Community Forums

The Shadow · 08-21-2011, 11:11 PM

Anyone considering a Cruze as a Toad, or who is using a Cruze as a Toad should have a look at this thread in the FMCA forums.

Towing 2012 Cruze 4 Wheel Down - FMCA Motorhome Forums

This is currently the last entry:

Quote:

Posted 19 August 2011 - 11:54 PM
Thanks for the reply. I just had a dealer call me today about the 2011 Cruz. He said he just got a sevice notice from Chevy saying that the 2011 and 2012 cruz will not be approved for 4 wheel down towing. He said they are sending addendems for the owners manuals.Must of had to many transmission claims. Not sure what this means for people who have these cars, but I may have to rethink my options.Hope you don't have any problems with yours.

I know what I'd do if I had a Cruze for a Toad that was purchased because GM said it could be towed four down. If what we see in the FMCA thread is true, I think GM is going to get some notices from class action lawyers.

We have an Escape and Ford has replaced a lot of 6F35 transmissions. If Ford came out now and said we can't tow it four down any longer....... well, you can guess what I'd do.

Norm4015 · 08-22-2011, 10:06 AM

There have been three posts on other forums that the 2012 Cruze is not towable four down and posts that Chevrolet said the 2011 is not towable either. Chevrolet said the towing information in the owners manual was a mistake and they have released a supplement to the owners manual explaining it can not be towed.

But there is no official word from Chevrolet yet. This will be interesting to follow to see Chevrolet's response.

The Shadow · 08-22-2011, 10:58 AM

I've been wondering if the 2012 Escape (still current edition) will drop flat towing. I have a feeling the totally new unit in 2013 (due summer 2012) to have a different transmission and no flat towing allowed - OR the new transmission will be much better suited to towing.

We have a 2011 Escape and this past week towed it over 500 miles (total towing miles now 3,000) with no problems. Given that a couple of 2011's have had burned out transmissions towing flat it makes one travel with fingers crossed. It seems that the units that have burned out the transmissions have done it fairly early. It tows very well at 3600 lbs and it is DW's car and she really likes it because of its small size (175 inches). I'm of the view that when a flat towed Escape transmission has to be replaced Ford would be very wise include a lube pump at its expense.

Elkhartjim · 08-22-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm4015

Chevrolet said the towing information in the owners manual was a mistake and they have released a supplement to the owners manual explaining it can not be towed.

But there is no official word from Chevrolet yet.

If there has been no official word from Chevrolet then "what" Chevrolet said the towing information in the owners manual was a mistake...?

Again, I caution the readers of FMCA to check and verify the stories printed both in their mag and on their website.

Norm4015 · 08-22-2011, 08:40 PM

Apparently GM is sending letters to Cruze owners informing them the Cruze is not towable 4-wheels down even though the owners manual says it is. A few days ago one man said Chevrolet offered him a tow dolly. These are two posts from today on another RV forum.

We just got the notice today about our cruze. Anybody know what we can expect from chevy?- A tow dolly or rebate or switch to standard. We just bought our cruze for towing in May. Hopefully they make it right.

The Remco site for 2011 Cruze auto transmission says "2011 Model Year is Towable as is". We received our Safety Recall letter today. The ONLY reason we turned in our Prius for a bought a new Cruze was to tow 4 down as we start retirement in 2 weeks from now. Have $1900 and 2 days time invested in the tow package. GM is going to have to make this right, such as installing Remco type system.

somoma · 08-22-2011, 10:37 PM

We just bought a 2011 Chevy Cruze with automatic transmission at the end of June. One of the deciding factors for this purchase was because it was, according to GM and the owner's manual, towable four wheels down, just like the Malibu. This was to be the car we carried into retirement and would tow behind our 40 foot motorhome.

So today, August 22, 2011, I received a letter in the Mail from Chevrolet:

Dear Chevrolet Customer:

As the owner of a 2011 model year Chevrolet Cruze, equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, your satisfaction with our product is very important to us.

We are contacting you to make you aware that General Motors has received reports of transmissions overheating while towing 2011 model year Chevrolet Cruze vehicles, equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, with all four wheels on the ground (dinghy towing). In a few cases, this had led to damage to internal transmission components, and required replacement of the transmission.

General Motors requires that if you tow your vehicle, you tow it with the rear wheels on the ground and the front wheels up on a device know as a dolly, following the instructions provided by the dolly manufacturer.

Enclosed is a revised page to update your Cruze Owner Manual which contains revised instructions regarding towing your Cruze. Please take a moment to insert this supplement into Section 10 of your Owner Manual for future reference.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020 (TTY 1-800-833-2438)

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Jim Moloney
General Director-Customer & Relationship Services

The back of the letter has a the insert for the manual that shows the Dingy Towing as being forbidden for Automatic Transmission, but allowable for manual transmission.

So it will be interesting to see how this will be resolved. I am going to be calling GM tomorrow to discuss the return of this car, because this is not just an inconvenience for us, it is a $23,000 mistake.

The Shadow · 08-22-2011, 10:48 PM

My guess is that GM will not make any effort to compensate, allow a reasonable trade for another model that can be towed, install a lube pump or provide a dolly, until the heat is turned on them - and I think that will have to be done with a class action specialist. The question to him/her will likely be - how many are out there in the class?

Very disappointing move by GM.

Last year when I got to our park in Florida one of my friends had a Santa Fe and I said "hey, that isn't towable four down." He said his purchase package included a lube pump for the transmission installed by the dealer and approved by the manufacturer. GM had better watch its back because I can see a lot of D3 sales going away if Hyundai promotes this option.

somoma · 08-22-2011, 11:11 PM

I suppose that class action is an option, possibly a big option, but from what I can see, the only people who get anything out of it are the lawyers. I just got a letter about a class action against a Mortgage Bank and my share is $7.50 while the lawyers are getting something like $350,000.

The Shadow · 08-22-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somoma

I suppose that class action is an option, possibly a big option, but from what I can see, the only people who get anything out of it are the lawyers. I just got a letter about a class action against a Mortgage Bank and my share is $7.50 while the lawyers are getting something like $350,000.

What was the total amount distributed to all parties to the action since that is really the relevant number to compare to what the lawyers were paid?

BobGed · 08-23-2011, 12:05 AM

I don't think a class action suit is the best way to go. I think working on an individual basis would work much better, but I would try going through the channels. First I would immediately go back to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle and demand to speak with the General Manager (not Sales Manager). I would explain to him I only purchased the vehicle because it could be towed four down, and at that time the manual stated it was okay to do so, and gave instructions on how to set it up. I would demand a full refund of my purchase price to apply to another vehicle that is flat towable.

There's a member on the TRVN forum that went through this exact situation with a particular Cadillac (I believe it was a Turbo model), and got it resolved as pretty much as stated above, but it may have gone to the regional level. He wound up with a different Cadillac that could be flat towed.

The Shadow · 08-23-2011, 12:40 AM

I agree, but it may be necessary if nothing else works.

That Caddy was an SRX and the GM website was very clear that the turbo had a different transmission and was not flat towable. I was considering it but ended up with a Flex that I really enjoy. It is towable but the Escape is much lighter.

DriVer · 08-23-2011, 07:40 AM

If you look at the Blog I wrote ... (link below)

Day Number 2 at The RV Trade Show

You can see right on the top of the windshield; "I'M FLAT TOWABLE"

Somebody needs to go out to the woodshed!

The Shadow · 08-23-2011, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

If there has been no official word from Chevrolet then "what" Chevrolet said the towing information in the owners manual was a mistake...?

Again, I caution the readers of FMCA to check and verify the stories printed both in their mag and on their website.

Jim, MY understanding is that FMCA gets the details for its annual towing report (Jan issue) IN WRITING from the manufacturers. That could be a major factor in how this plays out. GM made the assertion, in writing (and see DriVers link below - very good) that the buyer could tow it four down. If they walk away from owners I sure hope such owners will go after them. That is terrible conduct. Once again "The General" is getting out of line (remember the phrase - "what is good for GM is good for the country) - which doesn't make much sense since we had to give them a lifeline. I guess its corporate memory isn't working.

I also have a feeling that the "no tow" decision was made without much thought and involvement of the legal department.

Lit · 08-23-2011, 11:00 AM

I had purchased my Cruze in mid January, the deciding factor was towing 4 down, I looked into the Owners Manual and it said it was good to tow 4 wheels down. I have talked to the Customers Assistance's 800 number the response I received was "They are working on a fix and will call me back"
I just received a call back from the owner of the dealership he had returned my call, he stated was not aware of this and will check into it further with his contact.
For everyones sake I hope they come up with a positive fix, because I sure do love this Cruze.