GM’s Takata Airbag Recall Won’t Cover Cracked Dashboards
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As GM Authority reported back in November, General Motors has decided to follow through on a massive recall ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to replace potentially dangerous Takata airbag inflators. Now, GM has made a point of telling dealers not to replace cracked dashboards on any of the affected vehicles.
As we covered previously, General Motors has reluctantly agreed to recall roughly 7 million vehicles worldwide that may be equipped with dangerous Takata airbag inflators. Affected vehicles include the 2007 through 2014 model years of the following models:
- Chevy Silverado
- Chevy Silverado HD
- Chevy Avalanche
- Chevy Tahoe
- Chevy Suburban
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Sierra HD
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
- Cadillac Escalade
The Takata airbag recall is the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, with over 100 million affected vehicles worldwide across a wide range of makes and models. The issue pertains to faulty Takata airbag inflator devices, which could rupture and send shrapnel into the cabin when activated. The design fault has been attributed to dozens of deaths worldwide.
General Motors has announced it will now follow through on the recall, despite petitioning the NHTSA on several occasions to avoid the recall, citing internal research that affected GM vehicles did not pose a threat to customers. However, the automaker points out that Takata airbag recall will not cover potentially cracked or warped dashboards.
“Due to age and environmental exposure, some vehicles may display warping or cracking around the passenger airbag opening in the upper instrument panel area,” reads a recent GM bulletin distributed to dealers. “Inspect this area with the customer at the time of the vehicle repair order write up. If warping or cracking is found, inform the customer that the condition is not covered by this recall, nor is it caused by the airbag service procedure. This warping or cracking condition will not affect the passenger side airbag deployment.”
As GM Authority has covered before, the dashboard on GM’s GMT900 vehicles, including the Chevy Avalanche, Tahoe, Silverado, and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon and Sierra, are prone to cracking. The issue is so widespread, there are viral YouTube videos on the subject and entire Facebook groups dedicated to discussing the issue.
Unfortunately, as the above bulletin points out, the cracked dashboards are not part of the Takata airbag recall, which means affected customers won’t get a new dash with the replacement airbag, no doubt leading to disappointment for those customers hoping for a new dash in their affected GM vehicle.
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Classic Government Motors BS.
No. It’s not. The dash padding has nothing to do with an airbag detonator.
I have a scratch on my truck. GM damn well better fix it. And my tires are getting low, I WANT NEW ONES.
Fill the gas tank too, you jerks.
Good, why should they? Its a cosmetics issue, not a safety defect. The airbag is the safety defect.
Problem is they made defective dashboards in all the 2007 to 2013 trucks. My family and extended family have owned several and all but one cracked. The area near the passenger side is prone to cracking due to poor design and weak hard plastic. It’s well documented and in reality they owe an apology. When you pay 50k for a Tahoe the dash shouldn’t crack in its third year.
It’s no doubt this issue has led to poor brand perception and lost future sales for GM.
If this is what G.M. Is making ,then time to switch brans
I agree. Our 2012 Tahoe has had cracks on both drivers side and passenger side dash, since nearly new. Dealer laughed at us. Everyone knows this is not a safety matter. But….Because so many have this issue, At over $50,000.00 each, Just maybe, maybe GM can do something about it. Most consumers don’t even notice it. But those of us who have, would love to have it addressed. At least not laughing at us, when we present it to the dealer. Maybe something like splitting the cost. Been to the recyclers to check out wrecked ones, but they are just as bad or worse. It sure would be nice if GM did do SOMETHING, for those of us who care about our rides.
Exactly why GM will go belly up again. We used to laugh at the cracked dash’s on the 80’s Imports and now GM has joined in lock step with the global cabal.
Mike
Yes, probably why GM had to settle for only 66% of the large crossover market.
Agreed. This issue has me ticked off. I’ve replied to several letters here. Ours has been cracked since almost new. Chevy dealer laughed at us. Really! We went to trade it this summer. Dealer told us, you have cracked dash, in two places. Deduction!!!!! We left. GM needs to do some thing about customer loyalty. Don’t even get me going on their wonderful AFM system that sucks. More cash out lay. We went to “Range” AFM delete system. We highly recommend it. It beats $3,000 + at dealer to work you over.
No excuse for a dash to crack in under 3 years. Gm uses China sourced trash with no UV protection in their plastic parts.
When political campaigns are funded by corporate money the likelihood you’ll ever get a successful law suit result against a faulty or sub par vehicle component is slim to none. GM still doesn’t get that unhappy customers will buy something else next time, especially when their friends and family talk about how well the Import dealers handle their vehicle problems. GM is focused on emerging markets in countries where the consumer has no voice. A cracked dash on a $40k purchase is a big deal to the buyer because it diminishes resale value. To those of you who think a cracked dash after three years is acceptable, well your head is where the sun doesn’t shine.
newdude
7 million vehicles between 6 to 14 years old. Zero fatalities. Some safety defect there. Almost makes me want to set off the airbag intentionally, Next time I’m behind a slow moving Toyota.
The cracked dashboard issue may not be a safety issue but it IS customer experience issue.
It’s a missed opportunity to generate good will pissed away.
Exactly. Hence why I’ll stick to my 2002 GMC Sierra.
Want to know how many cracks my 255,000 mile 18 year old trucks dash has? ZERO
Nor in my 55year old Chevelle.
Don’t need a dashboard. How about a new set of tires instead.
I owned a 2014 dash cracked within 2 year less than 50k GM did nothing as usual also owned a 2006 Lexus Gx470 dash cracked 12 years later and over 200k Lexus fixed it for free under Lexus care my son still drives it guess what I bought next and since
GM = Great Mistake
I owned a 2014 dash cracked within 2 year less than 50k GM did nothing as usual also owned a 2006 Lexus Gx470 dash cracked 12 years later and over 200k Lexus fixed it for free under Lexus care my son still drives it guess what I bought next and since
Once again, another Barra Bunder, enough said….
Remember the Ford Explorer cracked panels on their back lift gates? (GM and Ford, for the most part, share a history and similar level of quality.) That said, after years and years of buying both Ford and GM vehicles, I finally purchased my first Toyota. Never went back. Never will go back. Say what you want or chastise me if you wish about not being an American by not buying American…but its a “global” economy now, and MY money goes where it receives not only the best value, but also “reasonable” product support. To all the GM owners effected, do what I do…i had an early model Ford Explorer Sport with poorly engineered ball joints that would go bad every 20,000 miles, (with no off road driving either). After a dozen letters and as many denials, I simply patronized a different manufacturer on my next vehicle purchase. It’s been too many years and too many vehicles to count since parting with that Explorer Sport…but every time I, my wife, or my daughter has purchased since, I’ve sent a photo of the Toyota, Honda, or Mazda that has graced our driveways to Ford with a little note that reads “Remember me?…”The guy that had to replace 4 sets of ball joints to the front of his Explorer Sport”? I kid you not…I lost count…but for the cost of a stamp and the expense of a quick snap shot, i sure feel good afterwards when I ask them to add the photo to the others I’ve sent over the years. They’ve received nice photos of cars, trucks, and one large SUV…and not one showing a Ford badge. I even used to number them, but now I just add a few lines of explanation. And doing it via snail-mail with an actual photo print feels even better because i know somebody at Ford actually sees it. Yes…I know…it’s a bit excessive, (maybe even “obssessive”), and I’m certain the person who opens each letter doesn’t give a rats ass, but i got the time to do it.
I quit buying GM crap 41 years ago. (Dropped Ford 46 years ago as well.) Since then, it’s been German cars for the most part, mostly MBs and a few Porsches. Quality reliability and customer service is so much better.
I just can’t believe how anyone wants a dash replaced! That has NOTHING to do with the air bag. WOW…
And everything to do with product quality.
Buy a $80.00 windshield visor, use it and you’ll cut down the heat transfer which causes this.
$80.00 windshield visor?!?!?!?
Whaaaaaat…….
Let those with out sin cast the first stone.
Lexus common problems
Today, we’ll highlight some of the most common complaints reported by Lexus RX 350 owners so that you can make the most educated purchasing decision.
Dashboard cracking at 69,000 miles.
Power steering rack leaks at 95,000 miles.
Water pump failures at 51,000 miles.
Probability of major repairs for the Lexus RX 350.
The Top 4 Most Common Porsche Problems
Cooling Issues. Coolant distribution pipe resealing is a common procedure on Porsche Panamera and Cayenne. …
Engine. Excessive engine smoke usually is a terrifying thing to see coming from your Porsche 911 or Boxster. …
Steering & Suspension.
10 major Benz issues. Not even covering the convertible issues.
https://www.hotcars.com/problems-with-mercedes-benz-cars/
With that said no one makes a perfect car nor takes care off all the issues.
To be honest I have not seen this dash issue not even heard of it. We even had two of these trucks in the family but no issues.
With that said their looks to be an issue. If it happened in the first 3 years it was covered by warranty. After that if you press GM hard enough they will often take care of a deal like this.
But GM should have some TSB offering some kind of a deal on older trucks to repair at cost or discounts.
The that are not visible till you press should not be an issue but the larger cracks on the air bag side should be helped.
I had defective decals on an 80’s S10. It was out of warranty. They took care of them at a discount at cost. I was ok with that.
It’s the cheap interiors and little things that break . My dads 91 regal had the area around the shifter break because he was leaning on it . The indicator Stick started to smoke and short circuited . Gm vehicles has major and minor things go wrong . My sisters 91 Camry still runs and the interior feels solid . Today it sits at our Florida house for occasional use
I can unequivocally state that GM products as a whole are some of the poorest quality vehicles on the road. We sell vehicles and finance them, and get to see how they hold up under customer abuse. I avoid and cringe selling GM products because of all of the issues, that are GM’s fault, and that people take out on us. You are correct that each manufacturer has its faults, but GM quality is at the bottom. The electronics are the worst, and it’s mind boggling how they don’t learn from past mistakes. Not only are they the worst, GM then ties your hands from using used parts, forces you to buy new electronics, and then ties your hands and makes you pay to use their software to program the new module each time, on something they should have made better quality. Adjusting for number of vehicles sold, I would guess for every one Honda computer that goes bad, 1,000+ GM computers go bad. The plastic dashes are terrible, and they don’t learn their lessons. Just because you didn’t have a bad experience, doesn’t mean the issues don’t exist for a lot of other people. You are absolutely right, all of the manufacturers make mistakes, hide things, repeat their mistakes – GM just does it a lot more than the others. GM makes a great V8 engine, a cool Corvette, and that’s about it. If you’re driving a GM vehicle, you’re driving a vehicle almost guaranteed to give you electrical issues way earlier than reasonable. ACDelco electronics are just incredibly terrible. And when they fail, they give you too many symptoms that can be anything, meaning diagnostics is also way more difficult than it should be. When a Honda or Ford fails, you are so much more limited in the variables you need to investigate. The engineering is just laughable at GM with respect to electronics. GM should take ACDelco out back and shoot it, end the misery for everyone, and use Honda or Ford’s suppliers. If you’re driving a higher mile or slightly older GM V6 or 4 cylinder, you’re likely driving a ticking time bomb. Timing chains, bearings, water pumps, pushrods, lifters/springs/etc (even on the V8s), they all fail way too early. These are unbiased opinions. Take them or leave them. I’d love to make more money and sell more used GM vehicles to the customers that want them, it’s just not worth the hassle.
Craig, Nicely put. It’s good to hear from someone on the “Front Lines”. Some folks here, just think we are belly aching. Not so. There are, and has been, quality issues all along the GM line. Back in the day, GM was a leader. Not so any more. I agree with your assessment. GM has long been using poor quality materials in their interiors. Many auto writers can’t be wrong. Never been a Ford guy or Mopar either. But reading peoples take on the competions interiors, gives me a thought on taking a look. Come on GM, take care of your consumer base. There are, more places to shop.
If I am not mistaken, the upper dash piece in question is ABS or PC-ABS plastic. It’s harder and harder to find ABS plastics in modern vehicles, because everyone knows it ages poorly and becomes brittle. ABS plastic does very poorly over time with prolonged heat, and under UV exposure. GM went and put it in the hottest most direct sunlight position of the vehicle. But it’s not the first time. Like I said, they don’t learn from past mistakes. Look at 4th Gen Camaros and Trans Am upper dash pads. Again, take or leave my comments. Give me a thumbs down if it makes anyone happier to ignore reality.
Craig I am in the performance market and deal with cars of all nature. The truth is there are no perfect vehicles.
Be it Honda, Toyota, BMW, GM, Chrysler, Ford, etc. They all have their issues and problems.
I see Camrys with seats that are splitting, Tacomas with only a few years on them rusted up. Honda cars that are rusted and in need of repair. In fact my Buddy paid for much of his airplane doing Honda Head gaskets.
The harsh reality is they all take short cuts to get what they can into a vehicle and keep it at a price you will still pay and still make some money.
But even at that today we complain if we can’t go 200K lines with no issues. It was not that long ago 100K. miles was really something and even then the paint would be faded the body rusted out and the plastic seats would be sagging.
GM as a whole does have issues in some areas but they get more right than wrong and most people get good service from their vehicles.
Many of these MFGs are using the same suppliers. GM is not locked into Delco like they used to be. I have found many other names tied too many parts on GM cars that are the same as other cars.
As for the dash problem here. It is not all trucks and even then it stopped in 2014 Do we see many with broken dashes today no.
Often all these companies are affected by supplier issues. They may design the part right but then the supplier lets quality slip. GM found that out on steering columns a few years ago. They took the company to court and made them pay for the replacement of the columns.
When looking at things like this one needs to keep perspective on this and really consider the true numbers involved and what is going on.
My buddy was in a Hyundai service department. The stories I heard were unreal. Rust in the sub Frame on new cars fixed by hitting it with a hammer to loosen up the rust then spraying it with an inhibitor. Brake issues all over the place. Sway bars breaking off, and much more. But I also keep in mind he is in a service department and is the lighting rod for trouble too.
He did say the timing belts breaking and taking the engine out is way too common too at Hyundai.
So keep perspective and don’t think the sky is falling.
They all have about the same money invested but they all put it in different areas. Like the mid size GM trucks, They may not have the fanciest interiors but you also get a full boxed Frame. Rear disc brakes and many other things under the skin many of the others don’t offer. Even then the other interiors are not much better.
I would rather have rear disc and front 4 piston disc brakes than a push button start.
C8.R I’ve seen a great amount of posts by you. I’m feeling you are more involved with GM, than any of us think. If not, except my apology for thinking like this. But I do see you standing up for GM, more than agreeing with some of the very true complaint issues brought forth in this forum. That’s what this is for. A place for consumers to bitch. Nothing will ever come of all these stories, but Im sure the writers of them, feel better just getting their frustrations out in the open. Goodness knows, most dealers just turn their noses up at these kind of problems. I know, because I’m one of them who has been both laughed at and turned away, with issues they didnot want or felt they needed to deal with. Just gotta say!
Pete I have never worked directly for GM, never been paid by GM and don’t own any GM stock unless it is an account I am un aware of.
But I did grow up in a GM family and know the vehicles inside and out. I know some folks inside GM from work and from my hobby in cars.
Web sites are not to just complain. These places are for exchanging of ideas as well as compliments and Bit$hes.
Many may come here glass half empty , well my glass is half full.
Too often people complain and they either lose perspective or have none on some things they complain about.
Case in point. No I don’t believe GM is perfect. Never have been but even Rolls Royce has screwed up too.
Take the 80’s Camaro. Great performance car. Great drive line and suspension for that era. In side it fell short. GM has had a long history of doing the mechanicals but the program manager would run out of money by the time they got to the interior. This is what a former Camaro manager told me. It pained him to fall short too but if he did a better interior then you would lose something else where.
Building a car is a compromise below $100k as you try to give the customer everything they want but they there are limits to what they can do so then they have to pick and choose.
While some may give you a better interior the things under the cars skin go to crap and most people never know because they never see it.
If some learn they can better understand why things as they are. Generally venting on web site changes little.
But I too often see folks jump brand to brand with similar results. My one buddy does this. His last Honda Acc off got bought back as the rear doors filled with water. They could not fix it. He was shocked as he though Honda was infallible. Well he learned. He also had issues with Toyota and now has oil issues at Subaru.
The truth is every brand has good and bad.
The real issue is this at GM. They have too many dealers and trouble keeping some of them to the level they need them at to take care of issues. The larger stronger dealers generally do a good job but the smaller dealers or non compliant ones still are trouble. They try to weed them out but it is difficult and expensive.
Toyota and Honda have an advantage as they have about 1/3 the dealers and they are stronger doing a better job.
It is still more complex than this but you get the idea.
C8R. Thankx for replying. I too have been a Chevy owner since 1967. Too many to count. I raced them, showed them, and converted two wheel to 4 wheel. Both pickups and vans. Also did a solid axle S10.conversion.And plenty of engine swaps. I will probably never change my love for the Bow Tie brand. But, yes GM has problems. Do you remember when we the taxpayers, bailed them out, not too long ago? They still have a way to go in improving quality. They are not as bad as in the 80’s. But they still are far from where they need to be. Maybe, if they started lsistening to their customers more, things might get better.I don’t mean taking everything people bitch about, to heart. But in every bitch, there is a bit of truth. Yes, every maker has problems. But have GM use inferior materials, then blame the customer for poor matainence, is crazy. Go back to the problems in the late’70’s early ’80’s, with bad cam shafts. They screwed thousands of customers. It took a class action suit to get them to admit the real issue. My Dad got taken to the cleaners. Until he got a lawer involved. Enough said. I will keep reading and putting my two cents in. Both positive and otherwise. Keep on truckin’
C8.R You make valid points, but again, I am looking holistically at the manufacturers, total package. Hyundai is right down there with GM. I won’t stand up for them. Toyota seems great to many, but in fact mechanically they have a huge share of issues. Toyota owners typically maintain their vehicles so the issues are less prevalent/more taken care of, and general population continues to think Toyotas are super reliable. Honda isn’t without issues, but they are doing the best out of all of the manufacturers. When you sell a 60k mile Ford Focus to a customer that doesn’t change the oil in 40k miles (we marked the oil filter at time of sale), and it comes back with 100k+ miles purring like new, you get to see what manufacturers do well and don’t do well. We sell a lot of different used cars, and we get to see how they hold up and what common traits they have. GM is clearly under a lot of pressure to make money, pay down debt, and keep the union happy. But quality does slip more under their command than any other manufacturer I’ve seen, and issues take longer to blead out. Yes GM should use more of the name brand modules like other manufacturers do (bosch continental etc). They should also simplify their electronic connectivity design. You don’t need an ECU with a million wires and a BCM with a million wires anymore. You don’t need an entertainment head unit with a million wires anymore, and it doesn’t need to be the size of a football helmet. As always, they are late to the party. Every new generation of GM for the past 20 years I’ve been paying attention, I always wonder if they are going to start doing it right, and then never do. I personally would never own a GM vehicle for an extended period of time. I held my nose and recently got a near new low mile Yukon Denali XL, well, because the XL was a needed utility. Transmission issues after dealer already put a new one in, brake issues, both blueray screens went out, LED tail lights didn’t last, entertainment system went out … But I knew what I was getting into … and the 6.2l V8 is a really nice engine outside of some valvetrain issues if they are over-revved. Just imagine how many GM v6 timing chains have been done vs Honda head gaskets. There are only a few models of Hondas I know to have head gasket issues. The v6 timing chain issues were pretty much in all GM model lines sold for a decent period not too long ago … I’m not trying to debate anyone on this. Just sharing what I know. The proof is already in the pudding I’ve tasted.
It is the dealers where much is different. GM has too many dealers and too many weak bad dealers. Toyota and Honda have many less and are stronger and more responsive.
GM is looking to cull the weak dealers but it is not cheap or easy.
It is not the issues but how you deal with them.
Like in my truck. I have the 8 speed. They have a fix for the shudder that is a flush to a new fluid. My dealer did it no questions asked and no hassle. Others have been to dealers that do not follow the TSB and just flush the transmission. Two different experiences two different customer outcomes.
That is just an example of where the real issue is.
Am i the only person that would like a basic truck, I dont need or want it to contact me via txt msg , i don’t want a ton of electrical components, or other items to go wrong. Just a comfortable seat, a powerful reliable drive train, and a decent ride. IT seems the consumer masses gets what they want. Too much, too complicated, too fast. They dont even advertise the engine on cars anymore, just some inane feeling you’re supposed to have when driving it with a catchy montage of super happy people. Maybe im gettin old but our complaints seem to be really dumb. yeah stuff falls apart. My issue is that i went in for that recall and the dealer broke all kinds of plastic trim (HVAC vents?) thats just a bad attitude. Wasnt the dash cracked, but other parts. Like they had cart blanche to go in there with a hatchet. And thats because GM issued that statement stating the dash cracks werent a part of the recall. Fair enough but that doesnt mean treat my wifes suburban like crap.
BTW, for those jumping on the Japanese cars are better bandwagon, why did Takata, a Japanese company, mes up so badly? There is no perfect anything anywhere. we purchased a 2000 Cadillac DTS from a family member. That thing was a little over 100K and had electrical NIGHTMARES. The stereo would do whatever it wanted, the HVAC controls? Ditto. The Kneeboards cheap plastic clips crumbled and panels just fell off. Dont tell anyone but i used liquid nails on it just to trade it in. (Thats a secret, dont let that get out). For the price of the vehicles, they are becoming very expensive yet are throw away quality after 100K. And without ever-increasing time-frames on car loans, noone could buy one. 7, 10 year loans!?!? I remember when it would be standard to have a 3 year loan, then it went to 5, on and on.
You just described gm under Barra. They’ll tell you what you want and tell you “it’s normal” when it fails. gm has set it’s self up for failure with how they ignore poor designs and component failure. Can’t keep future buyers that way.
Mary Barras only fault in this is her failure to break the hold of the bean counters on GM products and warranty costs.
I don’t understand the concern. A few cracks in the dash on an old SUV is nothing to worry about. I see a lot of older GM full size SUVs on the road, so they must hold up well with the exception of a few cosmetic issues.
OK for you too feel that way. Those of us who have spent a ton of money on a Tahoe, would disagree. Try and trade one of these in. The first thing they tell you, is “You have a craked dash”. Then they sharpen the old pencil. And the consumer looses, again!. That is the bottom line. GM should do something for customers who have been loyal and paid the price.
At 38,000 the dash cracked in our “garage kept” mint condition loaded GMC Sierra. At 50k the white paint started peeling! Yet another well documented issue on GM vehicles. They made a Giant Mistake not standing behind their products. They lost a lifetime buyer. New truck every 2-3 years. Sorry but a 70k dollar truck should NOT have these issues period.
You people are all big cry babies. Grow up . Switch brands. The grass is always greener you think. Then you come back home.
From experience, sometimes you have to cut your profits or even lose a bit in order to satisfy a customer. Warranty or no warranty. You will more than recover your loss when you have a satisfied customer. Dissatisfied customers tell others of their problems. Bad news travels like a California fire as proven by the number of comments here. Honda replaced an engine with another one (used) in our 1981 Accord even though it was well out of any warranty. Absolutely no charge. Another happy customer! 😊
Mick1 See my earlier posts. You must not have one of these vehicles. Own one with cracks all over the dash. It looks like crap and is a feature of poor manufacturing process. telling people who have spent $50,000 to $70,000 plus, for a vechicle is dumb. We deserve better, GM makes tons of money on trucks and SUV’s. They should stand behind them better than they do. Changing brands is not always the answer. They all suck in one way or another. Brand loyalty means something to alot of folks. Even with issues.
Il say this we need to start manufacture our own parts in Canada and USA..and stop using foreign countries to make cheaper parts…as the quality is out the door and I definitely wouldn’t buy anything in the dates 2020 or maybe 2021. As per what’s going on with the country or world with covid..I just don’t feel safe products being rushed out to markets….
I don’t believe you can blame the cracked dashes or other defective parts on the supplier or location where they were made. One has to believe that GM engineers have created the specs for all of these items and therefore bear the responsibility for ensuring that all parts are “up to spec”. The problem is in the Detroit, Michigan area at GM Engineering, not in other states or countries.
Since the days of the Camaro dashboards warping at both ends, GM has used inferior materials in some interiors and dashes. Just read articles from automotive writers about GM interiors looking cheap.
Not helping customers with these dash cracks will cause more customers to switch brands. Years of upset customers has GM retail market penetration at all time lows, less than 18%.
I don’t believe you can blame the cracked dashes or other defective parts on the supplier or location where they were made. One has to believe that GM engineers have created the specs for all of these items and therefore bear the responsibility for ensuring that all parts are “up to spec”. The problem is in the Detroit, Michigan area at GM Engineering, not in other states or countries.
For all the cracked dashboard babies, it happens to every car maker on the planet. Thats why they make car cleaning supplies. Its called age and dryness. Simply clean ur car, wipe ur dash with a $5 bottle of armorial that will last years, and u wont have the issue. If ur dash is cracked, ur a dirtball, and u need to clean your car. I have NEVER owned a cracked dashboard from any car manufacturer, and ive never had a new car. Currently have a 16 yr old silverado with a perfect dash. I cleaned it often and I don’t use it as a trash can. You know im right, and you know if ur dash is cracked, u need to clean it. Just like calling a car a piece of junk because the motor blew up just because u haven’t changed the oil in 9 years. Yeah, its the cars fault. Its always the cars fault. Flat tires when you have no tread, calibers riined just because ur breaks wore down to metal and fell off, paint faded just cuz you never washed it. Try treating ur kids the way u do ur cars, see what’s grade he makes it to. Bunch of idiots always blame someone else
I gotta reply to you JimBob, Have you not been reading these posts? The problem started in 2007. That’s when GM changed the body styles AND the interior materials. Most evryone is noting that fact. Our 2012 Tahoe has been ARMORALLED like crazy. My wife buys that crap by the gallon. That’s why, when we went back to the dealer after just over a year, they told us we didn’t care for the interior. BS! My wife almost lost it. We have been arguing with them for over 6 years. And of course, the dealer has changed hands, more than once. That helps alot too. So your lumping evryone under one big smear, is uncalled for. The cheaper interiors are a known thing. So your truck is 16 years old and still in great shape. Good for you. You don’t have a 2007 or newer. Lucky you!
Dashes have been cracking for decades ! It’s an eyesore ! It “p….s” buyers off ! Buyers keep buying ? I’ve never owned a new GM vehicle that I didn’t take back for defects !(ever) Usually within the 1st 2 weeks . But having said that my (then) new Matrix check engine light came on the next day, the 3rd day the 6th day etc. Until Toyota replaced the entire SS exhaust system . They ALL have problems . Some have smoking light switches, some have air bags that can kill you . In 1975 my dads Corvette was recalled because those GT 500 radials were blowing up like old truck retreads . But if for some reason my dash cracked in a almost new vehicle …I would see red . If my dealer wouldn’t at least agree to replace it at cost as no extra labour is involved I’d never ever darken their doors again . Plus I’d tell Everyone I could . Finally… I live in Canada Ccccold winters Hot summers . Our purchased New 2004 Avalanche has the original uncracked factory dash . Was it luck ? Was it Armoral ? Was it the sun deflector ? Was it all ? Like the others, GM is a for profit business . The almight buck sings loudest . Studies prove it’s much easier to keep a customer, then get 1 back . But those almighty bucks are screaming louder then any study ever will . Until … that is ..until they go broke yet again , while holding out there hands begging for relief . I buy used these days. Sure they have problems, but none are unexpected, Just say n …
Dave, You said a mouthful. Again, you own a 2004. That’s before GM went and chnged EVERTING in the 2007 model year. Been going down in quality ever since. I’m getting worn out both defending this BS as well as fighting GM. It’s true and a proven fact that GM’s interior materials are crap. All the armorall, in the world, won’t keep them from cracking. It’s time to put this to bed, once and for all. ‘Nuff said. Oh, Im sure SOMEBODY is gonna complain I went back to “Nuff said. TUFF!!!!!!!!!!