Cadillac XLR Forum banner

My XLR is a Lemon

23682 Views 71 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  Lola's mom
8/10 - Replaced battery.
9/13 - GPS/Radio unit replaced.
10/16 - Replaced fuel tank cap. Replaced trunk seperator. Aligned hood.
10/23 - Replaced squeaking brakes. Replaced GPS antenna.
11/08 - Replaced center console.
12/18 - Flushed fuel injectors.
12/26 - Flushed rear differential.
01/30 - Flushed rear differential.
02/12 - Center speaker vibrating, part ordered.

02/13 - Now the brakes are going out, after being replaced 6k miles ago. They're refusing to take it in for warranty service without my authorization for $100 of repair.
1 - 20 of 72 Posts
Sounds like its time to contact the Cadillac District Manager.
G
If it's yellow, makes you pucker and kids sell it on the curb to make money.............It's a lemon.
I went through your list and having had a lemon, which GM bought back, there isn't much you can do about these minor aggravations. I would suggest you down shift to save on the brake wear.
I don't mean to make light of your list, because I wouldn't want to go through that stuff, but they are all quick fixes. At least you not dealing with unknowns that some of us have had to deal with.
I don't think it's fair that they are making you pay anything on brake work, but hey, they can say your tough on brakes and get away with it.
If you had one consistent item that the car had been in for at least three times and they couldn't fix it.............That's a lemonade drink for sure.
Hope the list gets shorter
Bob
Sounds like its time to contact the Cadillac District Manager.
That is simply a list of issues that they were able to replicate and fix. Among other issues, they have not been able to identify:

- Why my brakes only last 6k miles (they say it's because I'm too hard on them)

- What's causing the smell while driving in manual transmission mode (they say they drove two other 06 xlr's and they produced the same burning smell. if this is true, there should be a recall in effect.)

I've been told that any vehicle after being in service for cumulative total of 30 days or more can fall under lemon law or other statutes.

How are your brakes wearing down? Every 6k? Also, please post here on the topic of the burning smell.
Got 20K on my brakes... so far so good:) The other items that you mentioned I have not experienced. The thirty day in the shop thing...I have not heard of too many cars being bought back for that BUT if it is a repetitive item that cannot be fixed in three visits and impairs the value, yes.

If it is a safety related issue. Yes. I am not sure about how Cal. laws are interpreted.

Have you tried third party arbitration? (BBB) That might be a quicker resolution. In many states that is required prior to lemon law litigation.

It certainly sounds like the Cadillac dealer is not working for you. In many instances the District manager relies on the dealer to take the customers case to him. The dealer must be the ones to initiate a repurchase with the factory. If the dealer will not assist you, I suggest that you try to contact GM utilizing the customer assistance number in the owners manual as this is usually where everything must start.

I really wish you the best of luck in getting your items repaired or the car replaced. We have enjoyed ours immensley and can only shudder to think of the inconvenience not to mention the stress this creates on the owner/driver.

Fred
See less See more
lemon buy back

I have about 18k on my 04 and brakes are holding up well. I havent talked to any other XLR owners that have had lining failures in 6K.. However my sister in law goes thru brakes on her Sierra truck at that rate. She doesnt know how to drive with out one foot on the brake.. Hopefully you arent driving with your left foot on the brake pedal.

I have had some serious issues with the XLR but found calling the 800 number for Cadillac got immediate response. Not always the answer I wanted but they got back to me and at one point really lit a fire under the dealer I was using.

Good luck
My 2004 XLR (my first of three) was a Monday morning car too. Always something wrong, but never enough to invoke the lemon law.
I called for a meeting with my dealer, with whom I had done quite a bit of business in the past, and explained my problem and frustration.
To correct the situation, they took my 04 in trade for the wholesale value and sold me a 2005 at their actual cost meaning invoice less all the holdbacks etc.
Both the dealer and I walked away happy.:flag
G
Alibond,
I have 9k on my 06 V, and drive it hard but use my tranny to slow my vehicle all the time. Hope that holds up.
I don't know about the 30 day deal, but there is a certain amount of days that the car can be out of service before you can ask for a buy back. Maybe it's a total of 30 days.
I would go over their head...........BTW, who is the dealer? I hope it's not Tustin. Knowing where you live it's probably the one on Harbour Blvd?
Bob
I am assuming you are happy with ALL of the other issues you reported now EXCEPT the brakes--right???

If so and your driving habits require sturdier pads then go to the Bremo pads or Lydle pads and see what happens.

You may not have another issue for a long time.

FWIW: I'm like the other guys here my brakes are nearly new BUT MY TIRES--seem to wear down REAL FAST ESPECIALLY THE REAR ONES!!! RIGHT BOB???

Regards



G
I sure didn't get this car to drive like a little old man. Kick it, kick it good. Still got plenty of rubber for the trip to Bowling Green. I just don't kick it and try drifting anymore. That drifting is over rated
Bob
The cruise control and the active handling system both can and do apply the brakes as needed. It is possible that a hardware or software flaw could be creating a condition that applies the brakes at times you wouldn't expect, possibly causing excellerated wear. Talk to your dealership about that possibility too.
Bottom line:rant ....Don't take some servive department persons answer of no..
GO UP THE LADDER AS FAR AS YOU HAVE TO. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW FRIENDLY THESE PEOPLE GET WHEN YOU REACH THE HIGHER UP'S.:rant
It's Tustin Cadillac. When I first started visiting there, they lost my information and part order for the GPS Unit because the service advisor had misspelled my name.

Tustin tries to do everything they can, but it's not their fault that this XLR has problem after problem.


Alibond,
I have 9k on my 06 V, and drive it hard but use my tranny to slow my vehicle all the time. Hope that holds up.
I don't know about the 30 day deal, but there is a certain amount of days that the car can be out of service before you can ask for a buy back. Maybe it's a total of 30 days.
I would go over their head...........BTW, who is the dealer? I hope it's not Tustin. Knowing where you live it's probably the one on Harbour Blvd?
Bob
No, still haven't fixed the cold-start rear-axle grinding issue. Laywer says once I get it back from this third attempt (so far been in service for 8 days) he will try to lemon it.

Apparently, GM is pretty good about lemoning vehicles with a simple letter from an attorney... plus they pay attorney's fees. I've already dealt with Cadillac national customer service and they refused to buy back.


I am assuming you are happy with ALL of the other issues you reported now EXCEPT the brakes--right???

If so and your driving habits require sturdier pads then go to the Bremo pads or Lydle pads and see what happens.

You may not have another issue for a long time.

FWIW: I'm like the other guys here my brakes are nearly new BUT MY TIRES--seem to wear down REAL FAST ESPECIALLY THE REAR ONES!!! RIGHT BOB???

Regards
I often use the cruise, and that must be what is killing it. I also brake pretty hard, pretty often... but I didn't get this car to baby it. It's a high-performance sports car.

I'm pretty sure I'm not going to buy an American car ever again.


The cruise control and the active handling system both can and do apply the brakes as needed. It is possible that a hardware or software flaw could be creating a condition that applies the brakes at times you wouldn't expect, possibly causing excellerated wear. Talk to your dealership about that possibility too.
Yeah, things started happening when I went to the dealership general manager.

But I'm sick of dealing with it all, now I have a lemon law attorney who's fees will be covered by GM. He's handling everything from here on out because Cadillac customer service and Tustin Cadillac have seriously pissed me off.


Bottom line:rant ....Don't take some servive department persons answer of no..
GO UP THE LADDER AS FAR AS YOU HAVE TO. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW FRIENDLY THESE PEOPLE GET WHEN YOU REACH THE HIGHER UP'S.:rant
Here's a letter regarding my most serious issues...


ENGINE RATTLE

I have visited multiple times for a rattle in the engine during acceleration. It sounds like I am using low-quality gas in the car. However, I have always used “Top Tier” brand gasolines at the highest octane available. After multiple repair attempts, the dealer tells me the vehicle is working to specifications. If I take the vehicle in for further repair attempts, they say the vehicle is working to specifications and there is nothing they can check.

BURNING SMELL

I have visited multiple times for a burning odor coming from rear axle area of the vehicle. This occurs after driving the vehicle in manual transmission mode. The dealer tells me the vehicle is working to specifications. They also stated that they were instructed by Cadillac to road test two other 2006 Cadillac XLR’s. The dealer told me that the other two vehicles tested had the same odor. If I take the vehicle in for further repair attempts, they say the vehicle is working to specifications and there is nothing they can check.

GPS UNIT

I waited from 09/13/06 until 10/16/06 for a GPS Unit to be delivered to Tustin Cadillac. During this time, my GPS unit was showing me in a different location than I really was and this feature of the car was unusable. On 10/16/06, the GPS Unit was replaced. This did not fix the issue. I returned 10/23/06 and had the GPS antenna replaced. This resolved the issue.

GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR AXLE

I have visited multiple times for a grinding noise while first moving from a cold start. I took the vehicle in on 02/19/07, and this will be their third repair attempt. I still have not received my vehicle back 7 days later.
See less See more
G
Any money over what you have invested in the vehicle is split 1/3 for the lawyer and 2/3 for you. Keep this in mind when trying for any big settlement.
They also get to deduct milage from the first time you brought your car in for the particular flaw that you are claiming. ie. Brought in for engine noise at 2,000 miles.
They will deduct the usage. I would suggest that if they offer the amount you have invested in the vehicle, less the milage charge.................Take it or you will be looking at that vehcile in your garge for a year or more.
Just trying to help
Bob
Yeah, things started happening when I went to the dealership general manager.

But I'm sick of dealing with it all, now I have a lemon law attorney who's fees will be covered by GM. He's handling everything from here on out because Cadillac customer service and Tustin Cadillac have seriously pissed me off.
My lemon law layer is working on the case. He says his fees are negotiated and paid fully by General Motors. He doesn't take a certain percentage of the settlement.

It has been nearly a month now from his demand letter to GM, been in service at least 4 times in March. Flatbed tow company actually damaged the vehicle while taking it to the dealer once this month... cracked a tail-light while loading onto the flat bed. Now I have another lawsuit on my hands.

I'll let you all know how it works out. Today Tustin Cadillac put a manual event data recorder in the XLR. I'm supposed to push the button when something goes wrong and it records up to four events. I just want my settlement figure.
G
You might be right on your agreement, but generally, if you take their offer which is below your investment in your vehicle, you get it all and the lawyer gets paid by GM.......................But, if you go for more than that, Your agreement usually is:
Any dollars over your investment, you get 2/3's and he gets 1/3 of the amount.
If you go to court, all bets are off if the jury doesn't improve your best position offered by GM and you will pay all GM and lawyers fees. This is where I backed off and took the generous offer and split the overage with my lawyer.
Please read your contract thoroughly.

My lemon law layer is working on the case. He says his fees are negotiated and paid fully by General Motors. He doesn't take a certain percentage of the settlement.

It has been nearly a month now from his demand letter to GM, been in service at least 4 times in March. Flatbed tow company actually damaged the vehicle while taking it to the dealer once this month... cracked a tail-light while loading onto the flat bed. Now I have another lawsuit on my hands.

I'll let you all know how it works out. Today Tustin Cadillac put a manual event data recorder in the XLR. I'm supposed to push the button when something goes wrong and it records up to four events. I just want my settlement figure.
1 - 20 of 72 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top