I visited Elk Grove Chevrolet on July 13, 2026, for an - nickd.anderson
I visited Elk Grove Chevrolet on July 13, 2026, for an oil change and to diagnose a recurring “Shift to Park” issue on my 2017 Chevrolet Volt with about 119,000 miles.
This is a widely reported problem across several GM models. I was concerned it might be contributing to my battery repeatedly dying, since I had recently replaced the battery only for it to die again shortly afterward. My mother also recently had the same issue repaired on her newer Chevrolet Blazer.
The dealership also diagnosed a failing EGR valve after the check-engine light came on. Thankfully, that repair was covered under California’s TZEV emissions warranty. The Shift to Park repair was not. I was told Chevrolet requires replacement of the entire shifter assembly at a cost of about $500, even though the failed component may be only a small, inexpensive switch.
I asked about warranties or customer-assistance options and was told there were none. I contacted GM Customer Care myself and explained the situation, my loyalty to the brand, and the financial difficulty of paying for the repair as a full-time college student. My late father worked as a Chevrolet service advisor for nearly 30 years, and my family has always owned GM vehicles.
GM declined to help and told me any assistance would need to come from the dealership. My advisor then said the dealership could not help either, other than financing. Since I need a reliable car, I reluctantly authorized the repair.
Because I had expected only an oil change, I planned to wait. Once I was told the repairs would take all day, transportation became an issue. The dealership normally provides Lyft or Uber rides only within 10 miles, and I live more than 20 miles away. After several hours and limited communication, they provided a rental. I appreciated that, and it was the best part of the experience.
By 4:50 p.m., I still had no update, even though I was told the car should be finished that day and my advisor knew I lived more than 30 minutes away. I called and reached her. She said the technicians were finishing up and that she had about 20 minutes of paperwork left. I reminded her I still had to drive through rush-hour traffic and refill the rental. She said that was fine and that she would see me soon.
When I arrived, my advisor was gone. Her office door was open, but she never returned. While waiting, I noticed customer paperwork containing personal information sitting openly on the desk in an unlocked office accessible directly from outside. That was concerning.
The cashier had not been told I was coming, had no notes, and had to search for my paperwork. She could not explain the repairs but could collect my payment. I returned the rental, signed several documents, and left without ever speaking to my advisor again. There was no call, no handoff, and no explanation of the work performed.
When I got to my car, I found a wadded-up plastic seat cover on the seat and a greasy paper floor mat still inside. I had to remove them myself and was left with greasy hands for the drive home.
I also noticed the oil-change reminder sticker had a date several months in the past and a 3,000-mile interval. This is a Chevrolet Volt, not a conventional gasoline-only vehicle. Most of my driving is on battery power, and the oil-life monitor accounts for actual engine use. Between the incorrect date and mileage interval, I was left wondering whether the dealership understands its own vehicles.
This was not my first poor experience here. During my previous oil change, I also raised the Shift to Park issue and was dismissively told that if they could not reproduce it, there was nothing they could do.
I waited several days before writing this to make sure I was not reacting only out of anger. I am still extremely disappointed. My experience felt entirely transactional. Customer loyalty, communication, and basic attention to detail did not seem to matter.
I will not be returning to this dealership.
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