Issues with my 2012 Sierra

rob1231 · December 13, 2012

Hey all, hopefully somebody can help me out here.

This past summer i bought a new Sierra extended cab SLT, and it seems all I have had so far are problems. I purchased the truck from a reputable GM dealer near my hometown. The truck was listed as a demo, the only driver being the actual owner of the dealership. I saved a good amount off the original sticker price for only having about 18,000km's on the odometer.

ISSUE #1 - HISTORY

I purchased the truck on July 7th 2012.

I noticed on August 4th 2012 on the front drivers leather seat was beginning to "ripple" if that's even the correct terminology. I gave it a few days to see it it would "tighten up" after giving it a good clean up and conditioning the seats with the dealer provided solution at the time of purchase. I took a photo of the seat on August 10th 2012, a few days after noticing the damage.

Nothing too serious, but beginning to bug me a little, considering I had just spent nearly 40K on a vehicle that I thought was well built..

I contacted the dealer I purchased my truck from and talked to the sales person whom I dealt with directly on August 13th 2012. I was told over the phone that leather on a truck this new would not let go this easily, and that I may be over exaggerating the problem. I brought my truck in the following day. I got a big story of how they had never seen such a problem on any vehicle, let a lone a vehicle this new. They continued for a little while and eventually handed me over to the service department. Service department told me it was an easy fix by re-tightening the leather from behind, a two hour job at most.

I ended up getting scheduled for an appointment a few days later. On the day of my appointment I was told the upholstery person was too busy and they would give me a call when the situation got better to reschedule my appointment.

October 23rd 2012 - A few weeks later, I was able to get the truck in for them to take a look. The service department wasn't able to fix the seat and would require ordering a new seat cover from general motors.

November 13th 2012 - 3 weeks have passed since I was last at the dealer. The cover came in and truck was in for replacement. Job took about two hours. I was given a car for the day and came back in the afternoon to pick my truck up. (sorry for the blurry photo!!)

Tonight (December 12th 2012) Second seat cover, same problem only worse.

Keeping in mind, I'm a pretty small guy, so I don't think this is a weight issue by any means. The first time the dealer was unwilling to replace the whole seat, or even the bottom section. I almost fear that's what is needed in order to fix this problem. What to do? It almost feels as if the seat cushion is sagging underneath.

I have never seen this on any of these trucks, sadly only mine

ISSUE #2

Transmission is starting to slip when accelerating between 2nd gear and 3rd (its the 6 speed, 5.3L). This truck has just reached 40,000km (about 25,000 miles). Its hard to pinpoint it exactly, as I've only started to notice it at the beginning of this week. Please don't tell me its "just the way those transmissions shift" its not, i know it isn't.

I'd hat to run out of warranty on my truck and all of a sudden left stranded with a blown transmission on the side of the road, and kicking myself for not taking action as soon as I noticed it.

Any help and guidance with either issue will be greatly appreciated.

SouthCo · December 13, 2012

Not sure what to tell you. I've got about 16.5k miles on my 2010. My leather seat doesn't look as bad as yours but there is a little ripple where the butt sits. I have no trans slip (also have the 5.3 with 6speed).

99silveradoz71 · December 13, 2012

I would consider a visit to another dealer, and if that does not get you resolution to your satisfaction, contact GM Customer Service by phone.

BlackZ71Silverado · December 13, 2012

Leather will get like that from being used. Seeing that the truck was a demo, I would imagine there were many people in and out of it. Are you sure the trannsmission is slipping? The 6 speed takes a while to get used to, it shifts funny.

Nice truck by the way.........STAY away from those demo ones in the future, they are used pretty hard before being put up for sale.

Looks like you were much better off with the first seat cover. The second one seems to be a little to big, probably a design flaw from the supplier. Just for kicks, Check and make sure it is attached properly. Looks like it may not be connected fully to toe under side of the seat.

rob1231 · December 13, 2012

Leather will get like that from being used. Seeing that the truck was a demo, I would imagine there were many people in and out of it. Are you sure the trannsmission is slipping? The 6 speed takes a while to get used to, it shifts funny.

Nice truck by the way.........STAY away from those demo ones in the future, they are used pretty hard before being put up for sale.

Looks like you were much better off with the first seat cover. The second one seems to be a little to big, probably a design flaw from the supplier. Just for kicks, Check and make sure it is attached properly. Looks like it may not be connected fully to toe under side of the seat.

Sorry, I should have clarified a little better. The truck was actually belonged to the owner of the dealership. It was his personal truck, never used as a demo, just listed as one at the time of sale.

As far as the transmission goes, I've driven a few 6 speed already, so this isn't my first experience with this transmission. It only started to spike in rps between 2nd and 3rd about a week ago, and its only hit and miss, not consistent. I was looking to see if others have had the same problem with their 6 speed and what the cause and solution was.

SILVERADOSC540 · December 13, 2012

Get it to the service department to document the transmission issue, and consider a pm to member GM Customer Service. Her name is Tricia, and may be able to help resolve the seat issue. Nice looking truck. I'm sure it will all get worked out.

rob1231 · December 13, 2012

I'm going to visit a another dealership on my lunch just down the road from my office. I'll update you guys with what they say.

rob1231 · December 13, 2012

Well that was a bust.

I stopped into a second dealer on my break only to be turned away.

For issue #1 I was told to go back to the dealer where the problem started. Dealer #1 is the one who is responsible to fix my problem with my seat apparently.

For issue #2 I was told they had a long waiting list for their transmission guy. "Too much work and not enough guys" *blah blah blah* I could be waiting up to two weeks before they could see me for the transmission problem.

Are dealers allowed to do this?? Turn me away because I got the work done elsewhere??

GMCustomerService · December 13, 2012

rob1231,

I would be happy to look into this for you. In regards to your concern with the dealer, dealers are independently owned and operated. However, I would like to look into your concern further. Please contact me privately with more details including the last eight of your VIN for additional assistance. Thank you.

Tricia, GM Customer Service.

Battou62 · December 13, 2012

Good to see GM trying to make this right. Keep us updated.

Bad Bowtie2 · December 13, 2012

Maybe the GM dealer owner was a LARGE guy??

I'd say a new lower foam & another leather cover is in order. Remember leather is skin. As it wears it stretches & wrinkles SOME.

Good luck & keep us updated.

BTW, does your Ext'd cab have a sunroof?? Or is there something in your avatar picture's background?

pm26 · December 14, 2012

I am very disappointed with the quality of leather seats in my '09 Impala LTZ. I am glad my '06 Silverado has cloth seats. Real cloth, unlike that super cheap stuff they started using in GMT900s.

MikeNH · December 14, 2012

I've seen that happen on leather seats before, upholstering seats is a pain, I used to do it often at the dealer cause I was good at it. They either need to re-do the job (they don't really need to order a new cover) or pony up for a new seat.

I have experienced the shift flare you describe and brought it to my dealer's attention. They couldn't duplicate it (no surprise really- like yours, it happens with no common parameters). This summer I met someone who has been a GM master tech for a long time through a mutual friend and I asked him about it and he said he had seen it before and he thinks the flare is a result of the transmission always trying to shift as smooth as possible but sometimes not properly figuring in load so the shift ends up sloppy. He hasn't heard of any real common failures of the 6L80 so I have chosen not to pursue it further as a dealer could keep the truck for a week and it might not ever do it.

gmtech4 · December 14, 2012

tricia is a guy ....i know right !!!

take the POS truck back and throw the keys at the service mgr and say "call me when its fixed "

tanked_darren · December 14, 2012

They are just hoping you go away, those service representative sitting behind that counter believe thier own lies I swear. They won't fix problems they can't reproduce, like your transmission problem. For the seat, I'd go right to the manager. I know your pain, I don't know any dealers around my area with employees that have intelligence above the level of moron.