Headlamp Housing - Condensation

Saldog · February 13, 2015

I started with the Dealer on December 23rd, 2014 where I purchased the truck from and they were informed by GM that this is a normal condition for condensation in the headlamps and the dealership would be on their own to absorb the cost of replacing the head light assemblies. The Dealership did offer to swap them out from another truck on their lot, however, I advised them I appreciated the offer, GM should be held accountable for replacing these units. I sent a letter to Duncan Aldred U.S. Vice President of GMC informing him of my concerns with this headlight issue, I requested a written response to the problem on January 12, 2015. To date I have spoken with four different people from GM (they will only communicate by phone due to proprietary information) that this is normal, and they can't explain why. They will not provide a written letter or email response to this issue, and no reply at all from Duncan Aldred. This Thursday February 19, 2015 I am meeting with the owner of the dealership where I purchased my truck to advise him of my frustration with GM and how poorly they have handled this situation, I am going to encourage him to inform GM that this is very poor customer service.

I am glad to hear some of you were able to resolve you're headlight replacement with such ease, I wish mine went as smoothly. I did not become a member of this forum to complain, but, to encourage a solution by advising those that are having similar problems to speak out about it to GM and force them to come up with a "fix" to this moisture/condensation problem with their head light assemblies.

When I made my truck purchase I was open to all makes, I have owned two Dodge Ram 1500's the last 17 years and they are good reliable trucks. I am not a diehard GM, Dodge, Ford, or Toyota guy. I read about the CEO's and the direction they were going with the company and what were their long range plans. I evaluated towing and payload specs, interior layout, safety, and styling. I settled my decision on the GMC, the exterior styling really appealed to me and I think the recently appointed CEO, Mary Barra is trying to make GM a better company than they were. She definitely has her work cut out for her with the history of GM's previous management.

It would be fine if GM informed me they were trying to solve this problem and when they do they would provide replacement headlight assemblies, even if it took a year to do so as long as they had a solution to the problem and not expect reasonable people to accept a defective design flaw. Not only is this a safety issue; daytime running lights fogged over on a rainy day; the potential need to replace the head lights due to moisture intrusion, along with the appearance of having the really cool looking LED headlights fogged over and the Ford guys at work point a finger at my new truck and say "should have bought a Ford".

With this exhaustive dealing with GM and still not coming to a resolution on this problem (currently waiting to hear from a customer service manager), it does make me wonder maybe I should have...

Don't ignore this problem and simply live with it, call, email, write and advise GM this is not acceptable, they need to fix it.

Good luck!

Rewillia · February 14, 2015

BBB Auto Line. File a complaint and I highly suspect you will get a call from GM and they will respond.

http://www.bbb.org/council/programs-services/dispute-handling-and-resolution/bbb-auto-line/bbb-auto-lines-process/description-and-rules-all-states-except-california/

morrislee · February 16, 2015

My truck started doing this lately, and getting worse and worse. I ended up purchasing desiccant packs from Canadian Tire ($9.99 CAD) they are rechargeable by baking so I left them in my lights.

It has been moisture free for at least a week now, hopefully this will help you guys

EastCoast HD · February 16, 2015

Does anyone know if there are any vents on the headlight housing?

I mentioned it before that I simply removed the bulb access covers. That allowed the moist air to vent over a short amount of time. Once clear, reinstalled access covers The issue hasn't reoccured since.

POS VETT · February 16, 2015

No vent/drain that I saw when mine were in the replacement process.

Edited February 16, 2015 by POS VETT

EastCoast HD · February 17, 2015

No vent/drain that I saw when mine were in the replacement process.

Not surprised.

Wouldn't be to difficult for GM to come up with a vent retrofit. Or a DYIer for that matter.

Think I'll see what if anything GM comes up with short term then go from there.

Edited February 17, 2015 by EastCoast HD

pm26 · February 20, 2015

My truck started doing this lately, and getting worse and worse. I ended up purchasing desiccant packs from Canadian Tire ($9.99 CAD) they are rechargeable by baking so I left them in my lights.

It has been moisture free for at least a week now, hopefully this will help you guys

Normal quality moisture free lights supplied by GM would be a lot better alternative.

Edited February 20, 2015 by pm26

FuelHauler87 · February 20, 2015

Talked to dealer today and if course they never heard of any issues with that or bad illumination from the lights. Let the fun begin

morrislee · February 20, 2015

Normal quality moisture free lights supplied by GM would be a lot better alternative.

Mine only started doing that after I swapped to HIDs, I think when I did it, it was humid outside.

Back in a Bowtie · February 21, 2015

/Update: New housing installed today. Service guys asked after it was complete "you had HIDs??" i said yea but it couldn't be that as it didn't fog for months after install. He said "don't worry about it, i took care of it, but if you put them back in just be carful that its all put together tight"

Rewillia · February 22, 2015

Be honest. Disclose to the servicing dealer that you modified the lamps and take it from there.

Happy to see it worked out after all for you.

Saldog · February 27, 2015

As GMC-AT mentioned awhile back you are fortunate that the dealer is replacing you're headlight assembly since GM advises specifically not to do so unless a lamp assembly failed...great they did that for you.

I met with the owner of the dealership where I purchased my truck and they swapped the headlights out with the headlights from his truck, I really appreciated he did that...hopefully this solved the fogging issue.

I still think GM needs to come up with a solution. I did receive a call from Valerie a customer service manager, friendly but no change from GM, this fogging is normal. She did advise me to keep all documentation pertaining to this from the dealership (GM will not provide written documentation) to have it for any future problems.

I am going to send a letter to the CEO of GM and also to the NHSTA regarding this problem, it needs to be fixed. It would be nice if GM would place a label on the window sticker saying "Interior headlight lens fogging is normal" that way we know about this ahead of time and can decide to live with it or not.

pm26 · February 27, 2015

As GMC-AT mentioned awhile back you are fortunate that the dealer is replacing you're headlight assembly since GM advises specifically not to do so unless a lamp assembly failed...great they did that for you.

I met with the owner of the dealership where I purchased my truck and they swapped the headlights out with the headlights from his truck, I really appreciated he did that...hopefully this solved the fogging issue.

I still think GM needs to come up with a solution. I did receive a call from Valerie a customer service manager, friendly but no change from GM, this fogging is normal. She did advise me to keep all documentation pertaining to this from the dealership (GM will not provide written documentation) to have it for any future problems.

I am going to send a letter to the CEO of GM and also to the NHSTA regarding this problem, it needs to be fixed. It would be nice if GM would place a label on the window sticker saying "Interior headlight lens fogging is normal" that way we know about this ahead of time and can decide to live with it or not.

Interesting how GM labels things as "normal" even though all common sense and past experience indicates that they are not.

jamin87ss · March 7, 2015

Just wanted to jump in n say I bought my truck right before Xmas, headlight were fogged when I picked it up, made note of it, after a week still there so I went back, they ordered me a pair, put in last Monday, no issues since and several car washes

Skeeter McSkeet · March 9, 2015

I stuck one of the moisture packets someone mentioned earlier in each housing. They've been crystal clear ever since. The things are rated to cover 60 cubic feet per pack and last 6 months or so. I'll prolly just leave them in there until I see moisture again. Great idea for a flawed design!!

-Skeet