Sincerely Chevrolet service engineer!

"We are not giving you a new car, we are merely servicing it", was the response of one of those sincere service engineers when I pointed out the humongous service cost I had to incur after the last scheduled service. Besides questioning your intellect with such naive statements, they are also used to face the customer with any regret after doing a bad job.

To put things in perspective, I shall provide a rough calculation of the maintenance cost incurred for my Chevrolet Beat Diesel LS from the second year service:

Year 2 service: 12000+ INR: This includes a PCV valve replacement which was not included in the actual service manual. They told that they can alter the service manual without informing customers.

Year 2.5 service: 6500 INR. 

  • After one week of this service, a spring near/connected to the clutch was broken costing around 500 INR and I had to leave the vehicle for a day, causing me great inconvenience, 

  • Both the front brakes jammed for no apparent reasons (as explained by your service team). This happened when I was driving  with family.The bill was more than 21000 INR. Three days without the vehicle and a lighter pocket, worse of all the service engineers were clueless how this happened immediately after a routine service!
  • The vehicle was going to the right side, apparently suspension bushes had problems. 5000 INR and 1.5 days at the service centre
The great quote in the beginning was by my service engineer when I was annoyed by a service estimate of 7500 INR for just a brake fluid top-up and some filter replacements. Instead of assuring better service they were telling that they are NOT giving a new car to me, fancy that! The car needs all replacement of all tyres (16000-18000 INR approx) and a battery replacement 5000 INR. I admit that some of these, like the tyre change and battery change are required after these many years, but my problem is other expenses and their approach towards customer problems.

So the total expenses from the second year to third year alone are around 75000 INR, so much for the Chevrolet promise of low maintenance cost.

I have been reading it on Chevrolet page on FB, various automotive forums and also from friends who use the car, 'good products with bad service'. Actually 'bad service' would be an understatement, the moment you step in to a Chevrolet service centre, especially in Kerala, you realize that they have a very very high service target.

Please do not try to call me unless you fix the grass root issues. I went to an authorized service centre in Ernakulam/Kochi for the last two services.

Tail end: "Hello Chevrolet customer care"
"Hello, I would like yo know the scheduled service details for the third year"
"Sir, I don't know, ask your service engineer when you go there"
"Guessed as much"
*Call disconnected*

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