lose confidence in GMC. I had always felt that driving new GM vehicles would be supported and backed by GM/organization. What I found out was that the GMC dealers are not very customer understanding or supportive of someone traveling away from home having troubles on a new vehicle. In addition, having a proven issue that required jump-starting the vehicle every time it was shut off is not covered in the GMC warranty. As I stated before, I have purchased many GM vehicles over the years for my wife and myself. Because of the hardship and outcome of this issue, I do not plan to purchase any future GM Products again. Also, I am sharing my story with family and friends and letting them all know about this disappointing experience on a new vehicle.
Fred L. Tscheulin
855 West McClain Ave.
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Tel: 812-752-2732
Email: fredt @hsonline.net
Vehicle 1GKS2CKJ5JR342989
Ref: Vehicle 1GKS2CKJ5JR342989
Over the years, I have purchased many new GM vehicles. Since 2001, I have specially purchased multiple Yukon Denali vehicles. In Oct 2018 last year, I purchased another new Yukon Denali, believing GM provided a highly reliable vehicle and stood behind their products.
In July 2019, we took a family vacation. In Rapid City, South Dakota, I came out of my hotel to find that my GM Yukon Denali would not start. The Battery was dead. I called GM roadside assistance and they sent a tow truck, which jump-started the Yukon Denali and got me to a GMC dealer. At first, the dealer stated they could not check my vehicle until next week. After stressing that I was over 1,000 miles from home with no other transportation, the dealer finally agreed to check the vehicle. After 2 hours, the dealer informed me that they had finish checking the vehicle, and they could not find anything wrong with it. The dealer sent us on our way.
After driving most of the day, we stopped at a gas station in Limon, Colorado. After returning to our vehicle, again it would not start. I purchased a set of jumper-cables at the gas station and got a jump-start from another vehicle. I called GM Roadside assistance again and asked them what to do. They recommended I get the vehicle to one of two GMC dealers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. First, I called Ferguson Buick GMC , they stated they could not see me. I explained it was urgent, that my vehicle would not start after being turned off. Again, they stated they could not see me.
Next, I call Alpine Buick GMC, they stated if I could get the vehicle to them the next morning, they would take a look at it. So I went to my hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado and waited until the next morning. Again, the vehicle would not start, I used the jumper cables purchased in Limon, Colorado and got a jump-start from another car. I drove to the Alpine GMC dealer and left the vehicle with Eric in service. On arrival, Eric checked the CAN messages and stated it was showing dead battery with low voltage errors. After 4.5 hours in the waiting room, I was told that they had checked the vehicle and could not find anything wrong with it. I explained that every time I shut off the vehicle, it had to be jump-started. They stated they understood, but could not do anything according to GMC policy if the battery wasn’t showing a problem. I re-explain that the vehicle had been jump-started 4 times now, and needed jump-start every time it was turned off. They stated again that they understood, but could not replace the battery according to GMC policy. I explained I was over 1,000 miles from home on a family vacation and could not take the chance of jump-starting the vehicle every time we shut it off. They stated they could replace the battery at my expense. I paid $243.35 for a new battery. Once the new battery was installed, I drove 2,056 miles finishing our vacation trip and returning home. There were no more or additional issues with the vehicle not starting after the new battery was installed!
After returning home, I went to my local dealer (Bob Poynter) where I purchased the Yukon Denali vehicle in Oct 2018, and explain the situation. BTW, the day I purchased the Yukon Denali vehicle, the dealer had to jump-start it on their lot, the battery was dead. I explained to the Bob Poynter Service consultant that this battery replacement was because of having to jump start the vehicle every time it was shut off. I explained I believed on a vehicle with only 16,294 miles, this battery replacement should be covered under the vehicle warranty. This vehicle is less than a year old and has low mileage. They explained they could not refund the battery cost under GMC’s policy.
This battery issue and situation is very disappointing. In addition to ruining our 2019 vacation and causing me to lose confidence in GMC. I had always felt that driving new GM vehicles would be supported and backed by GM/organization. What I found out was that the GMC dealers are not very customer understanding or supportive of someone traveling away from home having troubles on a new vehicle. In addition, having a proven issue that required jump-starting the vehicle every time it was shut off is not covered in the GMC warranty. As I stated before, I have purchased many GM vehicles over the years for my wife and myself. Because of the hardship and outcome of this issue, I do not plan to purchase any future GM Products again. Also, I am sharing my story with family and friends and letting them all know about this disappointing experience on a new vehicle.
Fred L. Tscheulin
855 West McClain Ave.
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Tel: 812-752-2732
Email: fredt @hsonline.net