The semi-final outcome was a 10% discount on the $494 part (could have got that price from GMdirect) and complaints sent to BBB and State regulators. Oh well, maybe the old man was right, now that I am an old man.

The defense is; they rely on Carfax to Certify, but you are stupid to rely on Carfax.
My little bit of get back is: Radley Chevrolet in Fredericksburg,VA. ripped me off for the difference in price of a wrecked used car and a pristine used car. It turns out they admit that that 138 or whatever point checklist is totally bunk! I this particular case any technician who opened the hood would have noticed that all of the body bolts had been R&R, and the x number of points been have shown to not pass, I.E. body panel fit, put the car up on a rack and take a good look with a flashlight, listen for rattles on a road test (did I mention, the muffler rattle went away?)
Rant off!!!

 

No stealership in the world can tell you what makes a "certified" used car. Most of the time it's a detail and floor mat scrub.

 

Unless it's a Toyota and the floor mats have been removed so there is no self acceleration.

 

I can. But then again I work at a dealership not a stealership. And we reject a lot of vehicles that don't qualify. Examples are visible damage under the vehicle, evidence of collision/flood damage, wrong/bad tires, non-gm mods, oversize wheels and the list goes on.

Are we perfect? No. Have we missed prior collison damge before? Yes. Do we make it right with the customer? Yes.

 

The mats are Toyota's eviromental Cruise Control.

 

What dealer do you work for?

 

Well, I made a complaint to the BBB. 2 days later the dealership settled for $770, the supposed premium paid for a Certified no accident vehicle. I think I am happy with that.

 

I guess the moral to the story is..

If you buy any used car have an independent mechanic go through it top to bottom

 

Caveat emptor!... buyer beware.

 

But, I paid GM to do the inspection! AND they "certified" that the had.
I'm sorry this dead horse is getting so damaged. If you pay somebody to do a job, why pay somebody else to do the same job?
The Dealerships own body techs noticed upon opening the hood that ALL of the bolts and nuts holding the fenders and hood had been removed, because the paint seal was broken. When I asked at my pre-purchase inspection, the SalesWeasel replied "they are all like that". GM and by extension their Agents are more qualified than me to access this sort of thing.
And no, the moral of the story is don't trust ANY used car weasel, even if a major manufacturer (and now the U.S. government) says they "Certify".