Jacob Soares

I recently purchased a used 2021 Dodge Charger from Glendale Chevrolet for my daughter. Overall, the buying experience was excellent, and it was an absolute pleasure dealing with Patrick, our salespers Glendale Chevrolet for my daughter. Overall, the buying experience was excellent, and it was an absolute pleasure dealing with Patrick, our salesperson. He was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely excited for my daughter as she purchased her dream car. He exceeded our expectations. We test-drove the vehicle before purchase, and it performed well. However, on the drive home my daughter noticed a severe brake shudder, accompanied by a pulsating brake pedal and noticeable vehicle lurching while braking. I drove the vehicle myself and immediately confirmed the issue. The vibration was significant enough that even passengers with no mechanical knowledge commented on it. I contacted Patrick immediately, and he asked us to return the vehicle the following morning. On arrival, Eric from the service department was equally professional. He arranged an inspection, kept us informed throughout the process, and advised that the technician had confirmed the complaint during a road test. The technician recommended replacement of the rear brake rotors. During the sale, Patrick rightly emphasized the reassurance provided by the CarBravo Certified 126-Point Inspection and the 12-month/12,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty. Those were major factors in our decision to purchase from a Chevrolet dealership rather than an independent used-car dealer. Unfortunately, despite acknowledging the fault, dealership management declined the warranty claim. Failure of the Certification Inspection To be sold as a CarBravo Certified vehicle, the dealer's mechanics are required to inspect the brakes to ensure they are in good, safe, operational condition. A vehicle that lurches, pulses, and vibrates severely during braking is considered a safety hazard and should never have passed the certification inspection. The defect was clearly pre-existing when the vehicle was delivered. General Motors Warranty Precedent Because CarBravo is owned and backed by General Motors, its Bumper-to-Bumper coverage closely mirrors GM's factory warranty. Under GM's standard warranty guidelines, severe brake pulsation or rotor thickness variation—when not caused by customer abuse or an accident—is typically covered through resurfacing or replacement. Based on the published warranty, I believe this safety-related defect should have been covered. What makes this particularly disappointing is that the repair involved only a relatively inexpensive set of rear brake rotors and a small amount of labour. Instead, management chose to deny responsibility, undermining the confidence that the CarBravo inspection and warranty are intended to provide. Ironically, my wife and I were also preparing to purchase a new Chevrolet Traverse, and I had already told Patrick we intended to return to him for that purchase. Unfortunately, management's handling of this issue has changed that decision. This was a clear case of great staff but poor management. Patrick, Eric, and the technician were all professional, honest, and customer-focused. The technician immediately acknowledged the fault, and at no stage did I feel I was arguing with the service department. The decision not to honour the warranty rested solely with dealership management. I rarely write reviews, but consumers deserve confidence that a certified vehicle has genuinely passed the advertised inspection and that a manufacturer-backed warranty will be honoured when a legitimate safety-related defect is identified immediately after purchase. While my daughter still loves her car, this experience unnecessarily overshadowed what should have been an exciting milestone. I cannot recommend Glendale Chevrolet and would encourage prospective buyers to carefully consider whether the dealership's certification process and warranty commitments provide the peace of mind they promise. More

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