2012 Blown Head gasket out of nowhere at 60k miles..NOOOOO!

[ebw24]

Im baffled.

I have the 2012 1.8L base model. Manual trans.

Car has been running perfectly. Just got my oil changed 3 weeks ago and no issues.

Suddenly out of nowhere i get a funny smell through the heater. I pull over and the coolant reservoir is completely empty.

I have it towed to my shop. My mechanic finds coolant mixed with oil. Suspects a faulty water pump leaked coolant which overheated my engine and warped my head.

But here's the thing, i never had an performance issue, the engine drove great.

I never had a temperature light come on.

I never had a check engine light come on.

Im completely baffled about how this is possible. And obviously im stuck because i need to replace my water pump, coolant reservoir and hoses, refinish my heads and replace my gaskets.

Cost: $2,500

Totally out of nowhere. Is this a known issue? Anything i can do?

Thank you for any advice.

 

[carsNskis]

If you can validate that the water pump failure was what caused the head gasket damage you may be able to get gm assistance with the repair.

The water pump is covered separately under special coverages.



[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[EyeluvSmegma]

That sucks it man. I've heard of the idiot lights not coming on when our engines overheat until it's waaaay too late. Hindsight, but when it's fixed install at minimum a analog temp gauge, they're cheap and a pretty easy install.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Im baffled.

I have the 2012 1.8L base model. Manual trans.

Car has been running perfectly. Just got my oil changed 3 weeks ago and no issues.

Suddenly out of nowhere i get a funny smell through the heater. I pull over and the coolant reservoir is completely empty.

I have it towed to my shop. My mechanic finds coolant mixed with oil. Suspects a faulty water pump leaked coolant which overheated my engine and warped my head.

But here's the thing, i never had an performance issue, the engine drove great.

I never had a temperature light come on.

I never had a check engine light come on.

Im completely baffled about how this is possible. And obviously im stuck because i need to replace my water pump, coolant reservoir and hoses, refinish my heads and replace my gaskets.

Cost: $2,500

Totally out of nowhere. Is this a known issue? Anything i can do?

Thank you for any advice.

Yup, the head gasket (and warped head) on my 2012 1.8L sedan happened at 35k. It's a known problem with these and even the dealer service manager said the head is of poor design and it will happen again (and I believe it).

I wound up with an extended warranty on the whole car as a result of my persistence (several threads by me about this....). Hopefully you can get some special coverage/assistance through GM if you persist as I did.

 

[skurtov]

Could just swap in an engine. Might actually be cheaper.

 

[ebw24]

If you can validate that the water pump failure was what caused the head gasket damage you may be able to get gm assistance with the repair.

The water pump is covered separately under special coverages.



[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

Thank you for this information. I looked online and found a .pdf file of a Special Coverage service bulletin (Bulletin No: 14371A) that says a few things:

"2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic:
Some 2011-2014 Model Chevrolet Sonic vehicles may ave an engine coolant leak from the water pump. Over time, the loss off coolant will reduce cooling performance and eventually lead to engine overheating. If this condition is not corrected the 'Service Engine light' may come on, an 'Engine Hot' message may appear, a chime may sound and the engine power reduced"

"...this special coverage covers the condition for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles from the date the vehicle was place in service, regardless of ownership".

So it looks like this might have been the issue. I looked through all of my service records and never received this letter. The only reason I can think of would be because I have the 1.8 L and not the 1.4L.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Very much appreciated.

 

[ebw24]

That sucks it man. I've heard of the idiot lights not coming on when our engines overheat until it's waaaay too late. Hindsight, but when it's fixed install at minimum a analog temp gauge, they're cheap and a pretty easy install.

Thanks man. Yeah, it definitely sucks. On the one hand, I feel a little better knowing this wasn't just a random thing that happened to only me. But obviously, its a little worse knowing that this is a known issue, has probably happened to several people, and we weren't told about it.

 

[ebw24]

Yup, the head gasket (and warped head) on my 2012 1.8L sedan happened at 35k. It's a known problem with these and even the dealer service manager said the head is of poor design and it will happen again (and I believe it).

I wound up with an extended warranty on the whole car as a result of my persistence (several threads by me about this....). Hopefully you can get some special coverage/assistance through GM if you persist as I did.

Sorry to hear that this happened to you, too. But glad you were able to get it worked out. I'm sure it would be a long shot to see if I could get assistance from GM, but definitely worth it to try in this case.

Were you contacted by anyone in particular? I'm not exactly sure what route to take for contacting GM or to get contacted by GM.

 

[gnonne]

GM Help

Go to your dealer with the car and a print out of the coverage memo. You will need to agree to a diagnostic fee, and tell them you are requesting coverage for the known issue. After they diagnose the problem, they SHOULD call GM and work on your behalf if they are a good local dealer.

You will probably need to pay a good amount, but it should not be $2500 and GM will warrant it longer than an independent shop would.

If this does not work, you will be out $90-$100 for the diagnosis, but its seems worth a shot to me.

I agree about the engine swap - maybe $1500 would cover that as there are plenty of GM 1.8's out there in wrecked Sonics and Cruzes. If you get one of these engines, it would be worth it to change the water pump while its out.

Also, I don't know if the leak was slow or a sudden loss. I have two 2012 1.8's and I haven't had the coolant loss issues others report. But, I have added some cheap "sealer" to the coolant systems as a precaution.

 

[carsNskis]

Good advice taking it to the Dealer, best way to see what your options are with them and GM.

Careful with the coolant sealer. It's a good idea to drain and refill your system after you run it a bit to get the excess out, it could sludge up the system as it ages.

[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[ebw24]

Go to your dealer with the car and a print out of the coverage memo. You will need to agree to a diagnostic fee, and tell them you are requesting coverage for the known issue. After they diagnose the problem, they SHOULD call GM and work on your behalf if they are a good local dealer.

You will probably need to pay a good amount, but it should not be $2500 and GM will warrant it longer than an independent shop would.

If this does not work, you will be out $90-$100 for the diagnosis, but its seems worth a shot to me.

I agree about the engine swap - maybe $1500 would cover that as there are plenty of GM 1.8's out there in wrecked Sonics and Cruzes. If you get one of these engines, it would be worth it to change the water pump while its out.

Also, I don't know if the leak was slow or a sudden loss. I have two 2012 1.8's and I haven't had the coolant loss issues others report. But, I have added some cheap "sealer" to the coolant systems as a precaution.

Thanks. Im going to try this. Im headed to my mechanics place this morning to get a print out of all the details. I'll then take that along with the coverage memo to the Chevy dealership and see if their willing to help me communicate with GM.

Really really appreciate everyone's input and advice. Ill make an update after i speak with the dealer.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Sorry to hear that this happened to you, too. But glad you were able to get it worked out. I'm sure it would be a long shot to see if I could get assistance from GM, but definitely worth it to try in this case.

Were you contacted by anyone in particular? I'm not exactly sure what route to take for contacting GM or to get contacted by GM.

The car was under the powertrain warranty at the time, so it was covered. GM sent me a survey. I gave them straight zeros down the line. I got a call from a woman at the "Early Relay Team". She proceeded to tell me how she was a long time GM employee, blah, blah. I politely told her I've been in the automotive industry for over 25 years and I know how it works. LOL.

I could tell she'd never changed a tire in her life, but she was a polite woman so I didn't want to be rude and I tried to get her to understand my side of the problem. I said, "Look, your car is an asset, it's a tool to get you from point A to point B. Every day it doesn't work or you can't count on it, the vehicle has no value to you. It's a costly paperweight". She said she understood. I told her my family has bought GM cars exclusively since 1977, nothing else. She understood.

She offered me $2k off on a new car. I told her, "That doesn't solve my $16.5k paperweight problem". I told her she was going to have to do better and I was considering going to the NYS Attorney General for action or assistance as I felt that the car was a lemon and unreliable.

She asked for me to allow her a week to review it and get back to her. I then got a Component Coverage Letter from GM stating that virtually every component in the car is covered to 110.5k or 2021. With that I was satisfied because it puts GM on the hook. So, when I have an issue other than maintenance which I do myself, I put it on the flatbed truck and have it towed to the dealer's front door......

 

[ebw24]

Just an update. The process has been, well, a nightmare.

I took the car to the Chevy dealership last week for their official diagnostic to see if they will participate in the repair. Their result was the the head gasket did NOT blow. Nonetheless, it will STILL require $3,000 in repairs (somehow this is now more expensive), because they believe the issue is with the oil pump and the radiator.

I was sort of surprised that replacing a $270 radiator would be so expensive. I asked for a detail of the diagnostic (since its so different than from what my original garage told me).

The guy in the service department refuses to give me a list of what happened, the detail of the diagnostic, etc. He just keeps saying "Are we doing this or what? We need to make a decision because GM's offer is going to expire"...its like im taking to a sales guy that just wants me to cut a check and not ask any questions. Its insane.

My dealings with GM have been a little better. I got a case assigned to a "senior". But since my initial conversation with her last week, i havnt been able to get a hold of her on the phone after leaving several voicemails.

My hope is that all of this information from the service department has made its way to GM so that at least I can communicate with someone at GM who will actually explain the problem with the car.

The total bill breaks down as
Radiator: $270
Reservoir: $70
Thermostat: $130
A giant list of "hoses and clamps": $276
Labor: $1000
"Your part for warranty" (no idea what this means): $576
Total: $2272

GM said that they will cover the cost of the oil pump: $800

I'm still unsure of what happened. Did the oil pump failure cause something to break the radiator? ...i have no idea.

I called my garage to see what test they did to confirm that a gasket had blown. They said they did a block test (not sure what that is).

So, im stuck with two different diagnostics, both with extremely high price tags.

My only hope is a helpful GM rep. We'll see.

Thanks for your guys' support. Sometimes talking about it is good to feel at least a little relief.

 

[carsNskis]

It's not uncommon for customer service to disengage once a dealership has a warranty or assistance claim going. The dealer is a franchise and trying to the get job. The manufacturer is participating with money if they submit everything correctly.

The expense is mostly labor. There's a lot of overhead at the dealership vs an independent.

I'd go with the option that gives me the most miles for my dollar. If the dealership does the work you'll have a 12 month warranty on the work, so make sure they're certain no other systems have issues that could also be a cause before it leaves

[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[Gimpster]

If the oil pump is indeed shot, unless you've looked over the bottom end of the engine yourself, I would have concerns about main/rod bearings. This engine is sounding like something I would be wary investing "repairs" into. Not to mention any potential head damage. Besides the oil pump, you said you had coolant in the oil... another death blow to bearings.

It's been suggested before already, but I would really lean towards swapping in a junkyard engine with a 30-90 day warranty.

The diagnosis might be wildly different, but I feel the outcome should be the same: new-used engine. If it comes to that, I would use the independent mechanic.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Just an update. The process has been, well, a nightmare.

I took the car to the Chevy dealership last week for their official diagnostic to see if they will participate in the repair. Their result was the the head gasket did NOT blow. Nonetheless, it will STILL require $3,000 in repairs (somehow this is now more expensive), because they believe the issue is with the oil pump and the radiator.

I was sort of surprised that replacing a $270 radiator would be so expensive. I asked for a detail of the diagnostic (since its so different than from what my original garage told me).

The guy in the service department refuses to give me a list of what happened, the detail of the diagnostic, etc. He just keeps saying "Are we doing this or what? We need to make a decision because GM's offer is going to expire"...its like im taking to a sales guy that just wants me to cut a check and not ask any questions. Its insane.

My dealings with GM have been a little better. I got a case assigned to a "senior". But since my initial conversation with her last week, i havnt been able to get a hold of her on the phone after leaving several voicemails.

My hope is that all of this information from the service department has made its way to GM so that at least I can communicate with someone at GM who will actually explain the problem with the car.

The total bill breaks down as
Radiator: $270
Reservoir: $70
Thermostat: $130
A giant list of "hoses and clamps": $276
Labor: $1000
"Your part for warranty" (no idea what this means): $576
Total: $2272

GM said that they will cover the cost of the oil pump: $800

I'm still unsure of what happened. Did the oil pump failure cause something to break the radiator? ...i have no idea.

I called my garage to see what test they did to confirm that a gasket had blown. They said they did a block test (not sure what that is).

So, im stuck with two different diagnostics, both with extremely high price tags.

My only hope is a helpful GM rep. We'll see.

Thanks for your guys' support. Sometimes talking about it is good to feel at least a little relief.

Call back customer service with your case number and speak to someone else and let them know you've called the rep but have not gotten a reply back. Document when you call and write it down. Be persistent. Be very, very firm, but polite. They are trained to tell you "No", your job is to get them to say "Yes". You will win if you persist and try to get them to see your side.

Yes, you will likely have to pay something, but that is where you bargain. You might say, "I'm willing to pay $500 for this repair, and have GM cover the rest in its entirety. As long as I get a 12 month warranty on this repair, I will authorize it to be done".

Don't negotiate with the dealer. Negotiate with GM. Get them to get involved. They will authorize the dealer. Don't let the dealer run the show. That is where it will go bad on you.

My .02.

 

[ebw24]

Another quick update.i just spoke with my senior rep at GM. She was very helpful.

Turns out, the figures the service guy at Chevy gave me, and the ones they gave my senior were quite different.

He had told me hastily it would be a $3000 job, with me paying $2200 and GM paying $800. But my senior rep told me that was inaccurate. Id be paying $2200 and GM (the district manager of my area) agreed to pay $200.

So in reality its a 2400 job and not 3000. I suspect the guy at the dealership lied to get me to agree, and thats probably why he pushed so hard for a quick yes or no without sending me any details.

Another weird thing is when i asked for an explanation about why the oil pump is covered ($200) but not the radiator or all the swollen hoses $2200), is they said it was because the oil pump failed, but the other issues were caused by "external sources". That they are somehow not connected. I find this doubtful, but im not a mechanic, so i dont know how to discuss it intelligently.

Anyway, the GM senior rep will be calling the district manager for clarification and hopefully get a slightly better deal on my behalf. If they contributed $900 id be happy, agree to the job and go away.

Thanks for hanging in there with me. Ill update the thread with the final conclusion.

Evan

 

[ebw24]

Well. Senior agent at GM wasnt able to help. Shes saying contribution of $200 is the district managers final offer. Unbelievable.

Im honestly shocked. Will obviously never buy a GM product again.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Well. Senior agent at GM wasnt able to help. Shes saying contribution of $200 is the district managers final offer. Unbelievable.

Im honestly shocked. Will obviously never buy a GM product again.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Call them back and tell them that's not acceptable. Tell them what you are willing to pay and persist about it. Keep fighting. You can't take "No" for an answer or they will roll you over.

 

[ebw24]

Call them back and tell them that's not acceptable. Tell them what you are willing to pay and persist about it. Keep fighting. You can't take "No" for an answer or they will roll you over.

I tried man. And i really appreciate your encouragement. I wanted to keep fighting. But im on my second week in a rental car. The GM rep is stonewalling me, the Dealership is stonewalling me. I cant keep not having a car, and they know it. The GM rep even started saying "Their offer for assistance is going to expire"....basically threatening to take the lousy $200 off the table.

One of the worst experiences ive ever had with a company. I just gotta bite the bullet. Im tired of dealing with these jerks.

Thanks, though. I appreciate it.