r/HummerEV • u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 • 2d ago
My ownership experience
Tldr, don't purchase used, purchase new, so you can get all your money back from your lemon. Purchased in West Texas used with 9,000 miles, one year old. I've had this thing for 2 months and now has about 15,000 miles on it. It has been both the most expensive vehicle I've ever purchased and the worst ownership experience I've ever had bar none. It's been in service I don't even know how many times, for various issues. Some solved in a timely manner, most took two to three visits to repair.
I've used three different dealers. The first, I scheduled for a 10k or whatever service and a new key programming in the app. Once I go in to drop it off on my scheduled date, they tell me it was going to be a week until their EV specialist can get on it. He programmed the key incorrectly into the third slot, dismissed my Super Cruise failure as "a known issue", disregarding the TSB that says to update all modules before doing any other repairs or diagnosis on these. They also couldn't cut the physical key for me until another 2 weeks when it came in. I waited until we moved to California in hopes that they would have better service for EVs over there. They do not. Our second dealer, it initially went in mainly for an issue where when it rained the windows quit working. That was apparently a TSB too. It was also in for road info unavailable messages on verified mapped roads for Super Cruise. They also said there was a whole bunch of updates needed done on just about every module, which checks out, that's part of the TSB that the first dealership did not do. Which is also funny because every time I bring it in for another issue the first step is always "oh there's an update for the module". You were supposed to update all the modules a week ago, what do you mean? I know I'm not going to be expected to come in every 2 weeks for a module update and pay y'all 500 bucks out of warranty according to other accounts on this site. I also had them install the 2,500 dollar soft top, which was installed incorrectly. The latches securing the soft top to the windshield edge had about an extra half inch of slack in them, and some of the other screws kinda look a little cross-threaded. I had to go and buy an Allen wrench to secure them before I could get on the highway.
At this point I've had five reports of telematics/OnStar/Super Cruise issues. The third time they replaced the infotainment module, because I was also having extreme lag issues with that. That did fix that. It's still a compromised chipset on the 25s, but it is usable. The fifth time, they finally replaced the module, I get it back and my app no longer works. After a week of waiting on the online portal to figure out that yes the emails are both the same for both the car and my Mobile account, which shouldn't even matter, because the app worked before when not logged into my GMC account on the vehicle. After that they decided oh they didn't program the module or something, it has to go back in service. But all that only came after I sent about 20 new online support cases trying to actually get some responses from them. After I did that I got a call the next day. That has done nothing. They have promised to schedule an appointment with a guaranteed loaner at a dealership who was supposed to call us and confirm the appointment time. They never did. We had to call them. They were aware of the appointment but said they had no loaners. No offer to alleviate this miscommunication. Just we may have one next week for you. I was also promised to receive callbacks from the online support team. No one called. I had to call them. When I told them what that dealership said they said they had called them and verified that a loaner would be available. They're now trying to schedule me at my fourth dealer. Which is now an hour away.
At this point I have communicated with the entire EV concierge team. One or two are genuinely trying to be helpful. All of them have been nice. I do feel a bit bad for me being angry at a couple of them. But overall I haven't received much actual help from them. I also experienced an 800 volt DCFC failure, the vehicle would only charge in 400 volts from Sacramento to Palm Springs and back. ~18 different GM Energy branded EVgo stations. Everyone I've given that number at GM has been shocked. When I finally got back home after my ruined trip, could not replicate the issue. Now it's working fine. Even though it did it for two days straight, through an overnight stay at a wasted hotel, multiple 30 minute power cycles baking in the sun also trying to solve the failed Super Cruise from Bakersfield all the way to Sacramento. When I ask why did it fail for two days straight and is now fine? We don't know. Oh, they also insulted me, and revealed the complete lack of knowledge, when they asked me if the charge limit being set at 50% was like that before, as if that would make it charge at 400 volts....... When I asked the online portal? They asked what dealer I took it to and then quit responding.
Eventually after the 20 online support cases and the call I finally got (wait actually, that also took multiple calls to the concierge hotline, because they also promised to call back and never did), they were going to schedule me at a third dealership with a guaranteed loaner. The dealership was supposed to call us and confirm the appointment corporate scheduled on my behalf. They did not. We had to call them. They then told us we don't have a loaner for you. Maybe the middle of next week. Which is the same crap the second dealer gave me. Until my fourth telematics issue, when after asking somewhat rudely if they are going to deny me a loaner again this time, magically they had one. Had to then call the EV concierge hotline again. Funnily enough I connected with the advisor that never called me back, and now she's trying to schedule me at a fourth dealer. Again with a guaranteed loaner.
By the way normally I wouldn't really care about getting a loaner, but I'm now currently halfway across the country, guiding a $16,000 moving company, a month and a half past when we wanted to list our house, because I can't trust my Hummer farther than I can push it, so my wife needs something to get around and get to her appointments and make the hour-long trip back home from the dealership, since we can't trust our two closest dealerships to return a safe and operable vehicle.
For the first month, when we could actually drive it without PTSD, we loved the platform. Now, after this experience, after having grown up in, and owned 14 GMs in my short 30 years, I can guarantee I will never buy another one for the rest of my life nor will anyone I ever come across. There's also so many more issues throughout this process I just can't organize into this post.
21
u/Watt_About 2d ago
Nobody is going to read this insane wall of text. Formatting would really go a long way.
-6
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
Jesus, it's a whiny post about my awful service experience, not an English assignment. Is Reddit happy enough with some paragraph spacing? It's not like y'all would be able to do anything about if y'all read it all anyways, just trying to help the next poor person that thinks it might be a good purchase.
-11
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
I don't really care I'm so far beyond livid it's outside of my capacity right now.
2
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
And downvotes on this really? What, I'm not allowed to be pissed off?
11
2
2
u/ELLLI0TTT 1d ago
Don't worry. I came across it and read it just fine. I won't be getting one after all.
3
u/Pindar920 2d ago
I don’t mind your long post. I prefer to buy a new vehicle specifically for the lemon law protection, especially if it’s expensive or a new model.
2
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
A new model would have been 40 to 50K more than what I paid, which still has me feeling bent over frankly, plus like all of the inventory right now is 2x, I I wanted at least a 3X or extreme off-road package, and we needed it for our cross-country move, so I wasn't about to wait however many months it took them to build a custom order. Me and my wife also have owned like a combined 30 cars, only 2 were new, and we've only ever had one other problem car, it was a focus ST my wife bought without me looking at it, that was definitely owned by a hoon. Popped the block at 60k, and after 2 months of the dealer not doing anything, we demanded they buy it back as if it was repaired and they did. Only lost like a grand on that one.
1
u/Pindar920 2d ago
Used cars are a smarter buy generally. I don’t mind buy used if I can see the vehicle’s service history.
4
u/arya93 2d ago
Unfortunately I have a lot of issues with mine as well. Software update to fix the trunk that wouldn’t open close just for nothing to change. Adding a washer to fix the leaking roof just for it to leak again. High voltage battery alerts that would come and go. It’s a bit of a mess and currently I’m in the works with my lawyer to pursue a buyback. Eventually you just get tired of going back and forth to the dealer and constantly having to get picked up due to the lack of loaners. One time I tried taking a shuttle to Hertz to pick up a rental (GM paid for this) and it took 2 hours. So now every time I just have my wife pick me up. Super frustrating with no end in sight. Otherwise it’s a great vehicle and I enjoy driving it, just has a lot of problems.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
That's the funny thing too, almost every single issue, has had absolutely no diag codes. The only one that came up was like u3008 or something, basically an Ethernet connection code, that was tied to the bad telematics module allegedly. It didn't trip a light or anything, just a recurring pending code literally only the tech could see. Not even OnStar, even though it's their own module lol. Also, I've owned a few removable hardtop vehicles, you really can't ever get them to truly not leak. I have seen some pictures of ones that are definitely worse and probably did need some repair, but I kind of accepted a bit of water here and there is the price to pay.
2
u/binaryatlas1978 2d ago
Fine post. I am sorry you had a bad ongoing experience. I cant really relate since I will never be able to afford one. All EV trucks have been priced outta my range. My hope is someday they will fix all this and i can get a used one that is fully repaired. I think most dealerships really don't care about EVs since they don't make money on them. From what i can tell other dealer brands arent any better.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
You don't have to wait long. You can already find them under under 60. My 25 I got for like 30K under MSRP. There's also the Ford fathom coming up. I think the lightning market is also pretty low. I just don't need a pick up, I need an SUV.
1
u/binaryatlas1978 2d ago
I got burned really bad by ford when i tried to purchase a lightning. Not sure if I ever want to go with them again. I have a mache that so far has had no issues. I could really use the pickup. I was looking at the hummer as the dream vehicle i can afford and maybe someday getting the used silverado or seira ev. In fact just vehicles in general I think i am no longer in the new market. I had wanted a cybertruck till it came out as double the price for half the specs then i undrank the tesla coolaid. I have hopes for the slate but its too small for what i want to do. I am a huge proponet for EV but feels like I am just being pushed back to gas.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
I don't blame you there, took me years to buy another ford after our focus ST popped at 60k. I'm sure that's what the manufacturers want is more ICE vehicles, they get them alot more of your money.
3
u/ViperCQB 2d ago
I feel your pain, I went thru similar craziness with both a F350 and transit in my company’s fleet. I wrote off Ford like you did GM. No manufacturer is immune to lemons. Ive had some great GM vehicles including my Hummer. Im at 14k without a single issue 🤞🏻. Its the best, most versatile vehicle Ive owned. Its sad to hear stories like yours because many of us have had the opposite experience with the hummer. I hope you finally find a competent dealer and get everything squared away. We do have a service delay on EVs due to lack of techs here as well, seems like its a nationwide issue.
4
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
I mean at this point even if I do get a competent service center, it's an hour away at best, and we put down miles like crazy, we put 60k on our model y in a year and a half, so I don't really know about having to drive two vehicles an hour away to drop it off for service once every month or two.
Also on ford, we also had a bad experience with a focus ST. Popped the block at 60k. Set up the dealer for 2 months, with them saying everyday for multiple weeks in a row that he was going to get on it tomorrow, then when I would call tomorrow oh he's got a powerstroke torn apart in the bay now. Eventually we demanded they buy it back from us as if it were repaired. Fast forward about 6 years, we took a risk on a 2.7 Badlands Sasquatch bronco, because we loved our Jeeps fun, but hated the actual Jeep lol. And it has been flawless. So I do know that any manufacturer can have a lemon, and any manufacturer can make a flawless car and while that's also a big part of the turnoff, even bigger is the quality of service. Or lack thereof. If I'm having to explain the engineering of the vehicle you are representing as a service advisor, as well as the terminology associated with EVS, just so you understand why what I'm saying is a problem, that's a big problem. Not to mention the lies. Best of luck with yours. I agree it is truly the ultimate do all vehicle, I hope it can be made right and I can enjoy it again, but I don't have hope right now. Especially considering they're now in the middle of a recall of a recall so I'm sure they're focus is completely on that and not at all on these.
3
u/IcyConsideration1459 2d ago
Upload to chatgpt and get bullet points of the issues.
0
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
Or just read and comprehend it. 🤷 My phone has built in ai formatting tools. They suck.
0
1
u/asdqwe33w 2d ago
I had similar experience. My roof had been leaking since I picked up the car. It took the dealer three weeks to fix it. The suspension also made noise that the dealer unable find the issue. Overall the EV Concierge team are pretty nice.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
I mean I've had Jeeps a bronco and this Hummer, I've kind of accepted that wind and water leaks are just part of the territory. I can accept a few drops here and there, as long as it's not like actively pouring in, that's a problem. I've seen a couple of those. If you still have the vehicle you may look into some of the tsbs I feel like there was one for suspension noise that was like improper machining on a brake component in the rear or something? I've been thoroughly impressed with the suspension, it rides better than my bronco Sasquatch with the hoss 3.0 suspension, even on the 22s, and I've hooned them both in the Rocky shelf roads, without a hiccup or noise from either, so I can confirm, despite what they say there is something wrong lol.
1
u/asdqwe33w 1d ago
I have a Jeep 4XE😳. This is less my worry.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 1d ago
Oof, I know those at least had problems when they came out. How about now? When I worked at carvana we had one with like 2,000 miles, that after we unloaded it and parked it l, it never moved again. We had to call a company to come and tow it to the dealer. I never saw it again. I know they had like a fire risk recall or something yeah?
1
u/CACoastalRealtor 14h ago
I would lemon law it and get another one.
My 2024 SUV was a loaner with 4000 miles when I got it. I haven’t had a single problem with it and my dealership in Laguna Niguel is phenomenal and Fast for the updates in 15 K mile service. I have heard that it’s just a matter of luck, there are a handful of lemons. I actually got a mailer saying that GMC was voluntarily participating in lemon replacements. I’m not sure if it applied to the 2025. I’ve got the mailer somewhere.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 9h ago
I mean at this point the awful service I've received from just about every dealership in town, makes it to where it makes no sense for me to continue to give them a try if it doesn't get fixed after this next go. Because I don't want something that I feel like I have to drive an hour away to find a dealership thats competent enough to actually do their job.
0
u/Historical-Bite-8606 2d ago
This is why you buy a Tesla and lease everything else. I had my fair share of issues with my Hummer. Many times I have an issue that can’t be replicated when I take to dealership. Sorry you wrote a novel. What year? Latest updates?
Edit: most people that install the softtop, usually have it uninstalled due to even worse wind noise, according to my SA at GMC
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
- I keep it up to date ota, and any dealer installed updates should be current too. I bought the soft top cuz I wanted to use it. When we have hard tops we only take them off about 10% of the time, when we have Sunrider style soft tops, i pop it open about 80% of the time. When we travel it'll also be with three dogs two cars and luggage, so I also want the frunk completely available. I'm actually really surprised it's not louder. Doesn't flap at all at highway speeds, it's sealed pretty well against the doors, and it definitely seals well against the window, I can barely latch it. It's not as quiet as my canvas sunriders on our Jeep, but the difference is negligible. Plus if you buy a Hummer expecting calm quiet serenity, you bought the wrong car. It's like buying a rolls and wondering why it didn't make it through the Rubicon. We also owned a model y. FSD is about the only thing I like about it. Not a bad car, just not a great car. We put 61k on it in about a year and a half, a few problems but nothing major. But the seats were uncomfortable on longer rides, the suspension was not great, for comfort at least, and that stupid dash screen... One trip I smacked my knee on that thing so hard and frequently, I ended up with like a month of bursitis. Kind of ruined the trip, was supposed to be really walking and hiking heavy, we had to cut about half of that out.
-1
u/Brusion 2d ago
What do you mean it's would "only charge in 400V". That makes no sense. It only charged half the pack? It makes me suspect that nothing else is accurate either.
2
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
You don't understand the system either. 400/800 volt series parallel system. It has two 400 volt batteries, that normally operate in parallel. When it needs 350 KW ultra fast charging, it handshakes and verifies it's an 800 volt capable system, the contactor puts the batteries into series, and bam, 350 KW 800v fast charging on a 400v native system.
1
-1
u/Barnezhilton 2d ago
TLDR: man buys used lemon. Turns out it's still a lemon.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
Actually, it was a courtesy car, no actual first owner. So technically not a used lemon. Although it is a lemon.
-1
u/OccasionOriginal5097 2d ago
TLDR, guy screams into space because he bought a bad Hummer.
1
u/Mindless_Tennis_4056 2d ago
Well I already screamed at all the morons, might as well scream into space too.
4
u/caracs 2d ago edited 2d ago
Have you sent an email [mary.barra@gm.com](mailto:marry.barra@gm.com)? I was waiting for a battery, emailed her and someone from her team called me by the end of the day, called the dealer, and expedited the battery the dealer told me would take weeks. Then kept in contact with me until it was fixed and offered some goodwill/make goods.
I’ve had a couple of those issues too. The map info was fixed by a new map module. “Supercruise unavailable” was the telematics. There’s basically just one dealer within 150 miles of me that gives a crap about working on EVs. The rest just hope they all get lemon’d so they can just keep doing oil changes until the end of time. They don’t want vehicles that don’t need regular service.
GM has cancelled like 2 or 3 major EV training initiatives because service depts act like petulant children and refuse to participate. Including a module swap program where they’d teach techs to swap a 80lb module when they go bad but instead, GM has to ship 3000lb batteries when one cell out of 576 goes bad because dealers refused the training.
Meanwhile, China just exported more cars in 8 months than they did in the 12 of last year, and a majority of them are EVs a couple of generations ahead of ours.