Safety Issue: Steering Wheel Emblem

[Gimpster]

Per this thread: http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t878/

I thought I'd start another thread more visible. It appears GM customer service folks are crawling the site, so maybe something can happen. If anyone has other methods to suggest on bringing this to GM's attention please post!

Basically the chrome surround on the steering wheel emblem, when in the right conditions, blasts you right in the eyes with sunlight. During my recent cross country drive it happened repeatedly and for long durations. I obviously never had this issue on my Cobalt since the emblem was just a round cap without chrome. I was even wearing my dark sunglasses and it really irritated me.

I'm not sure what the long-term fix should be, but nipping this in the bud now might be wise.

EDIT: I'm sure to a lot of people this will seem really silly, but just wait until it happens to you! I'm otherwise thrilled with my Sonic

 

[wingman]

It sucks trying to dodge that glare of sunlight. You move, and the sun finds more chrome in the car to reflect off. Bob & weave!!

 

[AndrewGS]

I never notice it. I do like the way it looks though.

 

[AxelRipper]

Doubt I'd notice it. My truck has a full chrome Grant 3-spoke wheel in it a-la:

 

[speedog]

Can't say I've noticed it either after 2 months of driving my Sonic - maybe it's a combination of the driver's height and the seat height adjustment that produces an optimal condition for this to occur.

 

[Danny5]

Yah, this is like complaining your wheels need nitrogen. I am calling this one frivilous!

 

[Gimpster]

Didn't feel frivioulus as I leaned to the right for an hour on I-70 :\ Its really weird, I mean the vehicle I traded in was a Nissan Frontier which had a large chrome Nissan emblem and never hit me like this thing.

FWIW my wife noticed it too when she drove the car, and hes 5'1 and I'm 5'11

Like I said, its not a huge deal just weird and annoying... I've owned a crapload of cars and never had this happen.

 

[Fit4Sonic]

Per this thread: http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t878/

I thought I'd start another thread more visible. It appears GM customer service folks are crawling the site, so maybe something can happen. If anyone has other methods to suggest on bringing this to GM's attention please post!

Basically the chrome surround on the steering wheel emblem, when in the right conditions, blasts you right in the eyes with sunlight. During my recent cross country drive it happened repeatedly and for long durations. I obviously never had this issue on my Cobalt since the emblem was just a round cap without chrome. I was even wearing my dark sunglasses and it really irritated me.

I'm not sure what the long-term fix should be, but nipping this in the bud now might be wise.

EDIT: I'm sure to a lot of people this will seem really silly, but just wait until it happens to you! I'm otherwise thrilled with my Sonic

Hmm, maybe tilt the steering wheel or cover the chrome somehow.

Seriously, if I had a few dollars for every car I've owned with chrome or shiny items on the steering wheel I would have a somewhat larger bank account.

Not saying it may not be an issue, but considering the Sonic is new I'm sure GM has other more serious issues and/or potential issues to deal with right now.

Then again, if you feel it's that serious, maybe it should be looked at.

 

[dumpsterj]

I noticed it , getting the windows tinted tomorrow , also the sunvisors are the size of envelopes. other than that tho i have no complaints , love the car.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

Can't say I've noticed it either after 2 months of driving my Sonic - maybe it's a combination of the driver's height and the seat height adjustment that produces an optimal condition for this to occur.

Maybe it is how far back the windshield extends over the ****pit.
Certainly, a typical truck has a fairly vertical windshield and maybe the steering wheel is not exposed enough to catch the sun at the "wrong" angle.

I think it is poor design to have reflective surfaces that can catch the sun anywhere near the drivers field of vision (not much helping rear view mirrors).

Edit - lol, I guess you can substitute cabin for ****pit.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

Has anyone figured out a good (easy, but decent looking) fix for this?
Now that I have my car and we've had some really sunny days, I can say that it is a true annoyance.
However, the chrome trim strip on the LTZ steering wheel is even worse.

If it is sunny tomorrow, I'll get a picture or two.

Today, when the sun was coming in the driver's side window, as I rotated the wheel when driving, it was frequently hitting this strip and reflecting into my eyes. Not a big deal for a ten minute drive, but it would get really old if I was spending a couple of hours behind the wheel!

Any ideas on solutions?

 

[MGDavis]

Per this thread: http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t878/

It appears GM customer service folks are crawling the site,

I dont for an instant believe in the authenticity of "Vanessa" here or the various people posing as CSRs on the Sonic Facebook page. Note that "Vanessa" never posts anything substantive. Further, if she were here as on official representative of GM or Chevrolet, she'd be showing more corporate contact info.

 

[milesvdustin]

lol at ****pit

 

[Ferdie]

Lol first time i see the chroom strip on the steering wheel

i've got also a LTZ but not that option

 

[Gimpster]

My wife worked for sears in their CS dept for a long time, and when they'd find negative stuff on forums (they actually looked) they'd post pretty identical stuff to what this Vanessa is. And yes, my wife used a fake name too

So I dunno.. without having access to the IP's of posters, who knows.

I dont for an instant believe in the authenticity of "Vanessa" here or the various people posing as CSRs on the Sonic Facebook page. Note that "Vanessa" never posts anything substantive. Further, if she were here as on official representative of GM or Chevrolet, she'd be showing more corporate contact info.

 

[laborsmith]

I do not know about Vanessa, but I have concluded there is such an animal as Chevrolet Customer Service who monitor boards such as this and whose job in other forums appears to be much what we see hear.

I do find a remarkable similarity between the Jeff Morris responses on Camaro5 and the Vanessa/Stacy responses on SOF.

The Vette forums also are monitored. I do not know about boards designed for other Chevy cars as I have never been able to call them up through my browser.


Laborsmith

 

[Gimpster]

I remember a GM Performance Parts engineer used to monitor CSS.net and a few other Cobalt board up until around the release of the stage kit. After that he pretty much disappeared.

Was a shame, he had some great info and insight into how things worked @ GM.

I've noticed on here a couple powertrain guys have posted too.

 

[BrianJ88]

Didn't feel frivioulus as I leaned to the right for an hour on I-70 :\ Its really weird, I mean the vehicle I traded in was a Nissan Frontier which had a large chrome Nissan emblem and never hit me like this thing.

FWIW my wife noticed it too when she drove the car, and hes 5'1 and I'm 5'11

Like I said, its not a huge deal just weird and annoying... I've owned a crapload of cars and never had this happen.

I traded a frontier as well and I never had a glare problem with the emblem on the steering wheel.

 

[Papasonic]

I dont for an instant believe in the authenticity of "Vanessa" here or the various people posing as CSRs on the Sonic Facebook page. Note that "Vanessa" never posts anything substantive. Further, if she were here as on official representative of GM or Chevrolet, she'd be showing more corporate contact info.

Getting away from the thread topic, but in defense of Chevrolet CSR's; I purchased my LTZ turbo hatchback in Nov.2011, and it didn't have the complete window sticker. The sticker that it was shipped with was mostly blank, and said vehicle couldn't be sold without the proper window sticked applied.

My dealer was unable to explain why they didn't have it, and were unable to produce one after numerous requests by me.

After no results from my dealer, I sent a private message to Vanessa, a Cheverolet CSR that monitors posts on this forum. She said that she would make some calls, and assured me that she could help obtain my missing window sticker.

About three weeks later I received a phone call from Vanessa; she stated that either my window sticker would be sent to my home address, or to my dealer. Later that day my dealer called, stating that they now have my window sticker.

I looked up the phone number that she called from; and indeed it was listed as Chevrolet Customer Service.

I just wanted to share my positive experience with the help provided by Vanessa, And Stacy.

Papasonic

 

[svzuki]

Lol first time i see the chroom strip on the steering wheel

i've got also a LTZ but not that option

Myself as well. LTZ without that gaudy chrome strip