Sorry, but I'm not sure "GM's obligation" is what people come to expect from turning over years of their hard-earned cash.

GM won't replace the full-sized chrome bumpers that I think you are referring to. The dealer's directive is to send the bumper out for a re-chrome. Tie up the vehicle for a week or 2 for a re-chrome is a horrible way to earn customer loyalty. If the dealer provides a loaner car, then the cost of that will exceed the cost of a new bumper if the plating shop is backed-up. Stupid stupid stupid!

As long as we're on the truck subject, the late 90's early 00's full sized 5.3 and 6.0 (I think) had poorly-designed pistons that would slap horribly. GM's position was that they would not reoair the issue because they claimed that it had no long termeffect on the engine. So I guess they figured a clunking engine should be acceptable to someone who just spent 30 or 40 large on a new truck. Again, GM execs should look into the mirror to see why their market share has dwindled over the years.

Seems like they took too much cost out of too many vehicles and their decisions are coming back to haunt them. Ditto for Ford and Chrysler.

But poor design can't be solved just by money alone. Just ask the guys who spent 45k on their Tundras then broke camshafts and driveshafts.
And what about Honda and their Accords that rust out at the front edge of the rear bumper? I sure see a lot of them that aren't repaired, so Honda's rust warranty must not be any better than GM, Ford, Dodges?
Unfortunately it goes across all brands, cny.

CNY. Actually it was a Ford Explorer I was referring to, not GM.

I never said that you were getting what you expected for the money, everybody's expectations are different, and meeting all of them is impossible - regardless of the happy cliches out there. Even Toyota, Porsche and BMW have problems with their vehicles from time to time. I did say you are getting what you paid for - which is totally different. I don't work for GM, but I presume they try hard not to have small rust spots develop on their cars, but when they do, they bank on the total ownership experience of the vehicle overcoming that relatively minor problem - unless they make a huge mistake - then they'll fix them.

I guess as I get older, a car or truck is more of a tool to me than a status symbol. As such, if it's got a scratch on it, or a spot of rust, I don't get too alarmed. If it doesn't work right, I get really annoyed.

I guess I think any item that is made of steel, that is used outdoors is going to rust, sooner or later. I'm actually amazed that they rust as slowly as they do.