[auto-one]

Shocking ! Scary !! It seems that GM India is obssessed with the style and design of the Beat, while becoming lethargic towards QC and other basic but important manufacturing processes.
I have noticed that ChevroletIndia's FB account is flooded with complaints regarding poor service from its dealers and an indifferent attitude from the company itself.
Rangarx, good to know that you and your friend were unhurt. I suggest you take a firm stand and approach the consumer forum if necessary.Post this issue on multiple online forums, including the FB account of ChevroletIndia.
The matter is serious and I feel that the company should thoroughly investigate the root cause of the mishap and should replace the car itself with a new one. ( Look at the way TATA motors rapidly swung into action when there was an issue of 'nano's catching fire. )
If GM India is really serious about the issue, and it has to be, it should conduct a free check up of all the cars sold till date and ensure that they are fault-free. Else, prospective customers like me would think twice before buying the Beat.

[rangarx]

MPower, Steering wheel comes off! What on earth happening at GM India? SAIC effect?

I think Parent GM has started step mother treatment to GM India after SAIC take over.

Auto-One, Thanks for FB info. I would do it at once.

[AutoNoob]

I am having left-pulling problem on my Beat which is not even a month old and clocked less than 600kms. Also, whenever I take a full left/ right turn at parking speeds, there is tak-tak noise from front underbody (definitely some linkage problem).

Time to take action and pull the dealership guys. I definitely don't want to end up like rangarx's friend.

[rangarx]

Friends,

See the response from GM after a chain of mails and after 4 days from the closest shave of an accident.

Dear Mr.XXXX,

Firstly, we sincerely empathize for the incident you had to experience while driving our product BEAT.
On you registering a concern with our Customer assistance center, myself and our technical expert had visited Sundaram motors to analyse the cause of incident.
Our observation is based on the car as it is condition ,
. Firstly, there is bend observed on the RH side Low arm .The lower arm which otherwise is straight can bend to this extent only if there is a huge impact caused from beneath. The thud sound which you have heard is possibly this impact which has caused the lower arm to bend. The impact marks can be seen on the sides of the lowerarm where the ball joint is fixed. Due to this impact and bend, the ball joint is pulled out from its seating thus delinking the suspension from steering. .Thus it is very clearly evident that the suspension mount cut is only due to an impact and not related to any manufacturing defect .
The other damages which is noticed in car is all consequential to the above reason .
In view of this, we can definitely look into this case as an accident repair and extent our whole heartened involvement in getting the car back on road. Our dealer will be in touch with you regarding this.
However on the other aspects of customer handling, we definitely agree that the matter could have been dealt better. We will be taking these issues seriously with our dealer.

Regards
XXXXX
Regional Manager-After Sales
CSIPL Chennai

&

This afternoon we both are meeting the one who wrote this at the dealership.

Our plan is firmly telling there was no impact and the bend is due to the failure. I could pull in enough witnesses to prove this out. Please advice me how to proceed further.

[rock18]

This is ridiculous...I am really sorry for your friend.
Looks like GM are heading the Skoda way.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by rangarx

The lower arm which otherwise is straight can bend to this extent only if there is a huge impact caused from beneath. The thud sound which you have heard is possibly this impact which has caused the lower arm to bend. The impact marks can be seen on the sides of the lowerarm where the ball joint is fixed. Due to this impact and bend, the ball joint is pulled out from its seating thus delinking the suspension from steering. Thus it is very clearly evident that the suspension mount cut is only due to an impact and not related to any manufacturing defect .

Right - the debate now begins as to which came first, the chicken or the egg. Whether the ball joint collapsing caused the bend, or an impact bent the arm and caused the ball joint to break off...

[rangarx]

Chennai BHPians,

Is there any proven avenue to take this up legally? Anyone has got any contacts? Please let us know.

[AutoNoob]

Originally Posted by rangarx

Firstly, there is bend observed on the RH side Low arm .The lower arm which otherwise is straight can bend to this extent only if there is a huge impact caused from beneath. The thud sound which you have heard is possibly this impact which has caused the lower arm to bend. The impact marks can be seen on the sides of the lowerarm where the ball joint is fixed. Due to this impact and bend, the ball joint is pulled out from its seating thus delinking the suspension from steering. .Thus it is very clearly evident that the suspension mount cut is only due to an impact and not related to any manufacturing defect .
The other damages which is noticed in car is all consequential to the above reason .
...
...
This afternoon we both are meeting the one who wrote this at the dealership.

Our plan is firmly telling there was no impact and the bend is due to the failure. I could pull in enough witnesses to prove this out. Please advice me how to proceed further.

Tell that idiot "even if something hits the Lower control arm at a speed of 40-50kmph, it is not supossed to bend like the way it has. This is possible only when the ball joint popped out, the control arm got dragged on the road with load eqivalent to half the FAW. And if the design is such, then I am afraid to say that none of the Beats are roadworthy in India."

One thing which these fools can point out : that it may not be this particular 'hit' that caused the complete damage. And as you have mentioned that you were driving the same car at 120kmph the same morning, there may be some past 'hit' at higher speed that consequently led to this failure.

But note that, even in the severest of the accidents we have hardly seen ball joints pop-out (only in some cases where vehicle was supposedly driven at speeds beyond 80kmph and hit something immovable or much heavier than the vehicle mass), because the whole linkage mechanism including their supports is pushed backwards and the load in not concentrated only on the ball joints.

And, I can tell this because I have worked enough on steerings, front suspensions and the associated ball joints. The load values specified for ball stud push out are much higher than what can be experienced in a vehicle of mass 1000kg approx, travelling at speed of 30-40kmph when it hits a stone big enough to pass under the bumper of Beat or even a kerb.

[rangarx]

Originally Posted by AutoNoob

Tell that idiot "even if something hits the Lower control arm at a speed of 40-50kmph, it is not supossed to bend like the way it has. This is possible only when the ball joint popped out, the control arm got dragged on the road with load eqivalent to half the FAW. And if the design is such, then I am afraid to say that none of the Beats are roadworthy in India."

One thing which these fools can point out : that it may not be this particular 'hit' that caused the complete damage. And as you have mentioned that you were driving the same car at 120kmph the same morning, there may be some past 'hit' at higher speed that consequently led to this failure.

But note that, even in the severest of the accidents we have hardly seen ball joints pop-out (only in some cases where vehicle was supposedly driven at speeds beyond 80kmph and hit something immovable or much heavier than the vehicle mass), because the whole linkage mechanism including their supports is pushed backwards and the load in not concentrated only on the ball joints.

And, I can tell this because I have worked enough on steerings, front suspensions and the associated ball joints. The load values specified for ball stud push out are much higher than what can be experienced in a vehicle of mass 1000kg approx, travelling at speed of 30-40kmph when it hits a stone big enough to pass under the bumper of Beat or even a kerb.

Many thanks for the insight, autonoob. Yes, gonna take this up with them today.

[Daewood]

Originally Posted by AutoNoob

Also, whenever I take a full left/ right turn at parking speeds, there is tak-tak noise from front underbody (definitely some linkage problem).

Is the sound after you come back from a drive and park your new car?
If so it could be the sound of the expanded metals contracting or something like that. It happens when the car is new and disappears after a few months. Used to happen in our Santro.

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by AutoNoob

.... Also, whenever I take a full left/ right turn at parking speeds, there is tak-tak noise from front underbody (definitely some linkage problem).
.

Sounds like its coming from the drive shaft. Please check if there are drive shaft boot installed at all. . On both sides.

Originally Posted by rangarx

.... The impact marks can be seen on the sides of the lowerarm where the ball joint is fixed....

Now this, is a strong case. But, like autonoob mentioned, it really.. I mean, really takes some effort to pop out the ball joint.

Originally Posted by Daewood

Is the sound after you come back from a drive and park your new car?
If so it could be the sound of the expanded metals contracting or something like that. It happens when the car is new and disappears after a few months. Used to happen in our Santro.

I think you mean the sound of the exhaust cooling? Here I doubt its the case.

[Hashim]

Just a thought, maybe you can ask them to get data reading from ECU to check the vehicle speed when this ball joint popped out.

Real life example maybe present in their bodywork shop as well, cars with bent lower arm, aprons etc due to impact but ball joined and everything in suspension is in good working condition, so what happened to your car is not something normal.

[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by AutoNoob

Tell that idiot "even if something hits the Lower control arm at a speed of 40-50kmph, it is not supossed to bend like the way it has. This is possible only when the ball joint popped out, the control arm got dragged on the road with load eqivalent to half the FAW. And if the design is such, then I am afraid to say that none of the Beats are roadworthy in India."...

+1 to this. The lower control arm (RHS) of my Esteem has taken some hits, one of which was at a good speed and still there's no unusual damage (inspected by a steering/suspension specialist) to it.

[rangarx]

Tell that idiot "even if something hits the Lower control arm at a speed of 40-50kmph, it is not supossed to bend like the way it has. This is possible only when the ball joint popped out, the control arm got dragged on the road with load eqivalent to half the FAW. And if the design is such, then I am afraid to say that none of the Beats are roadworthy in India."..

.

Autonoob!

Thanks a ton. This is what I exactly phrased to GM south Manager in our meeting which was just over.

They were showing lot of inspection and analysis videos and telling there is no reason for this kind of lower arm bend without any impact.

We were stubburn on the abover statement and proved out, well almost.

Finally they agreed to perform every repair under warranty. But the root cause they say, is a mystery. We insisted on them to find that out first for the sake of other customers.

Their arguement was " We have 60000+ Beats on road in India and no single case has been reported like this so far. We had checked if any complaints from all the Beats from this batch for the said problem. Also we checked all other models from the month to check any line issue" They were repeating the same again.

I hinted I am a T BHPian! Next reply was ' OK, Let's talk what has to happen. If you are not agreeing for insurance claim, we agree for warranty replacement!' Hail T-BHP!

Let us wait for the vehicle to be handed over.

Thanks all folks once again.

[Jaggu]

Good to know that, your pictures were very clear and i dont see any impact mark on the lower arm. Unless a monster managed to putt the ball joint out using a crow bar, from under the earth or something