20" GM chrome clad wheel problems

AaronIROCZ · February 18, 2013

On my 2012 Silverado the chrome keeps peeling on the chrome clad wheels, anybody else have problems like this?? This will be my second time this has done this and this time the plastic cover cracked on one of them. The dealer is replacing all 4 wheels this time stating if 3 of them have problems the 4th will not be far behind. Just wondering if anybody else had any problems with them. I can try to get pics after work tonight.

AaronIROCZ · February 20, 2013

Pics

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louie730 · February 21, 2013

That is terrible! I have never seen anything close to that bad on chrome clad wheels. I'm not a fan of chrome clad wheels but most of the time the chrome at least looks good on the onesI have seen. I have chrome clad wheels on my 2009 and they look the same as the day I bought them and I have 40,000 miles on them.

Daryl LBZ · February 21, 2013

GM should just drop the cheap chrome clad wheels period. I will never buy a vehicle with those wheels on it.

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JrocK817 · February 21, 2013

GM should just drop the cheap chrome clad wheels period. I will never buy a vehicle with those wheels on it. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3

X2 on that one. Not a fan

BradsZed · February 22, 2013

I had a similar problem with my 18" chrome clad wheels, but wasn't nearly as bad as yours. Mine were peeling around the wheel weights. Brought to the dealer and they covered it under warrenty. When the new wheels came in, I had them mount the weights on the inside...so far so good.

LT1MCSS · February 22, 2013

I don't know of anyone with those wheels but I knew they have problems with the chrome wheels in general. A friend of mine as a Denali and his chrome factory wheels are starting to pit/peel on the outside. The inside however looks even worse. All the coating and chrome is peeling off in huge sheets and its all pitted. It looks horrible for a 50K Denali.

As for GM putting wheels weights on the outside of wheels today. I really have no idea what they are thinking. My factory wheels have giant wheel weight on the outside of them.

JrocK817 · February 22, 2013

I don't know of anyone with those wheels but I knew they have problems with the chrome wheels in general. A friend of mine as a Denali and his chrome factory wheels are starting to pit/peel on the outside. The inside however looks even worse. All the coating and chrome is peeling off in huge sheets and its all pitted. It looks horrible for a 50K Denali.

As for GM putting wheels weights on the outside of wheels today. I really have no idea what they are thinking. My factory wheels have giant wheel weight on the outside of them.

Yea.. i had my wheel weights put on the inside a few days after i bought my truck. They corrode your wheel otherwise. The metals just dont mix, and once they are corroded, thats it. you cant fix it. At least in my experience.

LT1MCSS · February 22, 2013

Yea.. i had my wheel weights put on the inside a few days after i bought my truck. They corrode your wheel otherwise. The metals just dont mix, and once they are corroded, thats it. you cant fix it. At least in my experience.

You can't fix it and unfortunately no way to stop it. Chrome plate is worse than even clear coat imo. With the chrome plate once it starts to pit or peel that it, there is no stopping it. Winter up here in the north doesn't help the chrome or cleared wheels at all. If you want the least amount of maintenance painted wheels are the way to go but I don't think they look that nice. I ordered new wheels last week. I decided to go for a bright PVD finish over chrome. We'll see if it makes a difference. With chrome i knew what the downfalls were. PVD is supposed to prevent those problems if done right. I guess I'll find out.

My friend i mentioned took all his outside wheel weight off except for 1. When i asked why he left the one he said because it started to peel the chrome so he decided to leave it on there.

AaronIROCZ · February 23, 2013

Well I had all four replaced and hopefully they last this time otherwise I am going to try to see what my options are on a different set of wheels, but I am not holding my breath.

Mikeb52r · February 25, 2013

It's good to hear that the dealer replaced them without any hassle. Especialy with the forth wheel. Good luck with the new set.

SVelty · June 12, 2013

I have the same problem? All four chrome clad 20" on 2012 Silverado. Centre cap chrome is wrinkling? Took them to the dealer I purchased the truck from 6 mos. ago new, they send pics to GM warranty? They won't cover them, they are saying the peeling is due to impact damage? WTF, all four rims? It's 4X4? No evidence of any impact and the centre cap chev logo has water damage below the plastic on the 'Gold' Bowtie? No more chevs for me, 8 brand new trucks since 92, second chome on ABS issue I have had on a chev, they can stuff the LTZ? Not happy at all.

Gurrzt · June 12, 2013

This has been a long standing problem with GM tracking back more than a decade, ask anyone who owns a 1998-2002 Camaro SS with the GM authorized "chrome clad wheels" provided by SLP.

GM has had a terrible record with the plating on these rims, anywhere from "bubbles" on the chrome (i.e. containment under the plating), to extensive peeling (moisture getting under the plate).

GM did nothing about it then, and I imagine they will do nothing about it now.

You MAY find a decent dealer to swap out the rims, however your chances are better winning the "interstate" lottery.

JMHO

SVelty · June 12, 2013

Update; just got off the phone with GM Canada Warranty, spoke with Dave...Thanks for nothing Dave! Apparently I should have called them first and sent photos before going into the dealership, (according to Dave, then they could have assisted? According to Dave, once the field warranty manager makes his/her decision it cannot be overturned??? "Judge, Jury & Executioner?"

My only response was why did they not keep the rims and look at them 'hands on' as pics are only 2D? He tells me the dealership would have assisted with their opinion of the the condition of the wheels? WOW! Not what the dealership told me, they claim they did everything they could to influence the warranty rep? Something stinks in the woodpile here!