Carfax will usually tell if it'* a lemon, and how many times it'* been in for repairs. Some dealers like to hide it and not report the repairs, to hide that it'* a lemon. We thought my dad'* Kia was a lemon, but turns out it was a corrupted PCM causing odd shifts.

Have the dealer service dept. run a VIS on it (GM service history), and you'll see the warranty service history. If it was lemon lawed, you'll see it on the multiple service visits.

The car is not for sale at a GM dealership. I wouldn't think you could just ask any GM dealer for records of a car they are not selling or you do not own, would they?

yes go in to the Service dept, tell they what your doing and what you want the VIS for....

To me, it sounds a lot like any other used car deal. go in knowledgeable. Check what you can check. Get whatever info you can pry out of them. Make a decision accordingly.

As a former Chevrolet service advisor, I'd run a VIS on any GM vehicle that someone wanted, given a good reason. Looking to buy a car is a good reason. If you go to the local Pontiac dealership, they may want to "establish a relationship with you" (take your money in the service department after you buy the car), so they should be willing to run it for free.

The GM closed auto auctions are nothing to fear in general. Many GM program vehicles are moved through them and are perfectly fine. My inlaws buy all their vehicles that way. But, like mentioned here, they always run all the service records and do whatever checking they can first, just to make sure what they are getting.

My daughter bought her G6 that way with help from her FIL and is very happy.

As the one you are interested in is a GM BuyBack, I would suggest extra homework until you understand what that was all about. Or find another one.