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

 

[todayusay]

we sold a 22 Z71 that had heated seats and parking sensors both to be retrofitted and bought a 23 Z71 that had both heated seats and parking sensors working 100%. The only difference in the two vehicles was the exterior color (other than the obvious - 22 vs 23).

Both were Z71s with luxury package and buckets. 22 was built in March 22, and the 23 was built in August 23.

So yeah, I'd agree with the sentiment that GM has/had the parts to complete the retrofits but decided to use them in the 23s. first month or so of the 23s being built there really weren't any retrofits...not sure how often the retrofits are occurring on new ones being built

I view it almost like the gift card industry, manufacturers probably like leaving out options because there will be a certain percentage of vehicles that never get the retrofit chips

 

[Steebu]

I posted this back in March of 22.

Somewhere deep in a GM board room:

”We have 150,000 chips and won’t get more until December. Should we send them to our dealers to fix those cars we already sold? Orrrrr … should we build new cars and make more money? All those in favor of fixing those cars we sold? No one? OK, more money it is …”

 

[GoNoGo]

GM is an immoral and untrustworthy corporation, their OnStar and intrusive MyGM app practices alone make it obvious to me.

Some great vehicles and loyal customers though.

 

[chrisbusnut]

I'm only waiting on a heating steering wheel retrofit, yet I'm extremely frustrated. Especially (as previously mentioned) when I look on the lots and every 23 model I've seen has the heated steering wheel feature installed. It's obvious that they have the parts and are either too disorganized or incompetent to manage the back log of units that need the retrofits. Very unfortunate.

 

[Dkay51]

Well if your promised it and it’s been a reasonable amount of time, put it in writing as a demand with a reasonable amount of time that you’re demanding the completion of the retrofit by.

Only reason I am saying that is because you have to factor what is reasonable. At this point if you got your truck in say September and now they are producing fully loaded no constraints, then they should be working on completing the retrofits at the same time. My 23’ Yukon Denali Ultimate was completed by mid January and has absolutely zero constraints with no retrofit so I got everything in it. There fore you shouldn’t have any issue being caught up on retrofitting within a reasonable time.

 

[Coolmex200]

I get a feeling they aren’t prioritizing the 2022 owners. Chips are available and as mentioned above, 2023s are coming with them installed….I do think putting pressure to fulfill their obligations should be the correct action. All you guys who are scolding him probably be the first ones to ask for the manager…..smh

 

[Justin]

Hopping in here, as I've been waiting on a heated steering wheel and parking sensors since May of 2022.

 

[martinajm]

I have been waiting for 13 months. If I were GM, I would stop the bleeding before doing the retrofits. That means not making the problem worse, i.e. more total retrofits, by shipping the 23's short of chips.
What is unknow is how "solved" the chip shortage is. Is there an abundance of surplus chips (vs normal production requirements) now available to catch the backlog or are they just now able to keep up with (and slightly exceed) production demand. There also may be an aspect of a controlled release to ensure that the service network is not flooded with retrofit work all at once.

 

[madatgmc]

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.

As you said, Yukons have been produced since at least last October with the front/rear park assist chip. They have our money and don't care about us. I recommend calling the GMC Executive resolution office at 855-880-1400 and complaining. [email protected].

 

[ZKWBQD]

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.

I WOULD RECOMMEND GIVING UP. I have never heard of anyone receiving those chips AFTER they purchased the vehicle. When I purchased my Tahoe right on the Monroney window sticker there was a $100 price deduction because these chips were not installed in my vehicle. I'm not an attorney, but I suspect this is General Motors “Get out of jail card" for not having those chips. If you REALLY want this part, you might sell your vehicle and buy a new one, the new ones all come with these chips. Everyone said that 2022 was the worst year to buy a car. They were right.