Frequently Asked Questions: Maintenance, Service & Repair

Expand All + Print Maintenance, Service & Repair FAQs
  • Q: Who do I contact if I have a concern with my vehicle?
  • A: Our mission is to provide you with a superior customer experience. Your satisfaction is our business. GM and our dealer partners are working hard to earn your trust, confidence and loyalty by making sure you are completely satisfied with your vehicle and the services provided to you. If we have not met your expectations, please contact us via phone or Twitter as indicated below.

    Buick: 800-521-7300 or @BuickCustCare
    Cadillac: 800-458-8006 or @CadillacCustSvc
    Chevrolet: 800-222-1020 or @ChevyCustCare
    GMC: 800-462-8782 or @GMCCustCare

    HUMMER: 866-486-6376 or @GMCustomerSvc
    Oldsmobile: 800-442-6537 or @GMCustomerSvc
    Pontiac: 800-762-2737 or @GMCustomerSvc
    Saab: 855-880-0808 or @GMCustomerSvc
    Saturn: 800-553-6000 or @GMCustomerSvc
  • Q: What makes Certified Service technicians different?
  • A: From changing oil to replacing engines, these automotive experts, nationwide, are trained by GM to care for your vehicle’s specific needs, undergoing one million hours of instruction annually. They use the most advanced diagnostic equipment available. Genuine GM Parts are tested for performance and reliability – so no matter what kind of GM vehicle you own, trust it to the Certified Service technicians at your GM dealer.
  • Q: How do I obtain an Owner's Manual?
  • A: 1.    You can register your vehicle by visiting the GM Owner Center to download an electronic copy (for many vehicles from 1994 to present).  Or you can visit the Certified Service site for an electronic copy (depending upon vehicle brand and model year) or to order a printed copy.    

    2.    To receive a paper copy (for a fee) you may contact Helm, Inc. Manuals are available for most GM vehicles. You can reach Helm Publications Ordering at 1-800-551-4123.

  • Q: What is the GM Owner Center?
  • A: The GM Owner Center is a FREE service offered to GM customers where they can access and receive:

    ·      Digital Owner's Manual, Warranty Manual and more
    ·      Recall notices for their specific vehicles
    ·      E-mail service reminders
    ·      Online service and maintenance records (as entered by the customer)
    ·      OnStar®and GM Card Earnings summaries

    For more details, please visit GM Owner Center to download a complimentary electronic copy of an Owner's Manual (for most vehicles from 1995 to present), or mycertifiedservice.com to order a printed copy.

  • Q: How do I know if my vehicle has been included in a recall campaign?
  • A: Should a recall on your vehicle ever occur, GM will notify you by mail. You can also contact your dealer or visit the GM Owner Center.
  • Q: How do vehicle recalls work?
  • A: Recalls are VIN-specific. Not every vehicle in a year, make and model is included in a recall. You can register your vehicles that were made after 1993 at the GM Owner Center and receive updates of vehicle recalls on your personalized website account.
  • Q: What is Roadside Assistance?
  • A: You never know when trouble is around the corner. But with GM Roadside Assistance, you have the security of knowing that help is just a phone call away. The Roadside Assistance program provides technically trained advisors who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and offers a number of services that help ease concerns resulting from unforeseeable emergencies. Services are provided up to 5 years/100,000 miles (whichever occurs first) from the date of new vehicle purchase. In the U.S., anyone driving the vehicle is covered.

    ·      24-hour, 7-days-a-week toll-free 800 phone assistance
    ·      Towing to the closest GM dealer (from a legal roadway)
    ·      Flat tire change (using vehicle's spare or tire inflator kit)
    ·      Battery jump-start
    ·      Vehicle Lock-Out Service (costs for a new key and the labor to create it are not covered)
    ·      Emergency fuel delivery (up to $5.00 worth)

  • Q: How do I contact Roadside Assistance?
  • A: If your GM vehicle is equipped with an active OnStar®subscription, you can simply press the blue button for roadside service. If it is not equipped with OnStar®, please contact the appropriate GM Roadside Assistance number below to initiate roadside assistance for your vehicle:

    ·      Chevrolet: 800-243-8872
    ·      Buick: 800-252-1112
    ·      GMC: 800-462-8782
    ·      Cadillac: 800-224-1400
    ·      Pontiac: 800-762-2737
    ·      HUMMER: 866-486-6376
    ·      Saturn: 800-553-6000

  • Q: Are there any costs to me for using Roadside Assistance?
  • A: There is generally no charge for any of the services listed under "What Is Roadside Assistance?" while the vehicle is covered by the complimentary Roadside Assistance service. However, additional charges may be incurred for some services, including towing the vehicle beyond the closest GM dealer; for non-warranty parts and labor; or for lost key replacements. For details and additional information, please refer to Section 7 of the Owner's Manual.
  • Q: What type of oil should I use in my GM vehicle?
  • A: You can find this answer by looking in your Owner's Manual under "Oil, Engine." If you do not have a manual, and you currently own a GM vehicle, please visit the GM Owner Center to download a complimentary electronic copy (for most vehicles from 1995 to present), or the Certified Service site to order a printed copy.
  • Q: What is the Oil Life Monitoring System?
  • A: The GM Oil Life System is a computer-based software algorithm that determines when to change oil based on engine operating conditions. There is no actual oil condition sensor. Rather, the computer continuously monitors engine-operating conditions to determine when to change oil. To learn more about the Oil Life Monitoring System, please visit the GM Environmental Commitment page.
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