Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I went to the Michigan Hummer Happening last weekend and I had what I thought was a good time. We had gone through a lot of deep puddles and my battery light came on, hmm. Checked with the guys hosting the event..no biggy just a wet belt or connection don't worry it will drive out. Got 10 miles into the hour drive home my vehicle drive, had to have it flat bedded to the dealer $75. Today bill for $500.00 for new alternator. Heard that the 3 participating dealers have already had 5 H3 and 1 H2 in with same problem because the event hosts took us through too deep of water, and of course not under warranty!

Hey, I'm all up for fun and I know I signed a disclaimer \ waiver but lets get real. Isn't the REAL intent of that if I slide into a tree or do something wrong and damage my vehicle. Not when I am in the middle of one way line of 30 trucks going through a trail and they (a HUMMER EVENT) are telling me to cross this water it is OK?? If I was the only truck I wouldn't be complaining too much, but 5-6 trucks on Monday AM since Saturday, GM get real? Your guys messed up big time, scouted in appropriate trails too deep for your vehicles and now you don't want to admit it!

Fix the problem!! If I would have slammed \ slid into a tree I would have paid to fix it out of my pocket no complaints...but this...UNFAIR! I couldn't have turned around if I wanted to.

I am ticked off!

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

thats sucks , if you keep complaining enough they might step up , see if you can get a GM regional rep on the phone and explain it to him .:( hope you get a better outcome than with the dealer

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I think a dealer or 2 or 3 and a manufacturer may have screwed up !!

YOU THINK...

Please keep us informed

RYD

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Was the Hummer Happening sponsored by GM or the dealers? Most are dealer sponsored, so stop blaming GM. If GM sponsored it, blame GM.

I would contact the dealer and find the other five vehicle owners and write a serious letter to the sponsoring dealers. If that didn't work, sue 'em in small claims court. I would be mad too, but I would make sure I blame the right entitiy first.

If GM actually sponsored the event and not the dealers, contact GM customer assistance and bitch at them.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Agreed, if it was a HUMMER Dealer HUMMER Happening, you most likely signed a damage waiver when you registered. Check into it.

Still a bummer tho.:twak:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

It's funny this doesn't come up more often (maybe it does and people just don't write about it here). The Dealer sponsored Hummer Happenings I've attended have been chock full of what, in my mind, constitutes 'negligent' behavior including:

Terrible spotting / line recommendation
Advice as to the proper selection of 4-low / 4-Hi / Locker
Poor construction / maintenance of obstacles

I stay (far) away now, because you're right - they're more interested in just getting everybody through and keeping the line moving so that tempers don't start to flare. My advice to anyone new to the off road scene would be to go out with a small group where you've got at least one seasoned vet to show you the ropes and help you protect your truck. If you want to go to a Hummer Happening, get there early, eat the lunch, then leave before you end up with damage you didn't bargain for.

I would definitely write your dealer a complaint letter.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Well, my dealer is saying that they didn't sponser this event but I did contact them and they were the ones that told me about the event and told me how to register... This is my first my Hummer I honestly didn't know the difference (as far as dealer sponsered vs non dealer sponsered) but they sure didn't say they were not sponsering it during our emails and they DID have a vehicle there.

My service guy who is cool said he would state the altenator was exposed to deep of water etc in court when I said I wanted to sue in Hummer Happening but what I am having trouble doing is A getting in touch with someone who will tell me 1. Who to locally to serve I did sign a waiver but where did it go? 2. While this wasn't dealer sponsered they obviously were not totally clueless they had to know these folks somehow who worked with them? so I can get in touch with someone to serve them?

Any ideas how to get this idea?

Sorry that I was quick to blame GM, but I was under the impression that these events were much more closely tied together with dealerships and such. However, when they said the GM Rep would denied the warranty claim based on all the information I provided I still beleive it is terrible PR on GM's part, make the customer happy work with the Dealer and Hummer Happening on fault behind the scenes.

I still LOVE my HUMMER think it is a GREAT vehicle I'm just saying I can do things that void the warranty all on my own with out waiting in a line of 50+ trucks! I went to this because EXPERTS were there to guide me along the way.

PS

I have been to the Sand Dunes many times and avoided the deep water all on my own:jump:

Sorry, I think my bitch fest is over..

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I have seen salesmen trash used Hummers at Happenings. Then everyone follows and does the same thing. Probably not good. I think bjc is very correct in his assesment. Spotting can be very bad, and damage is likely if you're not being sensible. There's a certain local dealer who I know says the H3 steps can stay on but not the H2 steps because the H3 chrome steps "don't hang lower than the frame". :rolleyes: When I was there last, they had a "new" H3 in the showroom that had a bent tube step on it. I don't know if they just didn't see this or what. But whatever. I try to stay far, far away from the dealership.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Their disclaimer/waiver means jack shit....signed or not!!!!!!!!! Tell them to take care of your stuff or take them to small claims!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

i seen this happen at my hummer event. Someones battery light came on and then they were stuck on the side of the road on the way home. Its kinda wierd. I dont understand. I've actually had to spray water into my alternator to get mud out of it and it doesnt short out. I actually dont even care when i wash the engine and spray it anyway. Its fine. how come yours broke?

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

It means even less when you sign your name, Robert De Niro. And even less if you aren't him! ;)

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

who was the dealer who spondored the event?

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

So what's happening to the alternator? I've had mine REALLY deep and nothing happened.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Well,

My Dealer is Suburban Hummer of Troy and they are working with GM on behalf at this point. Other dealers were Hummer of Novi and Friendly Hummer of Detroit. Apparently they were very loosely involved with the event it was actually put on by GMRWorks and from what I can tell they are disappointed that have customers who damaged their vehicles at the event.

Please note I sense I may pursue legal action I can not comment for anyone at my local dealership but this is what I am gathering but I AM PLEASED with their actions thus far.

As far as the altenator I was told it had internally shorted out, it was indeed caked with mud and had (from what I inspected) been submerged in water. The battery also had been replaced, internal short, and had seal failure but GM did fix under warranty as they say it is a sealed battery.

As far as the altenator I was told it can be exposed to water such as splash running through say 10" of water at speed and perhaps even submerged briefly but we were fully submerged several times for several minutes at time.

Since GM was off today to vote should have an update for you tomorrow.

Thanks for all your posts!

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

BTW

The Expert Guides did mention that often times their trails were set up man made on soccer fields in Miami because they couldn't get into the wilderness. I have no problem with Miami, but I DO HAVE A PROBLEM with an EXPERT guide if their time is on man made trails. Hell if I know exactly what every obstical is I can drive it w\o worry.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Theres an event schedualed for Miami this month that I'm trying to get invited too (didn't buy from that dealer)...

Now I have doubts about going, even if it is a set up (man made) run.

RYD (2nd oldest)

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I was at same event but with a smaller group, we had the H1 with us. I could tell that the guys running the event didn't have a clue. They went to recover an H3 and we're using 1" nylon webbing (not tow strap) and some 1/4" oval lcok rings. We let them use a 3" toe strap and proper hardware. Hummers stuck all over the place, to be expected, but to also have this many damaged vehicles with the same problem is not acceptable. :mad:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Well now I'm pissed off, I bought my H3 from hummer of Novi and I didn't receive any notification of the event. Not that it's a bad thing considering all the carnage I'm hearing of. Although I would have liked to see Rick, Dennis and some of the others I have wheeled with in the past year of so. Last years hummer happening at pine knob with the same dealers was a lot more organized (from the sounds of this one). I am sorry to hear of all the damage that occurred, but hope it doesn't detour you from wheeling your trucks.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

not all dealer sponsored events are bad. we have had three trucks damaged all due to owners being over confident in their skills and not following instructions of the spotters. this is over a 4 year period. we run the trails with our cars long before the owners, modify what needs to be modified and then run them again the morning of the event. hope you to get your rig fixed, i would like to believe if it was our fault we would stand behind it, but have not had to make that decision. good luck

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Hi folks, I work at Friendly HUMMER. I am a product manager there, and all I can say is this whole thing is a real shame. The Mounds was by far the best venue to date for our local HUMMER Haps'. Unfortunately, all the event planners seemed to achieve was to create a whole group of people who will never wheel' their trucks again. I had gone on my own to the Mounds the week before the event to do a "dry run," and I knew the possible problems that we might face when we got there. When we first got there at 10 am, I introduced myself to the guys running the show, explained that I had been there the week before, and expressed my concerns about the condition of the park. They informed me that they had spent the whole day prior running the park and there would be no problems. They then quietly escorted me to the end of the line.
Friendly HUMMER has spent thousands of dollars sending me to driving schools in Indiana, Arazona, and Navada to be instructed by people with thousands of practice hours under their belt including Rod Hall. Every time I cought up with the pack I could not belive my eyes to see what these event planners had taken you through and the lack of guidance while running the trails... forget about your alternaters. Its amazing that no one was hurt and that, for the most part, we all drove away. You can't lead 30 trucks down a trail and expect that people beyond the fifth truck back can follow your instructions.
Now, I told my customers what we were in for, and they insisted that they be moved to the back of the line so that they could follow me through the rough spots. If you want to be upset with your dealers, ask them where their product managers were, because they could have helped you out a lot. But in my opinion, the event planners (who maybe had 50 hrs of off-road experience between them) are the guys you should be pissed at. Thank your lucky stars you got out with just a fried alternator.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

omg, dewds! if you take a car wheelin **** can happen. You need to think on these terms. its not anyones fault but your own for going off road and dont blame anyone else for YOUR descisions to do so.

wheeling breaks crap, its just part of the game.

I do not agree with them not covering an alternator under warranty.... a busted fender well thats a different story... but hell it rains alot and there are deep puddles all over the usa. why take a position that it was due to off roading... thats gay.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

It is really no different than a broken fender. if GM publishes a spec for maximum water forage and you surpass that spec, then GM is not responsible for the warranty on the part that is damaged. Your reasoning would be if you exceeded the vent tubes and destroyed a powertrain component by sucking in water or you sucked in water into the engine, it should be covered under warranty. Either way, it would be considered driver or spotter error.

Alternators are water proof to rain, road splash, etc.; however, you cannot submerge them in water and expect them to continue to operate.

However, I would have been curious if the poster had gone to another Hummer dealer and never mentioned off-roading, if it would not have been replaced under warranty.

If there was a continuous line of Hummers and they were guided through a stream or river that was deeper than the spec for the H3, by a dealer representative, then in my opinion, the dealer should be responsible. Especially, since these Hummer Happenings bring in people who are NOT experienced off-roaders, and are relying on the dealers representatives to guide them, and help them with the terrain.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

$500 dolars for alt repair is a rip $150 part 2 hrs labor = $300 tops

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Very True!...Was Quoted $325 for a Hi-Output rebuild! ;)

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Quit lookin at me like that Phil...:o

--
Rob

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Hi All,

Thanks for you input, Humjay and 2 Xtreme if you ever want to go wheel'n just hit me up with a PM. I would definately hit the mounds again it was great but I would probably go when it is just a tad less wet;)

Still waiting to hear back from the dealership but the manager and service department do sound in my corner so fingers crossed but like I said I will go to small claims court if needed. Like Hummjay said the radio chatter was horrible and they would say watch out for this obstical you need to stay high and to the right...heck I was 15 trucks and at least 5 turns back from what they were talking about. I have lots of off-road time in dune buggies so I wasn't totally lost but these were definately not novice trails and once your in your all in because you can't just jump out of line in the woods.

I totally agree the wheel'n breaks stuff...will I do it yep, will I pay for it, probably not with a smile but yep, but this time not with out a fight because in my opinion I didn't make the mistake or do anything stupid \ wrong.

More updates to come.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Ok, this may be a little "out there" but might these "sponsors" be setting customers up to damage vehicles in order to reap the repair costs?

Regardless, is there some type of alternator splash guard that could resolve some of these issues or is the alternator literally being submerged?

Not being an alternator expert, is there a "sealed" alternator out there?

And I agree about the wheel well cracks if it was done off road. Offroading trashes things. HOWEVER - if these are cracking under normal driving conditions, soemthing is up. I haven;t damaged anything on mine yet and winter is qickly approaching. I will keep an eye on mine to see how they hold up to the harsh winter conditions here, especially the freezing rain storms...

:popcorn:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

In regard to my previous posts. I am in no way an expert of 4wheelin. I attended the HH as a partisipant not a representitive. my posts are purely my opinion, please do not confuse that fact. thank you.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I was at a northern virginia hummer happening a couple weeks ago. the lead truck in my pack (sales guy in 2006 sut) slid out on a nasty slanted mud corner. the truck slid back into woods down a slope. i was 4 trucks back and didnt know what was going on til i got out and went to look.

they didnt know what they were going to do but then i offered my recovery gear (thanks PhilD. i had just received it from trail duty a couple days earlier;) ). they used my shovel and recovery strap (d rings) to get the sut out of the woods.

like i read before, even if you are only going on one ride its smart to have the basic recover gear. and in this case glad i had mine:jump:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

PM me the contact info for the dealer's service department. They need some talking to.:clapping:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

Now would I be allowed back to the dealership after this "Talking to" or not??

:twak:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I dont know what dealer you are going to E, but I have to imagine that they are as frustrated with this situation as you are. the dealers didnt pick out the venue nor did they staff it, they are however stuck with trying to resolve it with out the co-opreation from the people who mandated they do it and the people who ran it.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

:iagree: ....Now, having said ALL That! :D ...I've only been to 2 HH's.... Both had the SAME Structure!...Obstacle/Training course...Sereral Trails, ranging from Easy To HARD....A Choice! .......Trails were run Prior to any guest rigs hitting them!.....A Mandatory Drivers Meeting each day---Prior to Any Staging for trails!...Don't know the Choices everyone has, but sounds like the sponsors and PRO's ...are responsable and Pro's--Not Too! :( ...Mix in a shortage of Common Sense!...And Bummer for you trouble!....Hope it all works out! :grouphug: :D

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

As i said befor $500 is a rip for an alt. job, they are sertanly taking you for a ride there ($100 part 2 hrs labor @ $75 per = $250,, if they wanted to be nice about it ) as for the person you emailed I will bet they had never ben to this place befor nor could they forsee how it would be run.GM will not sponsor dealer run events so dealers dont do them. the event team hired by Rworks ( a company called O'Brians ) did a very poor job of running venue, they had no clue how to run an event of that size, or how to navigate the terrain.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

HUMMER events are sponcered by the customers.. every single person who buys a HUMMER.. a portion of the sales $ goes to a LMG (local maketing group) the LMG hires event planers,, Rworks, they intern hire a company to run the event,, O'Brians, they go out and test the area and determine what is safe and what is not in case like this one. 9 times out of 10 they run a pre exsiting track built jus for HUMMER's so there job is pretty easy. HUMMER dealers have no say in this process. It is Mandated as a condition of francise ownership that dealers provide there customers the oprotunity to attend these events they do this by giving the event co. names and #'s of their customers. "at the end of the day" the dealer looks like a hero if the cusomers had fun or a zero if they did not

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

HUMMJAY is your rig silver with a silver with a shovel in the roof basket? If so that thing rocks!! We were admiring it at lunch!

As an employee of participating dealer (who I understand was just an attendee) that does have a lot of time \ training in off road driving I appreciate your insight.

I really do not want to bad mouth my dealership as they have been fair to me in the past. My point was just that between three big companies (being that my dealership owns more than just this particular lot and brand) they wouldn't worry about warranty claims and people like me considering sueing, complaining to other 4 Wheelers and friends and in venues such as this. The would want this "This Hummer Happening wasn't good, my vehicle was damaged, the dealer took care of it no questions and said someone's head would roll for such bad scouting". Then let them duke it out behind the scenes without unhappy customers. Then I would know this wouldn't fly for just any old damage out on the trail but because it was several complaints for a single event kinda deal their covered from blanket I scratched my door fix it because you did it last time and people are happy. I realize as an outsider is easier said than done, but I just wanted the effected dealerships to

You just don't think $500 (ballpark and again retail) would be worth it to these companies for the headache of someone like me who will call or email until I get the name of someone from Obriens because that is who my money was paid to and I will file in small claims court if this isn't settled. (Which I am hoping it will be). Heck 4 companies Dealer, GM (even though they are not involved other than being a manufacturer), Hummer Happening a.k.a Obriens, and GMR Works...125 each (retail) per truck done:) Give me phone numbers I call each one myself and start working on an agreement for all effected trucks :fdance:

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

HUMMJAY, I see Macomb County...did you get your Hummer from Friendly?

Also, just a note, GM's labor rate for the Generator is 1.5 hours.

MisterE, please post the dealer's name. I'm curious about a manager who would state he would go to court to screw a customer for something the dealer had a say in. Need to let everyone know, who is interested in any car or truck this dealer sells should be purchased somewhere else.
I'm guessing Al Sierra around Flint/Grand Rapids.

Re: Hummer Happening RIP OFF DAMAGE
 

I was there, the four of us that went together didn't get invited either, we 'd been there before & decided to crash the party.....no obstacles were man-made, all existing muck & trails & holes. Whoever was leading (in brand-new, off-the-lot H3's with window stickers still), had little idea where they were going, barely any spotting or direction. I saw them come through on one run being led by some toothless guy in a Chevy pickup, apparently he knew the way past the long mud holes that the guides couldn't find. My impression at the time was that it wasn't well thought out or well planned.

That said, we went through the same holes & mud pits, with no damage in our group...not sure why some failed & others didn't.

Got mine at Hummer of Novi, great guys, great service, no issues here...they've treated me fairly.