I wouldn't, here's why.
1. These are first year models of very advanced cars. There will be bugs with the alert systems (i.e. codes) as well as the actual powertrain. I had a check engine light come on and then go off after an hour. That was four weeks ago. It has not returned.
2. Dealer service. Under warranty, they get paid by the factory for their repair work. It's guaranteed work if something is wrong. So the more "morally questionable" ones love to find potential problems and do potentially unnecessary work (under the pretense of being pro-active) especially if their workload is slow at that time. A CEL is an invitation for mischief. I would make sure that it is not a "bug" light. Further, NOTHING beats the quality of work from the factory. Having a tech tear into your car, AT BEST, will return a car as good as the one you gave them. LIKELY, they will perform sub-factory quality work in one aspect or another (interior body panels, brackets, etc) and your vehicle will be degraded. Bottom line is be sure that's its a real problem before taking it to the piranhas. I have numerous stories of MAJOR SERVICE being performed under still very uncertain diagnosis. Engine replacement, transmission replacement for cars that have less than 1,000 miles.
There is validity to what you are saying about unscrupulous dealers, but a poster after this commented about the Boy Who Cried Wolf syndrome- if you keep ignoring CEL lights you may ignore a true failure.
I think you should take it in every time the CEL light goes on, (almost- make sure your gas cap is tight and all that...). For the most part we have had our cars only weeks or months and there have been many, many CELs and other issues come up. Yes, this is a complicated, sophisticated car, but all the more indication that they were not road tested long enough, IMHO. GM should be told about each and every problem or CEL that comes up and should swallow the cost of whatever it cost them to pay the dealership.
A warranty is a warranty. If GM doesn't want to be paying dealerships every time a CEL comes on, then they should have done a $hitload more
real world testing, not only of the functionality, but the design (see the thread about the easy icing up of the Gen2 charge port).
Most folks have had issues within the first 1k-2k miles. It doesn't matter how minor they are.
Bottom line is be sure that's its a real problem before taking it to the piranhas.
We, the customers, should not have to guess or determine whether or not a CEL is "real" issue or a false alarm. I'm sure as hell not qualified to determine that (mostly). Not our job and it's also a dangerous game to play. If it does turn out to be a problem and you DIDN'T bring it in, then your warranty might not be honored if there is damage due to the ignored CEL.
Best,
Rick
