2014 Sierra Vibration & more

lattle · December 1, 2015

Howdy,

I'm new to the forum on posts but have been on here for a while. I know this subject has been covered to death, and I've probably read every single word on here as it relates to vibration issues on these trucks.

I bought a certified used, 2014 Sierra AT with 19k that I noted the vibration on the test drive. I brought it up and the dealer told me it was probably just a out of balance tire and they would correct it. That is what it felt like, so I trusted the fact they would get it done...I know I should have waited to purchase until it was fixed, but I otherwise really liked the truck and I felt I was getting a good deal. 6 weeks into this, and I still don't have a resolution, and have since had several other issues. The frame rust, the clunk in the drive line, a broken seat..but the vibration is driving me nuts.

I am a great researcher and more than an average shadetree mechanic, and have figured out that my problem is way more than an out of balance tire. I've taken it back several times and so far they replaced the tires (with the crap Good Year A/T's) replaced the drive shaft, road force balanced the tires in addition to undercoating the frame, replaced the seat, replaced the head lights..and probably a couple more things I can't think of. They have been good, but are more than an hour from my house and out of my way.

Frustrated I took it to a local tire dealer I trust in Asheville and they road force balanced the tires, discovered 3 were out of whack, and said the two back shocks were bad...and one front strut was leaking. Even with the tires road force balanced, I still get a vibration on anything above 65.

I took it to another dealer close to my house because it was convenient so they could replace the shocks, and they "could not duplicate" the issue and basically told me they would not investigate further...even after I told them about the TSB from GM on the Rancho's. They wouldn't even take them off the truck to inspect. I can't wait to do the GM survey on them.

So here I am...I will have to trek back to the original dealer an hour away in Boone, and drop it off again. It's been in the shop 4 times, and they've had it once for over a week.

I guess my question is...how much of this falls on GM's shoulders and how much on the dealer's? I'm in Johnson City and Bristol, TN regularily for work and could easily take to one of those dealers, but don't know how those dealers will perceive me since I did not buy it there. Do they hate doing warranty work...or do they get paid fairly for it?

Sorry for the length here...but I'm beyond frustrated. I drove an '03 Silverado Z71 for 278k and it rode like a Cadillac and the only issues I had was a water pump, along with normal wear and tear. I was hoping for the same on the '14 Sierra...but man..what a dud it has turned out to be.

pm26 · December 1, 2015

Howdy,

I'm new to the forum on posts but have been on here for a while. I know this subject has been covered to death, and I've probably read every single word on here as it relates to vibration issues on these trucks.

I bought a certified used, 2014 Sierra AT with 19k that I noted the vibration on the test drive. I brought it up and the dealer told me it was probably just a out of balance tire and they would correct it. That is what it felt like, so I trusted the fact they would get it done...I know I should have waited to purchase until it was fixed, but I otherwise really liked the truck and I felt I was getting a good deal. 6 weeks into this, and I still don't have a resolution, and have since had several other issues. The frame rust, the clunk in the drive line, a broken seat..but the vibration is driving me nuts.

I am a great researcher and more than an average shadetree mechanic, and have figured out that my problem is way more than an out of balance tire. I've taken it back several times and so far they replaced the tires (with the crap Good Year A/T's) replaced the drive shaft, road force balanced the tires in addition to undercoating the frame, replaced the seat, replaced the head lights..and probably a couple more things I can't think of. They have been good, but are more than an hour from my house and out of my way.

Frustrated I took it to a local tire dealer I trust in Asheville and they road force balanced the tires, discovered 3 were out of whack, and said the two back shocks were bad...and one front strut was leaking. Even with the tires road force balanced, I still get a vibration on anything above 65.

I took it to another dealer close to my house because it was convenient so they could replace the shocks, and they "could not duplicate" the issue and basically told me they would not investigate further...even after I told them about the TSB from GM on the Rancho's. They wouldn't even take them off the truck to inspect. I can't wait to do the GM survey on them.

So here I am...I will have to trek back to the original dealer an hour away in Boone, and drop it off again. It's been in the shop 4 times, and they've had it once for over a week.

I guess my question is...how much of this falls on GM's shoulders and how much on the dealer's? I'm in Johnson City and Bristol, TN regularily for work and could easily take to one of those dealers, but don't know how those dealers will perceive me since I did not buy it there. Do they hate doing warranty work...or do they get paid fairly for it?

Sorry for the length here...but I'm beyond frustrated. I drove an '03 Silverado Z71 for 278k and it rode like a Cadillac and the only issues I had was a water pump, along with normal wear and tear. I was hoping for the same on the '14 Sierra...but man..what a dud it has turned out to be.

Well, if you lower your ambition by a factor of 10, you may be able to get 27.8k miles out of that new truck.

fondupot · December 1, 2015

So you bought the truck knowing of the vibration issue? Cmon man.

lattle · December 1, 2015

So you bought the truck knowing of the vibration issue? Cmon man.

I know, I know. It really wasn't that bad, but noticable nonetheless. It really felt like it had a flat spot in the tire...I thought no big deal, not realizing the bigger problem with these trucks. Anyway, it's done now. Just got to get it fixed and figure out the smartest way for me to do it. I basically have the same truck in your sig, minus the 20" rims which I am on the hunt for. I've got the 18" all terrain specific chrome wheels.

I noticed you got Bilstein's....how did that do for your ride? Tire shop said I had two busted rear shocks, and one leaking front strut. I would like for GM to pay for new Rancho's...but if the Bilstein's are the way to go, I might as well go ahead and bite the bullet.

fondupot · December 1, 2015

I noticed you got Bilstein's....how did that do for your ride? Tire shop said I had two busted rear shocks, and one leaking front strut. I would like for GM to pay for new Rancho's...but if the Bilstein's are the way to go, I might as well go ahead and bite the bullet.

I love the Bilsteins. I had one of my rear rancho's replaced under warranty and still wasnt happy with the ride. So I decided to do bilsteins as well. Once I got the Rancho's off i found that the other rear shock was blown out too. Ranchos are crap. ANd my front rancho struts were rusted as SHIT. They would never have lasted more then 50k miles IMHO.

Go for the Bilsteins and you wont be disappointed

Good luck with your vibration issues. I've driven some loaners that had the issue and its definitely annoying.

lattle · December 1, 2015

Good luck with your vibration issues. I've driven some loaners that had the issue and its definitely annoying.

I've seen a lot of folks on here with possible diagnosis and multiple reasons as to why their's vibrates....I wonder how many have actually had success with it getting fixed? If it's a non-fixable problem, than I might need to be having a more serious conversation with the dealer and GM about this truck....which really sucks because even with all it's issues, it's a nice looking truck! I'm still under full bumper to bumper at 21k.

pm26 · December 2, 2015

I've seen a lot of folks on here with possible diagnosis and multiple reasons as to why their's vibrates....I wonder how many have actually had success with it getting fixed? If it's a non-fixable problem, than I might need to be having a more serious conversation with the dealer and GM about this truck....which really sucks because even with all it's issues, it's a nice looking truck! I'm still under full bumper to bumper at 21k.

When it comers to fixing these vibration issues it is really more like bumper&bumper warranty, with nothing covered between the bumpers. Some people actually had their vibration fixed (or so they claim). It depends on dedication of a particular dealership and also on the cause of the vibration. if replacing a large expensive assembly like the transmission is involved, GM will probably not volunteer to do that right away without trying cheaper fixes to make it look like they are doing something.