Dealer rip off or legitimate cost?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Bagherra

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2021
Posts
80
Reaction score
46
Location
Va Beach, VA
Was that an OEM sensor that you found for $25??
GM seems to be awfully proud of these newer seat sensors, bumper sensors, and airbag sensors. $500-$800 for a sensor is not unheard of.
I know OEM is always preferable, but with a price difference like THAT, I will gladly try using an aftermarket sensor.
I dont think it was OEM...i believe it was Dorman...and i can tell the difference with it. Vibration not as strong as OEM but i can still feel it. Took me about 10 min to install.
 

SpyShops212

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Posts
346
Reaction score
309
I dont think it was OEM...i believe it was Dorman...and i can tell the difference with it. Vibration not as strong as OEM but i can still feel it. Took me about 10 min to install.
I always like OEM became you could order and play close to buying aftermarket in the store. Dorman & Duralast is my second choice.
 

Pops946

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Posts
11
Reaction score
22
Location
Houston, TX
$503 for seat sensor?!?!?! Bought mine off Amazon for $25 and replaced it myself.
As for the sensor, not sure if it can replaced with bumper in place or not...

Find a another dealer...
Don't have this fancy stuff on my 02 LT, but yeah, I'd guess the seat sensor would be relatively inexpensive, but he said it was the haptic motor, which is the motor that causes the seat to vibrate to alert the driver. $500 may be high, but this thing is for sure gonna be more than $25.
 

ZKWBQD

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2022
Posts
125
Reaction score
95
2015 Yukon XL Denali with 62,000 mostly highway miles. Message came on recently stating "service driver assist". Dealer charged me $210 to determine cause and told me it was 2 things causing this. One was a front bumper sensor ($866.19 to replace because bumper needs to be removed), and the other was the Haptic seat motor ($503.25 to replace). Oh, and $90 to paint the new sensor.

Does anyone have any experience with this. Everything works fine, it's just that the message has to be turned off every time I start the truck. Not a big deal but when I trade or sell someone will want to know what is causing this.

Thanks much.
Seems legitimate to me. Remember, all of this technology in modern cars will result in MUCH higher maintenance costs.
 

OR VietVet

Multnomah Falls
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
19,068
Reaction score
31,172
Location
Willamette Valley
Seems legitimate to me. Remember, all of this technology in modern cars will result in MUCH higher maintenance costs.
To be sure, these are not maintenance costs, these are repair costs. Maintenance costs are things like oil changes and other fluid changes and plugs and wires and filters....etc.
 

Bagherra

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2021
Posts
80
Reaction score
46
Location
Va Beach, VA

StuckinMN

TYF Newbie
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Posts
27
Reaction score
12
2015 Yukon XL Denali with 62,000 mostly highway miles. Message came on recently stating "service driver assist". Dealer charged me $210 to determine cause and told me it was 2 things causing this. One was a front bumper sensor ($866.19 to replace because bumper needs to be removed), and the other was the Haptic seat motor ($503.25 to replace). Oh, and $90 to paint the new sensor.

Does anyone have any experience with this. Everything works fine, it's just that the message has to be turned off every time I start the truck. Not a big deal but when I trade or sell someone will want to know what is causing this.

Thanks much.
it was 2 things causing this ---> This is rarely the case. What are the chances TWO related parts went out at the same time? This is clueless, lazy diagnosis.

"service driver assist". ---> This comes up for 100X different reasons. Without proper dianosis, you will be paying for a parts cannon.

You paid $210 for someone to guess at what is wrong. Find some younger, independent guy who knows electronic diagnosis. And then take those results back to the dealer and get your $210 back.

Without seeing the vehicle I am going to guess that the haptic motor will NOT engage if a sensor is out.

This is why I refuse to buy a new vehicle. Damn dealers.
 

OR VietVet

Multnomah Falls
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
19,068
Reaction score
31,172
Location
Willamette Valley
it was 2 things causing this ---> This is rarely the case. What are the chances TWO related parts went out at the same time? This is clueless, lazy diagnosis.

"service driver assist". ---> This comes up for 100X different reasons. Without proper dianosis, you will be paying for a parts cannon.

You paid $210 for someone to guess at what is wrong. Find some younger, independent guy who knows electronic diagnosis. And then take those results back to the dealer and get your $210 back.

Without seeing the vehicle I am going to guess that the haptic motor will NOT engage if a sensor is out.

This is why I refuse to buy a new vehicle. Damn dealers.
Since I ran shops in the area, I have several friends that are willing to help me out if needed. Plus, I too refuse new vehicles because of all the haywire gadgets and even the dealer techs are lost during diagnosis.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
128,790
Posts
1,805,501
Members
91,773
Latest member
wbhidalgo17
Top