Complain and Get Results
In 2019, Terry Smith, of Jacksonville, Fla., traded in his 2019 Corvette Grand Sport for a same-model-year Chevrolet Silverado pickup. But shortly after he purchased the truck, it started running rough, and certain parts needed immediate replacement. It had transmission, climate control and traction issues, says Smith. He reached out to a friend—a lawyer—who advised him to complain to General Motors before pursuing legal action (see below for details on lemon laws).
Smith called GM and described the truck’s problems. He told the company that he could pursue legal action but would rather not. GM agreed to take a look at the truck but found that it was operating as designed. Even so, Smith’s lawyer friend advised him to call again and be persistent. After three months of calling and complaining, GM agreed to pay him $5,000.
This past May, after prices for used cars and trucks spiked, Smith decided to sell the Silverado. He had it appraised by
