Bookmarking Auto on Info pagesSupporting Auto on InfoHome or Site Layout or Site Map or Site Index or Quick Jumps or Search Engine Directory or The Mart or The LinksMini-Survey Menu PageMini-Survey No. 65: GM's Piston Slap - Engine Knock

   
Links to the Mart Links to the Mart
cover cover
Equipping the Expedition Dressing Up for the Trip
cover
Earrings for an Evening Out Books Purchased by Visitors
Visitor support makes this site possible. Please shop often at Amazon.com via Auto on Info. Thank you.

GM's Piston Slap - Engine Knock

Background

Lawsuits seeking compensation for the piston slap - engine knock of certain General Motors engines appear to be picking up pace, if not in frequency, at least in potential severity. For details, see AOI's January 2004 article "Do General Motors' Pickup Trucks and SUVs Make a Grotesque Noise?" and Green & Jigarjian LLP's press release dated March 7, 2004.

Queries

The queries for this mini-survey are:

 

Query 1. Have you experienced the piston slap / engine knock of a 1999 through 2003 General Motors engine as the owner of a 1999 through 2003 GM vehicle with piston slap / engine knock?

Yes

No

Query 2. Have you experienced the piston slap / engine knock of a 1999 through 2003 General Motors engine as a pedestrian?

Yes

No

Query 3. If your answer is "yes" to either Query 1 or Query 2, then:

a.      Please use the following scale to characterize the sound heard. Enter the applicable number here -  

0   2   4   6   8
Not Auditorily Offensive   Auditorily Offensive       Very Auditorily Offensive   Extremely Auditorily Offensive

b.      Please use the following scale to characterize your agreement or disagreement with the following statement, "General Motors' shortcomings in quality are so well documented and so easily accessible that each plaintiff in the piston slap / engine knock lawsuits knew, or should have known, that the vehicle he/she was purchasing would likely prove defective in some material manner, and, consequently, each such plaintiff should receive no recovery for any losses that he/she has suffered by reason of such piston slap / engine knock." Enter the applicable number here -  

-4   -2   0   +2   +4
Strongly Disagree               Strongly Agree

c.      Please use the following scale to characterize your agreement or disagreement with the following statement, "The GM piston slap - engine knock that I have experienced is so auditorily offensive that it would be outrageous if General Motors were to avoid proper compensation to the owner." Enter the applicable number here -  

-4   -2   0   +2   +4
Strongly Disagree               Strongly Agree

d.      Please use the following scale to characterize your agreement or disagreement with the following statement, "If the total cost of reimbursing the plaintiffs in the piston slap - engine knock lawsuits would endanger the financial viability of General Motors, then the owners of these GM vehicles should stoically suffer, without compensation or with only partial compensation, whatever noise, loss of resale value, and increased operating costs that may accompany the piston slap / engine knock, in order to preserve the livelihood of GM employees." Enter the applicable number here -  

-4   -2   0   +2   +4
Strongly Disagree               Strongly Agree

e.      Please use the following scale to characterize your agreement or disagreement with the following statement, "If the total cost of reimbursing the plaintiffs in the piston slap - engine knock lawsuits would endanger the financial viability of General Motors, then the owners of these GM vehicles should be fully compensated, but the U.S. government and taxpayer should intercede with a bailout to ensure the continued financial viability of General Motors." Enter the applicable number here -  

-4   -2   0   +2   +4
Strongly Disagree               Strongly Agree

Query 4. The year, line and model of your primary vehicle is:

Year:     Line:     Model:

Query 5. Your state/province and country of residence are:

County/Shire:       State/Province:      Country:

Query 6. Your age is: 

Note that all non-opinion queries, save for county/shire/parish of residence, must be answered for the response set to be counted.

  

Responses as of July 21, 2008

Response density chart of responses to Query 3.a. "Please use the following scale to characterize the sound [of the piston slap / engine knock of a 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, or 2003 General Motors engine]," for respondents reporting ownership of such a GM vehicle with piston slap / engine knock

                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
0   2   4   6   8
Not Auditorily Offensive   Auditorily Offensive       Very Auditorily Offensive   Extremely Auditorily Offensive

 

Response density chart of responses to Query 3.b. "Please use the following scale to characterize your agreement or disagreement with the following statement, 'General Motors' shortcomings in quality are so well documented and so easily accessible that each plaintiff in the piston slap / engine knock lawsuits knew, or should have known, that the vehicle he/she was purchasing would likely prove defective in some material manner, and, consequently, each such plaintiff should receive no recovery for any losses that he/she has suffered by reason of such piston slap / engine knock,'" for respondents reporting ownership of such a GM vehicle with piston slap / engine knock