My new Chevy only had 26k miles when a $3,150 part went out – dealership couldn’t fix it but I still had to pay my bill

A TRAILBLAZER owner was left to pay for an undrivable car – his transmission went out before 30,000 miles.

Even though he couldn’t drive his new car for months, he was expected to make his loan and insurance payments.

KENS 5

KENS 5

KENS 5

Fernando Garanzuay bought a gently used Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV with only 14,000 miles from a San Antonio, Texas dealership last December.

Due to the high miles per gallon, he used it to work for Uber , to get to work, and to run errands – racking up the odometer to 26,000 within four months of ownership.

Garanzuay was shocked when the car shuttered to a stop and he received a warning indicating his transmission needed service.

After towing it to his local dealership, he delivered the bad news that his transmission failed and needed replacing.

Since Chevy’s powertrain covers six years or 60,000 miles, his Trailblazer was only halfway there, so the replacement would be free.

However, the technician said the parts needed to be ordered and may take “a while” to arrive.

“They just say it’s on backorder. There is no estimated time,” he told CBC affiliate KENS .

Garanzuay expected a week or two, but didn’t expect months to roll by without an update.

He was given a loaner but felt frustrated paying for an undrivable car.

“I’m paying for something I’m not using,” he said.

In July, two months after he took it into the shop, he called KENS reporters for help.

Reporters contacted the dealership on his behalf, and a spokeswoman responded via email within 24 hours.

“Thank you for reaching out! I wanted to let you know that Fernando will be hearing from the dealership soon with an update,” she wrote.

“The parts he needs are being prepared to ship, and should arrive soon.”

Reporters asked the dealership why it took over two months for parts to arrive.

According to them, an issue along the supply chain affects shipping and delivery times.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

• 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
• 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

Then reporters contacted Chevy corporate regarding what customers in Garanzuay’s situation should do.

“Customers should work directly with their local Chevy dealership should they face any service issues with their vehicle,” wrote a spokesperson.

A week after reporters began working with Garanzuay, the transmission and parts arrived.

His Trailblazer was fixed shortly afterward, and he was relieved to get it back.

“I was like ‘Yes! I’m going to be driving my own vehicle,” he mused.

“If I didn’t call y’all I could have been waiting six months. I appreciate you for helping me out.”