Well in this regard, it's not Chevy's fault.

This was a careless employee who may have made a legit accident.
3 miles on a car for a diagnostic check may be acceptable.
The Tech may of wanted to take a drive a bit to see if something felt wrong or had any other issues.

Back in 2005 I had a brand new Infiniti G35.
After only like 3k miles on the odometer I was getting two rattles (one seemed to be coming from the bulkhead behind the rear seats and one in the driver side door.
When I picked up my car it had nearly 60 miles on the odometer. Not joking.
My Sirius radio channel was changed to a station I don't even have in the presets. Why listening to the Stereo if you are suppose to be listening for rattles?
I was furious.
60 miles for a rattle? They only needed to drive 1 mile down the street as the dealership had a road less than 1/4 mile away that was pretty rough. All they had to do was drive on it and you'd hear the rattle.

All I got out of the whole deal was a $50 gift card to the local gas station and a sincere apology from the GM.

Get the car fixed, get everything back in tip top position, and for your time ask for a nice part from he parts dept.
If not, file a complaint with GM and the BBB.
But the fact is, accidents happen. They admitted it was their fault, let them make it right. Get mad and take it to the next step if they don't make it right for you.

 

The diagnostic test was to pull the radio code. No driving was necessary and they didn't tell me about it until I noticed it. Kind of deceptive?

 

Sounds like you're already doing all the right things. Just keep after them.

This is why the recall notices are just piling up on my desk. No real interest in actually returning to the dealership.

 

I would consider a lawyer honestly. The car is going to have diminished value. Replacing the rear quarter isn't a small thing. I would want more than just a repair.

 

Isn't that a whole uniside in these cars? Both door jambs/frames, sills, rear quarter, etc all in one piece? That'd suck to have replaced, but I wouldn't want it repaired either.

OP, any pictures?

 

This is why the dealer never touches my cars. Sorry to hear about your experience

 

I have go through this. Depending on what you expect for a remedy will determine the course of action.

If you are content with having the car repaired at no cost, the dealer will probably agree to that if they do the work. They will probably will give you a loaner car while the repairs are made. They probably won't agree to diminshed value.

If you are happy with that outcome, that should be an easy situation to negotiate on your own without legal council.

If you want diminished value, then do not let the dealer fix the car. Pull the car out of the dealer and let a reputable body shop inspect the car. Approach the dealer with what you feel is a reasonable diminished value. At this time thy may turn you over to their insurance company or their attorney. If they turn you over to their insurance agent, they will have a division that handles the diminished values and they should be pretty straight forward. They will make you an offer and you may or may not accept it.

If they turn you over to their lawyer, be prepared to go get a lawyer and expect a fight. if you go this route you may drop a few thousand on a lawyer and go through a few years before you get a solution.

I have go through both situations.

 

I have go through both situations.

.
Just wondering. Not trying to bring you into this. But
Any of those situations include a dealer knowing an accident happened and letting you drive off their lot without telling you because they were hoping that you would think the accident happened elsewhere?

 

You now have a car fax incident. Absolutely diminished value

 

Some Economics

This is no different than someone who ran into your car (no fault of your own). They owe you for the cost of repair, loss of use while it is being repaired (loaner/rental of comparable vehicle), and diminished value. You are under no obligation to use their body shop. I suggest positioning it that way when you speak to the manager. They may turn it over to insurance, just like an ordinary collision claim.

As far as negotiating, if you are being dealt with in good faith, don't escalate. If you aren't, go to GM and BBB, social media, etc. The tough part is you were not treated properly by at least some of the people who work at the dealer. Mistakes happen, but the dealer was not forthright about it. This also is leverage for you when discussing with the manager. They can make it right, or it can get ugly. I would guess their only leverage is questioning whether it truly happened while your car was in their possession.

Good luck!

 

This is no different than someone who ran into your car (no fault of your own). They owe you for the cost of repair, loss of use while it is being repaired (loaner/rental of comparable vehicle), and diminished value. You are under no obligation to use their body shop. I suggest positioning it that way when you speak to the manager. They may turn it over to insurance, just like an ordinary collision claim.

As far as negotiating, if you are being dealt with in good faith, don't escalate. If you aren't, go to GM and BBB, social media, etc. The tough part is you were not treated properly by at least some of the people who work at the dealer. Mistakes happen, but the dealer was not forthright about it. This also is leverage for you when discussing with the manager. They can make it right, or it can get ugly. I would guess their only leverage is questioning whether it truly happened while your car was in their possession.

Good luck!

These are valid comments. I would not let the dealer part of the equation effect your decisions.

 

I can't get over the fact that you didn't get a call from the dealer immediately after the accident occurred.

This is not making me want to get my recalls done.

 

I avoid dealers like the plaque. Right after I bought mine, I decided to give them a chance to mount/balance some new tires. Well, it took them about 3 hours and after all that, they had put the wrong tire on the wrong wheel (285/30 on 20x8.5 and 255/35 on 20x9.5). Luckily, for another 2 hours wait, they fixed the problem at no cost.

To OP: Good luck with your situation!

 

Sucks, this is always the fear of any of us I think.

Crazy thing is they didn't call you when it happened to fix it.

 

Pictures?

 

Wife's new Volvo had a leaking shock, and the dealer did replace it under warranty, but they put 80 miles on the car. I guess that is why they needed 2 days for the fix...someone took our car home for the evening? When I pitched a fit, the service mgr said, "that is normal as we need to seat in a new shock", what a tool!

Every dealer trip is an anxiety filled event.

 

For the folks suggesting legal council the dealer could do the same and deny responsibility. The OP left the lot and came back an hour later, it's plausible it happened in the owners hands (not saying it did, but they could argue that). It would be a much different dynamic if the damage was noted before the car was moved by the OP. If it's just a typical back into a bollard damage I wouldn't be overly concerned about the dealer repairing and just moving on. I can appreciate being very pissed about it but things happen and the dealer is being reasonable considering the circumstances.

 

OP hasn't posted pictures or provided more detail but I'm picturing a crease or crinkle in the quarter panel. I would rather have something like that pulled out, filled, resprayed than have new metal sectioned in. Are we really talking about diminished value now for sheet metal damage to a quarter panel? That seems a little over the top to me.

OP - I hate dealerships with all my soul. I'm sorry you're going through this and I hope they make it right for you.

 

I think he did say they acknowledged the responsibility for the damage (when he returned).
Maybe this guy thought that guy was gonna tell him before he originally departed

 

Tough call. Employee may have not informed the management.
I think dealership will insist that they repair, might want to do
the multiple estimate thing in case things get complicated. I
would give them 1 opportunity to make it right. If you feel the
management was aware of damage before they returned the
car back to you might want to seek legal advise.
I know my hair would be standing up!!!

 

Any chance you can share photos of the damage?

 

First of all sorry this has happened to you. I would be highly p****ed. As a matter of fact this type of customer service is unacceptable. Thankfully I never had this happen to me but read horry stories and heard of these things occurring.

I did have a time with a honda dealership trying screw me over saying may radiator had hole in it during routine maintaince on wifes car. They actually changed it without even contacting me or my wife. I knew from begining it was fine. Now being the type of person I am I paid bill anyway until I could prove otherwise. However, before I left I made it clear if infact the radiator was fine I would be wanting a full refund parts and labor. So after I get the old radiator I took to reputable shop that day where a pressure test is done which time they inform me its perfectly fine. I immediately call back inform them of my finding a they still say the expert honda mechanic of 25 plus years is not wrong and its defective.

Well after a month going back and forth they finally did right thing no lawyers involved. I met manager at thier bank brought radiator and informed them this should be used as training tool in future. But I did have to talk to many people and it was some unpleasant conversations at times. I had to call several people at dealer no help,owner of dealer no help honda customer service you guessed it no help.

Well, I called Honda of North America I also went to where its stock was traded and posted short synopse of what had happend and kept it at top of page keep in mind everybody at Honda the top players see this market data and my post.

My point is to be fair but firm make sure they are aware of what you expect from them ASAP. Dont let them jerk you around and follow through with whomever until your satisfied with outcome. Cooler heads do prevail and pen is mighter than sord.


After owning 5 th generation Camaro 6 th generation corvette 7 th generation corvette I have learned few things.

1)Do walk around of car prior to them taking possession of it and document finding dings chips etc make it clear this is how you like it returned in the condition they get it. Check car afterwards to ensure they have not inadverantly damaged it.

2) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN OFF DEALER LOT UNLESS IM INSIDE WITH TECH ETC.

3) Be tactfull

The firs time I did this, I felt like a doushbag requesting this but in the end it's my car and Im paying for it.

****Now just to be clear after Honda incident in early 2000 dealers do not do anything unless saftey recall.

I hope you get this resolved hopefully they are stand up and agree to your requests.

In your talks with them, keep in mind we all make mistakes and likely the outcome for person who was driving when damage was done will likely lose job and may ripple effect to thier family etc.

Not taking responsibility and reporting to you immediately is not good at least they owned up to it hopefully monday they do right thing.

 

......I also have the receipt that shows the car had 3 miles on it for a diagnostic test (for which there is no reason).......

Well in this regard, it's not Chevy's fault..........3 miles on a car for a diagnostic check may be acceptable.......

The diagnostic test was to pull the radio code. No driving was necessary......

And this, Driver, is why we shouldn't presume to know someone else's business better than they know it.

KW

 

Who presumed to know someone else's business better than they do?

 

Get a lawyer. The dealership already indicated they are most likely going to give you a hard time with this, since the service manager knew about the incident and did not inform you that it occured.

 

Not sure what that will accomplish. It will likely cost more to retain an atty that the amount of the repairs will accomplish.

Give them a chance to do the right thing before you get an attorney to tell you to do the same thing.

 

Here's some pics of the quarter, sorry it took so long, had to hook my iPhone to the laptop. Also failed to mention I'm hearing and feeling a clunk now sometimes from a complete stop to acceleration. Not all the time but it's happening not sure what that could be but the rear.

 

Yep, looks just like the bollard scrape my wife put on our truck two weeks after purchase.
Sorry you are having to deal with this.

 

Maybe a longshot, but could that be pulled out using paintless dent repair? Sometimes those guys can work magic. May be worth asking as that would prevent any major bodywork.

 

Definitely repairable. By replacing the quarter it would mean disturbing way more area than needed.

 

100% repairable with very little work. If they will take care of it, I would go with that and maybe try to get some parts/discounts and call it a day. And then never go back.

 

I agree that this looks easily repaired having worked in a body shop for a while. Also, if they take care of it and it is not reported to the police or the insurance companies, it will probably not show up on CarFAX and the car will not suffer diminished value.

Good luck!