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gresults's avatar
gresults
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016

Nightmare...

I have a 2009 Georgie Boy Cruisemaster and experienced a blown headgasket in December of 2015, Did not feel it was to big a deal have a great extended warranty thru Good Sam Club... That is where the story becomes complicated so have the unit towed to Workhorse Service Center which is also a Chevy dealer so all good there, Well there a bit backed up so unit sits from Dec-March until a adjuster could take a look at it no problem so far.

Well today get a call April 28th that claim has been denied, reason there is rust in the cylinders, now keep in mind the motorhome engine has been tore a part for a blown headgasket where they found fluids in the heads.

Last time I checked unprotected steel and water causes rust, the dealership was blown away for the reason and even attempted to convince the adjuster that is pretty normal and would be removed during rebuild, but I found a interesting exclusion on the policy guess what is not covered Rust... I just think a uninformed person I hope is the cause of the problem not understanding during normal operation typically you would not have rust inside the engine block. In any case the reason for coverage denial was told to me was the rust.

Now here is where it gets really tricky, please beware that all that work that was done to get denial was to the total of about 1800.00 which is not covered at all as I was told by warranty that they never give authorization to do work they just tell the dealership it is ok for me to approve it so very confused since part of what I'm now paying for was requested by the adjuster but I now have to pay for it.

Any input good or bad would be nice, I have filled out the Good Same Review Board Dispute Form just hoping someone actually reads it, Of course if anyone has any input good or bad that would be great since this will be a hard egg to swallow with recent issue in my life that I would rather not get into.

I do have to admit I find no fault with the dealership and truthfully they where really set back by the denial as they never had one on such a obvious issue so they are working on letter as well I hoping it just a misinterpretation of the rust exclusion clause.

Here is copy of letter I got from Dealer where Motorhome is being repaired,

"We have completed tear down of the engine in your 2007 motorhome bearing vehicle ID # 5B4MGF7G873421563. We determined the cause of failure to be warped cylinder heads and crank bolt broken in crank. The cylinders had filled up with coolant due to cylinder head leak. The subsequent rust that appears is most likely because of the coolant being in the cylinders but not the cause of failure."

Since the Warranty is not covering repair which ended up being 13,000.00 basically I'm more than likely going to have to walk on motorhome, I think part of the problem is the plan wanted to patch the engine but when they discovered it would be extensive and expensive project I was stuck out as I was told from the beginning by the dealer the heads could not be milled and engine replacement was most likely the solution.

What is really sad is I was never once contacted by Good Sam not even when they declined the claim, I had to hear it from my dealer. Who stated the adjuster was confused the second time he was sent out as he had assumed it had been repaired.
  • Vic66,
    I would say margin of error not leeway. I say that because of the scope and diversity of the larger companies.
    We are talking about a specific specialized company and the knowledge of thier inspection and claims department concerning a specific class of equipment. Unless, perhaps, they are purposely attempting to deny a claim that, with information provided, appears to be completely valid.
    As for the forum, I am sure that is the last thing on the inspectors and underwriters mind. I actually doubt most CW employees are aware of this forum. However, I do appreciate the forum and think it is a nice touch and commend CW for providing this forum.
  • I just hope everything works out, I do understand it is a large amount for a repair and I assume these types of issues are a little less know. I noticed a lot of the issues with warranty work dealt more with smaller issues. I know when I purchased the policy I had asked some general questions and was reassured most everything dealing with the motor was covered as I felt that was the main reason for purchase as the little things normally would not be covered as I had a 1000.00 deductable. I assume this type of failure is less well know, lucky for me the dealer that took it in has extensive heavy duty department and has been very accommodating considering it is taking up space while I work this out.

    I have felt better speaking with GS about the issue as so far they seem to be on my side on working out the issue, but yet to get a ruling in my favor to go ahead with repairs., Hoping it does not take to much longer been a long 7 months as it is.
  • I hope it works out also. A thing to remember is Good Sam is the agent not the insuring company. So GS needs to work with you to convince the insurance company they represent to approve the repairs.
    As far as I know GS is an agent not an insurance company. Just like their road side service they sub it out, GS does not own any service or tow trucks.
    Good luck 7mo is an ridiculous amount of time for an approval.
  • Yes I was aware of that as once I discovered it was not being covered in the discussions with the warranty company they made it clear, And basically was informed I was now at the mercy of GS to deal with the issue that they don't change there mind basically there decisions are final even tho it was clear that the initial decision was not based on the actual failure using rust as a reason for declining coverage did not fit the situation and I felt it was done since one of the exclusions was rust and was done and a blanket reason to decline coverage not taking into consideration the failure I really had to question whom they had contracted to look at it considering I have yet to find anyone but the warranty company to think a blown head gasket could be caused by rust inside a running engine., I did find there customer service process a little less that favorable since I kept having to call them for information and even after they declined coverage never got one notice mail, phone, email, etc. Since I'm in Texas our consumer protection laws are very favorable towards the consumer according to my lawyer so I do have that option as well. But truthfully I'm already dealing with a unrelated issue on some property that will be in the courts for years and all it is doing is making the lawyers money, even tho in the end I will come out pretty well.
  • Well it appears they have reversed the denial based on rust, my only issue now is it still does not appear I have got any progress in getting things repaired. They called my repair shop and asked some more questions and now when I called in today was told they are waiting on my repair shop to call them back. They also now have mentioned they may not cover all cost of repair so really confused now.

    I now have a call back into repair shop, hope to get a positive answer this week on getting repairs done as I really would like to use my motor home, only issue now is it has been sitting for months now unused.
  • Got call from dealership today... They have now covered the failure, So other than having to go thru a few hoops to show the issue should be covered I very happy with GS with the final outcome I really just think somebody got fixated on the rust and failed to move past that. I will still keep updating this as the work is to begin but since the whole engine is being replaced I don't see to many issues here out. So overall I think if you can convince them a decision should be covered there is a very good possibility they will make things right as they have done in this case.

    I know from reading post that some interactions are less than favorable so I have to admit going into this I was not very hopeful it would work out so I'm very surprised of the outcome but the plus side I hope to have a MH by the end of the summer.

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