GM unveiled the third-generation Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups for the 2023 model year, with the subsequent 2024 model year debuting several important updates for both model lines. Unfortunately, some third-gen Colorado and Canyon owners are reporting denting in their pickup roof after taking their vehicle through a drive-through car wash. Fortunately, opting for a model equipped with a sunroof appears to eliminate this problem.
Owners report that the roof denting occurs across all trims and configurations for the third-gen Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. The issue is likely caused by the high-pressure jets in automatic car washes. These jets, often considered gentler alternatives to scrubbing brushes when it comes to the paint finish, can actually create small dents or trigger an “oil canning” effect, resulting in a popping noise when water pressure or even air drying is applied.
To address this, GM issued Service Bulletin 23-NA-209 earlier this year. The bulletin covers both 2023 and some 2024 Colorado and Canyon units, advising owners to have their vehicles inspected and repaired by a certified GM technician if they notice dents in their roof after taking their pickup through an automatic car wash. The repair also includes applying stiffening patches to the underside of the roof panel to help mitigate the issue.
That said, buyers can avoid the problem entirely by choosing a model with a sunroof.
For now, the roof denting issue remains unresolved for models without sunroofs, with no definitive fix expected for the 2025 model year. Prospective buyers should consider equipping their Colorado or Canyon with a sunroof to sidestep this inconvenience and enjoy the added bonus of natural light and ventilation.
As a reminder, the 2025 Chevy Colorado and 2025 GMC Canyon will be available exclusively with the TurboMax 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, rated at 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, while the updated 31XX-2 platform provides the underpinnings. Vehicle production takes place a the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
Comments
I can understand having an issue with high tech software or complex electronics on a modern car, but how long has GM been building cars with roofs?
I see they zeroed the 34 thumbs up on your comment!
This happens on my 04 regular cab Silverado. The 14 equinox. They know it’s happening but continue not to care.
I have a 24 Colorado LT 2WD with every option available. You can’t get a sunroof on the LT 2WD. My local GM dealer has installed the stiffening pads to the underside of my roof. When I now take my Colorado through a car wash, the roof pops when the dryers go over the roof, then pops back into place. If I again get denting that needs repair, I’ll pursue the lemon-law. GM knows they have this problem. They need to address a permanent fix.
Additional information. The GM dealer where I purchased my Colorado, looked the other way when I first told them of my dented roof. It wasn’t until I researched the problem online and found the service bulletin from GM describing the problem and handed them a copy did they take the issue seriously. Only then did they pull all of their new Colorados off the lot until they installed the stiffening pads.
Gee, let’s see. GM cheaped out on roof reinforcement on solid roof cabs and will after the owner bitches about it, drop the headliner and reinforce the roof outer panel, under warranty. Or, as you laughingly suggest, the buyer can choose to spend $1500 for a sunroof (which comes with a very well reinforced outer roof panel, to avoid the damage caused by going through a carwash. Your justification for spending the money on a glass sunroof is absolutely laughable. I become more and more convinced with each passing day, that this website is just a thinly veiled offshot of GM Public Relations. In reality, whoever signed off on the solid roof design needs to be fired and the roof re-engineered properly.
And ordering with a sunroof means after year 2 or 3, at most at least in our climate, you can bring it back to the dealer when it leaks.
I tried getting my Canyon fixed, but they say they have been told to not take any action until I first go through a carwash and show them the damage even though the roof presses easily with my hand. I wish I got the sunroof. I love the truck and have had zero problems, but will keep washing it myself.
It is time for marybarra to to go. The leadership, if you can call it that, is destroying a good product.
I just purchased my Canyon last week. I wish I had known about this before I ordered it even though I don’t go through car washes it’s pretty sad when you can’t even bring a truck in a car wash. I also think that they could have paid a little more attention to the door and fender fitment. Not to mention loose-fitting plastic on the front driver side grill..
What is it with GM and car washes? The very first of many defects for the Vega was that the mechanisms in car washes would pull out the rear shock absorbers.
Nice to see that you didn’t have the gumption to post my comment from yesterday. Just confirms my theory that you’re nothing but a GM PR outlet in disguise.
Kevin – I started GM Authority 15 years ago, and haven’t seen a penny from gm/GM yet. Please tell them to pay up, because running an independent publication is easy work.
Now, about your so-called theory: can you explain how an article like this one helps GM? I’m really dying to know how this factors into your well-developed supposition.
Have you thought about whether your comment was not published due to other reasons, such as 1) not staying on topic, 2) detracting from the discussion at hand, or 3) containing language that automatically get caught by filters?
U would think they would have the problem fixed by now. Gm needs new management that back up there products. Also to build what customers want not what they think we want or what the politicians think is best for us.
Does anyone know if they are placing the stiffening pads in the 2025 models? I opted for no sunroof on my order because I don’t use them.
I unfortunately purchased a 2024 Z71 and the roof dented from the air dryers on the first time through a car wash. The dealer fixed it with the silly factory patch solution. Oil canning still happened after that. The 4th time through the wash, it dented again. It’s now at the dealer for the 2nd fix. They pulled the dent, installed the bracket and new patches, and subsequently dented the roof again (an outward dent), so it’s been moved to their body shop to do another, larger repair… I want to buy American but unfortunately you get crappy “value” engineering. I will never buy another GM product again. What a shame we cannot produce quality vehicles in this country.