Bad motor mount halts sale of Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia
While we applaud carmakers that can streamline the design and production process to bring new vehicles to market quicker, we don't like thinking that they're skimping on the important stuff in the process. First Ford made all kinds of hoopla over their interesting and capable Edge (and it's Lincoln doppelganger, the MKX) only to have it delayed by production line "hiccups." That model is seen as being so important to Ford's future that we lauded the company for taking its time to fix the problems before it released the product. Fortunately production resumed relatively quickly and the CUVs have been leaving the plant at a healthy clip.
Now we learn that GM is going through a similar "hiccup" with their new crossovers, the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia. Unfortunately, this problem has presented itself after some of the vehicles have already been delivered to dealers, who have been instructed to hold the CUVs on lots until a fix can be applied.
The problem has been traced to a situation where water freezes atop one of the engine mounts, which can result in NVH issues. With only around 550 of the crossovers in dealer lots dealerships, it's not a huge problem; but it's these little things that can weigh heavily on consumers' minds. Drilling a few drainage holes will alleviate the water pooling and take care of the problem. The fix can be made right at the dealer according to the report. Sales should resume in a matter of days.
[Source: Automotive News, sub req]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dave T 12:52PM (12/12/2006)
The J-niks broke this one yesterday and GM says that the cars are back on sale as of today, as long as the dealer has made the fix.
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Mike 12:58PM (12/12/2006)
Hey Frank, glad you reinforce the negative views of the domestics... how about mentioning the Tundra delays. No? What other products has Toyota delayed...no?
That's right, mention only the negative about the domestics.
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leo 2:37PM (12/18/2006)
I'd rather not have the holes, some type of high temp resistance silicone over it in a semi-circular shape so that water would not stay whould be a better idea, shoot, put some grease on top of it - but drilling could possible change the material properties and before you know you'll have to replace the mount at 20k miles, and we know that would not be good for GM quality as they are in the up ramp now.
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bernie 1:21PM (12/12/2006)
Wow, can't get a low tech part like a motor mount right - how pitiful is that?
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Michael Karesh 1:08PM (12/12/2006)
Have these even gone on sale? When I was at the dealer the Outlooks were all demos, they weren't available for sale yet.
I wouldn't place too much importance on this issue. It was caught very early and requires a minor fix.
My comparison review of the Outlook, Freestyle, and Pacifica:
http://www.epinions.com/content_286658760324
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apt34 1:13PM (12/12/2006)
I like how people suddenly get defensive in these posts for absolutely NO reason other than to just insert Toyota's name in there. It just has to happen for some unknown reason.
It's a news story, nothing else. Is an editorial needed on every single piece of news?
Regardless, its good that GM caught this early and that relatively, its not a huge issue. We're not talking about random fires or transmission failures, so I think we can already see GM improving here. Kudos, GM.
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Al 1:33PM (12/12/2006)
Bernie,
Have you ever built anything yourself? Motor mount or not, it's not isolated.
And I don't know what you consider "pitiful"... for me it's the fact that GM is actually SELLING these large cross-overs while Toyota, Nissan, and Ford all sell their similarly-sized but gas-guzzling Super-duper-huge-boat SUVs by the names of: Sequoia, Pathfinder Armada, and Expedition.
That's pitiful (especially the Sequoia, whose interior can be compared to that made out of Legos).
Got anything else to say?
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Bonita 1:37PM (12/12/2006)
And we're surprised why? It's a *&^%$# GM product.
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Pitcrew 2:06PM (12/12/2006)
THE CARS ARE NOT EVEN ON THE F*%KING ROAD YET! THEY ARE FIXING A PROBLEM BEFORE IT HITS THE STREETS AND YOU WANT TO BASH THEM! YOU ARE AN IDIOT!
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roar 2:23PM (12/12/2006)
Alot to do about nothing. Nice job Autoblog, hyping a non event.
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Knoxed Out 2:43PM (12/12/2006)
Only 560 made, none sold, non event.
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bad blooooood 2:53PM (12/12/2006)
I'll tell you what it is, it is a vast left wing conspiracy, the Japanese and their lap-dogs at Consumer Report spread lies about GM.
How come CR doesn't mention that Escalade gets better MPG than Camry? How come Truth About Cars doesn't give people facts, like when Ford had to recall 4 million SUVs because they were bursting into flames....next to every fireball a small Asian looking man was spotted. What is that all about? Stop the lies, liberals be ashamed.
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Lithous 3:56PM (12/12/2006)
But Mike, you act like Toyota does a delay for the Corolla and it comes out looking like the old Corolla with the Camry front end. Toyota doesn't do that. Well, in theory that is.
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Rob 8:42AM (12/13/2006)
Mike, stop crying about your beloved domestics. All cars have problems...both imported and domestic. Get over it.
And this is a "non-event"? I bet you're the same ones who bashed Toyota for delaying the release of the new Tundra yet surprisingly think this deserves no mention (even though some cars have already been delivered to lots).
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Lithous 4:15PM (12/12/2006)
"I'll tell you what it is, it is a vast left wing conspiracy, the Japanese and their lap-dogs at Consumer Report spread lies about GM."
Yeah, it is comforting how CR writes about Toyota's recalls (the ones that the company decided to slow production to cure because it got so bad) though.
"How come CR doesn't mention that Escalade gets better MPG than Camry?"
It probably gets better MPG than most of their bigger than RAV4 SUVs though.
"How come Truth About Cars doesn't give people facts, like when Ford had to recall 4 million SUVs because they were bursting into flames...."
They know the truth all right. They saw very early on the problems Chrysler is having. DCX Death Watch is a great episode. Once the Germans took over LiesAboutCars knew there was no need for a Chrysler Death Watch.
"next to every fireball a small Asian looking man was spotted."
Just sometimes a "news" ageny is spotted making pickups explode for the camera that's all.
But whatever.
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Claire de lune 5:01PM (12/12/2006)
7. And we're surprised why? It's a *&^%$# GM product.
Posted at 1:35PM on Dec 12th 2006 by Bonita
Bonita, Just shut the *$^%$# up.
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GTO 4:29PM (12/12/2006)
insert
/insert
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Jaden 6:32PM (12/12/2006)
#11, where exactly are you getting your info from?
#6, the acadia/outlook are more 4runner/pathfinder/explorer sized, or even highlander
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RogerR 6:46PM (12/12/2006)
I think people do not realize that the fact that GM stopped the sales for a bit until a fix was found is a big step for them. In the past they would have just sold the car and hope no one noticed the problem.when and if the buyer brought the car back they would have either replaced the part then or ignored the whole deal and you would have gotten the "they all do that" answer. I have bought more than my share of "they all do that" cars from them. Vega,Monza,Century,Citation,6000,Beretta,Venture.
I know, I know, how could you buy so many bad cars. bad luck or stupidity. My wife says the later. Yes dear.
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bloooooooooooooood 7:44PM (12/12/2006)
Look why is everyone surprised, is this somehow not consistent with GM? Making poor cars, bad quality, poor reliability, why is this even an issue, we are talking about GM.
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