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Bubbling Sail Panel Issue for Dummies
This is all real disappointing to read. My '02 Z28 hardtop (built Feb. 2002) has 17.5K miles on it and is starting to bubble badly. You can see the texture all around the roof panel plus it has actually bubbled through the clear coat and ruptured in a couple of spots. All this from a car that is essentially always in storage in a garage. NICE! I thought maybe it got something on it while it was in storage over the winter and it wasn't until I was talking to a fellow Camaro owner this week that I found out this was a known issue. I guess I'll start contacting area dealerships on Monday and see what happens. 

As soon as GM stock rebounds, its sold. I've lost faith. Screw GM. My next car will be a Ford or Chrysler. Lucky for them I still refuse to buy a Toyonda.
My claim was officially denied today. I was given every excuse in the book, as expected. Told this was not covered under the 6 yr 100k corrosion warranty since it isn't rust and that they would not provide me any assistance what so ever for any reason. The fact that the car has 17.5K miles, is super clean and that I have purchased/leased 7 new GM vehicles since 1995 was completely irrellivant. I am so pissed at GM right now I can't hardly stand it. To get this completely blown off and this quickly is disgusting. I know understand why the world is switching to Toyotas and Hondas. I flat out told the guy you've lost a customer and hung up on his final apology for not being able to do anything.
As soon as GM stock rebounds, its sold. I've lost faith. Screw GM. My next car will be a Ford or Chrysler. Lucky for them I still refuse to buy a Toyonda.
As soon as GM stock rebounds, its sold. I've lost faith. Screw GM. My next car will be a Ford or Chrysler. Lucky for them I still refuse to buy a Toyonda.
So I take it you find their response to be perfectly reasonable and responsible or my response to be unreasonable? Of course, you squeezed your repair in under the 6 year warranty so you have nothing to worry about unless your repair was done before the TSB was changed to tell them to use a different adhesive. I guess it's perfectly acceptable for GM to acknowledge they had a manufacturing defect but refuse to do anything about it? Hell, the GM "District Specialist" refused to even acknowledge GM had a 6 yr paint warranty. "That's rust corrosion only!" 
I don't let go of things like this easily so I guess we'll see what happens when I press the issue as much as I can. Probably nothing but if nothing else, I'll feel a little better.
I don't let go of things like this easily so I guess we'll see what happens when I press the issue as much as I can. Probably nothing but if nothing else, I'll feel a little better.
So I take it you find their response to be perfectly reasonable and responsible or my response to be unreasonable? Of course, you squeezed your repair in under the 6 year warranty so you have nothing to worry about unless your repair was done before the TSB was changed to tell them to use a different adhesive. I guess it's perfectly acceptable for GM to acknowledge they had a manufacturing defect but refuse to do anything about it? Hell, the GM "District Specialist" refused to even acknowledge GM had a 6 yr paint warranty. "That's rust corrosion only!" 
I don't let go of things like this easily so I guess we'll see what happens when I press the issue as much as I can. Probably nothing but if nothing else, I'll feel a little better.
I don't let go of things like this easily so I guess we'll see what happens when I press the issue as much as I can. Probably nothing but if nothing else, I'll feel a little better.
There is no 6 year paint warranty. It is a corrosion or rust thru warranty. My repair was done about two months after my warranty expired. I was about to have it done out of my own pocket as I didn't expect them to do anything anyway seeing as how I opted not to purchas any extended warranty. I've dumped prolly over $15,000 into this car over the years on various things and fixing my roof myself didn't matter cause I do whatever it takes to keep up with this car. You think things are better over at Ford or Toyonda? Lmao. I know for a fact GM offered everyone extended warranties cause they tried to shove one down my throat. I find it hilarious some people come on here with cars that are 10 years old and expect GM to fix this. Fix the car yourself if you really like it that much if not, see you in my rear view in your Mustang.
There is no 6 year paint warranty. It is a corrosion or rust thru warranty. My repair was done about two months after my warranty expired. I was about to have it done out of my own pocket as I didn't expect them to do anything anyway seeing as how I opted not to purchas any extended warranty. I've dumped prolly over $15,000 into this car over the years on various things and fixing my roof myself didn't matter cause I do whatever it takes to keep up with this car. You think things are better over at Ford or Toyonda? Lmao. I know for a fact GM offered everyone extended warranties cause they tried to shove one down my throat. I find it hilarious some people come on here with cars that are 10 years old and expect GM to fix this. Fix the car yourself if you really like it that much if not, see you in my rear view in your Mustang.
I work in the auto industry, as a manufacturing engineer no less, but it doesn't take an engineer to see that GM screwed up. I can't even do a simple repaint of the roof. Well, I suppose I can if I want to have it repainted every year or two. No, if it is going to be done correctly, I have to replace the whole damn roof of my hardtop car. I overlooked the bent shift fork that took out my third gear synchro and took the opportunity to have my trans built right by Liberty. I overlooked the woefully under spec'd 7-5/8" 10 bolt rear end for the simple fact that I knew about this weak point before I bought the car. I refuse to overlook a stupid manufacturing **** up that GM refuses to acknowledge is even a problem even though I am sure internally they have a ton of information. Trust me when I say know exactly what the extent of the problem is at least as to how it relates to warranty costs. They make a lot of effort to track that stuff. All the automakers do. I've seen it with my own eyes. This is a case of the new GM being the old GM.
Having said all that, I will follow this through with the better business bureau and I will gather all the case information I can to show GM I did my homework. If they still refuse to fix it, the only way I have left to show my dissatisfaction with them is to buy from another manufacturer. It WILL NOT be Toyota as I refuse to stoop that low to prove a point.
One other thing. There are a lot of little issues that my wife and I have overlooked with both of our Saturns. I can assure you that they will no longer be overlooked as I now have every intention of taking full advantage of the 3 yr, 36k mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Last edited by 2QuickZ's; Oct 11, 2008 at 09:24 PM.
There is no 6 year paint warranty. It is a corrosion or rust thru warranty. My repair was done about two months after my warranty expired. I was about to have it done out of my own pocket as I didn't expect them to do anything anyway seeing as how I opted not to purchas any extended warranty. I've dumped prolly over $15,000 into this car over the years on various things and fixing my roof myself didn't matter cause I do whatever it takes to keep up with this car. You think things are better over at Ford or Toyonda? Lmao. I know for a fact GM offered everyone extended warranties cause they tried to shove one down my throat. I find it hilarious some people come on here with cars that are 10 years old and expect GM to fix this. Fix the car yourself if you really like it that much if not, see you in my rear view in your Mustang.
Well said ..
... these are old cars now and if you look back through the history of the automobile you will find errors on just about anything that has been built with any manufacturer...hot rodders have always made their cars better than what the factory produced...mine started showing up after 100,000 miles and 6 years...no big deal I'll just fix it..this car is going to be a project for its entire life anyway ..

Sorry to see you feel this way. I think GM should pay for it as they never actually put any anti corrosion substance when they put the glue in to hold the roof, but they did it for the 98s and early 99s. It's one thing to have wear and tear and you pay for it, this is a manufacturing defect in which you have to replace your roof...pretty sad in humble opinion.
Last edited by 2QuickZ's; Oct 12, 2008 at 09:52 AM.
Is there an official 6 year warranty? Apparently not. GM did extend a paint warranty to 6 years in the late 90's because of all the paint issues they were having on the full size trucks and SUV's. Some people were able to use this same argument to get agreement on their Camaro's. That is one of the frustrating things about this. GM has been VERY inconsistent.
Want a tissue.
Maybe if you sell you Camaro and go drive your exciting Saturn ... that will cure the excessive whining that you suffer from..or better yet sell all of your GM vehicles..threats of buying something besides a GM vehicle is really pretty funny ....
... buy a mustang or a ricer ... those vehicles have problems too .. I love driving a late model muscle car and put I put tons of miles a year on mine and drive it like I stole it ... life is too short to worry about the small **** that you can't do anything about ... replacing the roof panel is hardly a life style changing expense ... when my clutch went out I just accepted it and replaced it with a better one ... actually I was really surprised it lasted as long as it did ...
... buy a mustang or a ricer ... those vehicles have problems too .. I love driving a late model muscle car and put I put tons of miles a year on mine and drive it like I stole it ... life is too short to worry about the small **** that you can't do anything about ... replacing the roof panel is hardly a life style changing expense ... when my clutch went out I just accepted it and replaced it with a better one ... actually I was really surprised it lasted as long as it did ...
Unfortunately for GM, there are far too few people in the world like you two that are willing to spend $20k+ on vehicles and just completely blow off manufacturing defects. If there were more like you, I'm sure there market share wouldn't have dropped 50% over the last 30 years. No worries on window motors here. My Camaro doesn't have any.
Do I think it is any better any place else? Not really. I'm a realist. But there are products from other automakers that I like and wouldn't hesitate to buy. I've owned around 30 cars or so in my 37 years of life, most of which have been GM but not all. Buying something other than a GM product is no big deal to me. If I sell my Camaro it will be to purchase a piece of classic GM iron like a '66 Chevelle (I used to own one and regret selling it), a 66-67 Chevy II or a '55 Chevy and make a pro touring car out of it. I may even do a mid-60's Buick or Olds just to be different.
Now do either of you have something useful to offer such as a GM case number?
Do I think it is any better any place else? Not really. I'm a realist. But there are products from other automakers that I like and wouldn't hesitate to buy. I've owned around 30 cars or so in my 37 years of life, most of which have been GM but not all. Buying something other than a GM product is no big deal to me. If I sell my Camaro it will be to purchase a piece of classic GM iron like a '66 Chevelle (I used to own one and regret selling it), a 66-67 Chevy II or a '55 Chevy and make a pro touring car out of it. I may even do a mid-60's Buick or Olds just to be different.
Now do either of you have something useful to offer such as a GM case number?
Unfortunately for GM, there are far too few people in the world like you two that are willing to spend $20k+ on vehicles and just completely blow off manufacturing defects. If there were more like you, I'm sure there market share wouldn't have dropped 50% over the last 30 years. No worries on window motors here. My Camaro doesn't have any.
Do I think it is any better any place else? Not really. I'm a realist. But there are products from other automakers that I like and wouldn't hesitate to buy. I've owned around 30 cars or so in my 37 years of life, most of which have been GM but not all. Buying something other than a GM product is no big deal to me. If I sell my Camaro it will be to purchase a piece of classic GM iron like a '66 Chevelle (I used to own one and regret selling it), a 66-67 Chevy II or a '55 Chevy and make a pro touring car out of it. I may even do a mid-60's Buick or Olds just to be different.
Now do either of you have something useful to offer such as a GM case number?
Do I think it is any better any place else? Not really. I'm a realist. But there are products from other automakers that I like and wouldn't hesitate to buy. I've owned around 30 cars or so in my 37 years of life, most of which have been GM but not all. Buying something other than a GM product is no big deal to me. If I sell my Camaro it will be to purchase a piece of classic GM iron like a '66 Chevelle (I used to own one and regret selling it), a 66-67 Chevy II or a '55 Chevy and make a pro touring car out of it. I may even do a mid-60's Buick or Olds just to be different.
Now do either of you have something useful to offer such as a GM case number?
Like I said these are old cars if you have a warranty claim that falls within the warranty parameters go for it..other wise quit whinning and get on with your life...enjoy your phuchin car...I have lost track of how many cars I've had in my 61 years more that 50 that is for sure..but that means nothing...the only warranty claim that I would have had was the clutch but I did not want another stock clutch to replace the one that blew..the engine was making more than the stock parts could handle..so I did what any real hot rodder would do...upgraded to a better after market part...as to a window motor I replaced my driver side at 6 years 6 months at 126,000 miles for $36 and a half hour of my time...that seems like a reasonalble length of time for a part that is used that much ... I work at a Chevy dealer and my roof did not bubble until way after the warranty was over and out..no crying here I have a body shop that I do biz with that will fix it for a reasonable price...here is a FYI for ya ... a warranty does not last forever..
Last edited by slt200mph; Oct 12, 2008 at 02:49 PM.
Like I said these are old cars if you have a warranty claim that falls within the warranty parameters go for it..other wise quit whinning and get on with your life...enjoy your phuchin car...I have lost track of how many cars I've had in my 61 years more that 50 that is for sure..but that means nothing...the only warranty claim that I would have had was the clutch but I did not want another stock clutch to replace the one that blew..the engine was making more than the stock parts could handle..so I did what any real hot rodder would do...upgraded to a better after market part...as to a window motor I replaced my driver side at 6 years 6 months at 126,000 miles for $36 and a half hour of my time...that seems like a reasonalble length of time for a part that is used that much ... I work at a Chevy dealer and my roof did not bubble until way after the warranty was over and out..no crying here I have a body shop that I do biz with that will fix it for a reasonable price...here is a FYI for ya ... a warranty does not last forever..

Some cars are still being fixed based on what I have read on this thread.
That is the real cause for complaining (here and elsewhere) in my opinion and GM would certainly lose a class action suit based on their arbitrary policy. They should have either fixed all the roof panels or none of them if they were to be fair.
Someone should start a thread here with a vote on it.
Roof panel fixed yet? Yes or no.
Sort of what you want. If you have it poll.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-body-work/497097-your-98-02-f-body-roof-bubbling.html
It was the District Service Manager telling me I was a liar to my face which made up my mind. 98 Altima, 03 Maxima and a 03 Matrix later I have yet to buy a GM. I mean 2QuickZ's has valid points. They need to stand behind their product. Serivice with GM has fallen into a "It's not our problem" or "You caused that problem" phase. Someone elses responsibility other than GM. Until I see they are backing up their product they can go pound sand.
Last edited by Jolly; Oct 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM.





