HIgh Desert Packge severe leaking proplen

fred711 · July 27, 2018

Does anyone else have a 2017 Silverado 1500 with the High Desert package which leaks like a sieve? It's impossible to keep anything in the box as it will be soaked and ruined. Supposedly Chevrolet/GM is aware of this, but a year and a half since I've taken delivery of my truck they have done absolutely nothing to correct the problem. I owned both a 2011 and 2013 Avalanche and never had a bit of a leak into the box. I've also had a2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2015 Silverado 1500's with tonneau covers which also never leaked.

wforrest08 · July 27, 2018

brholtz02 · July 28, 2018

I've been waiting 6 weeks for the dealer to get the parts. At first they just blew me off, but I sent an e-mail to a contact in Chevy corporate and that got the ball rolling.

I put dielectric grease on all the seals, it helped a little.

joemeigs8 · July 28, 2018

My dad swore by avanlanches and decided to go with the High Desert since they were discontinued, but was very disappointed with how bad it leaked. It was like you said, so bad it wasn’t even worth keeping anything back there. He ended up going round and round with dealer and eventually swapped out for a basic Silverado with bed cover.

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fred711 · July 29, 2018

Joe, First I apologize to everyone for not proof reading the title of my post. It says HIgh Desert Package severe leaking proplen. I obviously meant High Desert Package severe leaking problem.

I had a 2011 and a 2013 Avalanche. The 2011 was purchased from the dealer stock. I ordered the 2013 which was the Black Diamond Edition I loaded with just about every option available. I loved both of them and was extremely disappointed when Chevrolet discontinued them. I never had one drop of water leak into either Avalanche.

In mid 2016 when I saw the first pictures of the Silverado with the High Desert Package I was really excited. The package was originally supposed to be available at the start of the 2017 model year in September of 2016. However, it didn't finally become available until late January 2017. I ordered mine February 23, 2017 and took delivery April 20, 2017.

Right from the beginning I had problems. The top side storage boxes didn't close properly. One of the rear panel locking levers had the yellow trim cover missing. I only had it a couple of days, and after a rain storm I opened the tailgate to find a lot of water inside the box. The system they used for the tailgate to close against the rear most panel is ridiculous. It leaks after every rain or snow storm. The tailgate should close under the rear panel not up against it.

The dealer kept it overnight a year ago and performed all kinds of leakage tests while an engineer from Chevrolet was there to observe. I've been told several times that new panels are being designed, and the ones in my truck will be replaced at no cost to me when they are available. However, the service manager told me there would be a disclaimer that the High Desert System wasn't intended to be water tight. Nice to know after I had tied up $6995 for the Package based on my ownership of two Avalanche's.

Unfortunately the service manager, who was very familiar with the problem, passed away last week after a short battle with cancer. I have little or no hope Chevrolet will correct the problem. Especially after the length of time which has passed with no action on their part.

I've told the dealer several times that if I could afford it I would remove the High Desert parts from the box, install bed rail protectors, a bed liner, led lighting package, a tailgate protector, tailgate top protector, and a tonneau cover. I've had 5 other Silverado's, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2015, with tonneau covers, and never had a leak with any of them. And it didn't cost me $6995 for the tonneau covers.

My Silverado is the High Country model with a 6.2L engine. I love everything about the truck except the High Desert Package leakage fiasco.

Huskersfan · July 29, 2018

2017 High Desert here.

Keep this thread updated, I drive down dirt/gravel roads daily and have spent quite a lot of time sealing the bed up to keep the dust down. I feel like I have pretty much accomplished that for the most part, but I usually do notice some water after washing.

I haven't had mine long enough to be in a rain storm to see what that is like. The area's I have water are under the bed divider and in the front near the drain holes.

I had an avalanche about 10 years ago and loved it. I was excited to get this one and knew dust would be a problem, but was surprised by water intrusion. I am going to seal up a bit more area's with black silicone and see how that goes.

I have also used black expanding foam, gorilla tape and weather stripping, so far so good.

I'm not sure what my dealer will say when I take it in and they see all of that, but I live in a rural area and dust problems are far from new.

Supreme Pizza · July 29, 2018

When I have issues with leaking car trucks, I climb in there with a flashlight and have someone hose down the vehicle. Then I just look around for the leaks.

Obviously you want to choose your helper wisely.

Probably don't want to ask the random stranger walking by to lock you in the truck.

Huskersfan · August 16, 2018

I feel I cured the dust problem, but...

It leaks water pretty bad. The worst is where the three panels connect to each other, the rubber seal sucks and water goes through on the side it is connected to the panel. I spent half the day trying to figure something out and I feel it's worse than when I started.

fred711 · August 17, 2018

Huskersfan, the thing that pisses me off the most is that Cheverolet/GM took our $6995 to purchase this useless package and knowing it is useless absolutely refuse to do anything to correct or remedy the leaking problem. Apparently they couldn't incorporate the same leak proof technology of the Avalanche in this useless High Desert package. It's bad enough they screwed me when I ordered my 2017 High Country with this useless High Desert package, but it's a greater insult to absolutely refuse to do anything to remedy the leak problem.

Huskersfan · August 17, 2018

It might sound bad, but I'm glad I'm not the only one pissed about this. When I spoke to my dealer about it before he made sure to say over and over again that it wasn't designed to stop all water. I found that pretty annoying. Based on them not caring, I feel I will either wait for GM to do something or try and fix it myself.

My next plan is to get some weatherstripping adhesive and apply it to the rubber strips on the panels. I'm not going to glue the panels together, but the glue the rubber strips to the panels they are attached to. Right now they are just held in place, but not sealed and glued.

If that works I'll move on to the next leaky spot.

I really want this truck to work, I think it is a great idea, but terrible execution. I wish they had ran a garden hose on it before they shipped them out. Mine has leaked since day one, obviously they did nothing.

Make sure this thread stays alive in case there is a fix from GM. My dealer doesn't seem to care, but I feel like if something came from GM they would do it.

fred711 · August 17, 2018

Yeah they came up with that BS about it not intended to be waterproof after it hit the market and unfortunate buyers like us immediately encountered the leaking problem. As soon as my truck came in the salesman was showing it to me. Right away I noticed one of the yellow/green trim covers on the end of the locking lever on the rearmost panel was missing. He didn't even know how the electric locks on the side storage boxes worked. I figured it out by myself after I got the truck home.

Right after I took delivery the salesman left the dealership and never told anyone about several problems that needed to be corrected on my truck. About two weeks went by and a woman from the dealership called and asked why I hadn't yet completed the dealership satisfaction questionnaire which had been emailed to me. I told her because nothing had been done about the problems with the truck. That's when she told me the salesman had left, and they knew noting about the problems. The owner of the dealership called me and apologized for the lack of attention. The next day I went to the dealership and the parts man looked it over to be able to order the necessary parts. They had to order and replace the rear most panel to include the trim cover.

Also when I first got it home I was checking everything out and found the side storage compartments weren't locking. Back to the dealer. They shimmed it with flat washers so they would lock. After I got home I replaced their washers with stainless steel washers and readjusted the compartment lids myself. I've had no problems with them since then. I had a 2011 and a 2013 Avalanche which had key lock side compartments and never had a problem with them, closing, locking or unlocking.

The dealership didn't know how the compartment electric locks worked. It's common sense and I had figured them out by myself after I got it home my first day of ownership. There is absolutely nothing in the owners manual about operating the top three panels or the locking side compartments. The Avalanche owners manuals were very specific about removing, stowing, and reinstalling the panels, and operating the stowage compartments.

Prior to leaving the Mexican assembly plant it was certainly not given a final inspection for completeness or operability. So much for quality control, or complete lack thereof. My truck as ordered was a little under $70,000, but I certainly didn't receive a nearly $70,000 vehicle. In my lifetime I've owned a total of 22 vehicles. Every one has been a GM vehicle. Three Pontiacs and 19 Chevrolets. I've certainly exhibited brand loyalty, but with this High Desert Package fiasco GM has told me to bend over and spread my checks so they could stick it to me. So much for loyalty to a loyal customer. It wouldn't be so bad if they at least showed some concern over the leaking, but instead they are saying gee you bought a vehicle with a piece of crap package. Gosh that's too bad. To top it off the dealership was recently sold and at least 85% of the former staff left so there is no one in the service dept. even slightly familiar with my problem. Unfortunately the service manager who was working with me passed away from cancer several weeks before the dealership changed hands.

A month ago a salesman called me to see how things were going. I gave him a real earful. He didn't offer any resolution. However, he did offer to sell me a 2018 to replace my 2017. Problem is they only had a few work trucks and several LT models in stock. Nothing anywhere near my fully loaded 2017 High Country.

Sorry for getting so wound up, but I'm venting my frustration with this piece of crap High Desert Package. I feel it is the most ill conceived package I've ever encountered on a GM vehicle.

brholtz02 · August 17, 2018

Mine is in the process of having the TSB work performed. The bag of seals and gaskets that has the correct part number is wrong. They've talked with "parts tech" and the correct seals are still being manufactured, 2-3 weeks before they arrive. The"fix" includes new panels, seals and gaskets, hopefully it will correct the issue. The TSB is for the early models, wonder if anybody with a 2018 has leak issues.

Huskersfan · August 17, 2018

Can you please provide any info you can for this TSB? If there is a name or number associated so my dealer can look it up easy.

Also, just to confirm, this is a separate TSB from the one that enlarges the gutter drain holes and adds shims?

newdude · August 17, 2018

Quote

#18-NA-135: Water Leaks in Bed Area on Trucks Equipped with High Desert Package - (Apr 26, 2018)

Some customers may comment on finding water leaks in the bed area of their vehicle, which has the High Desert option package.

The cause of the condition may be that the design intent of the High Desert Package is NOT to provide a completely water tight cargo area. The package is designed to have a water management system, but some water may still migrate into the bed area.

A design improvement has been made to all of the service parts listed in the part table below. Follow the Service Procedure below for part replacement and additional steps that can reduce, but not eliminate, water getting into the bed area.

This one.

Edited August 17, 2018 by newdude

Huskersfan · August 17, 2018

Yes, that is the TSB that involves enlarging drain holes and adding shims, which is what I have already done. It also replaces the rubber seal/ channel on both sides that is the length of the bed (it's what the panels rest on).

I already performed those myself except for replacing those two seals. I wasnt sure they were causing as much of a problem as other areas.

What I am wondering is if there is a separate TSB from that one that involves replacing panels, seals, etc. And if there is what info or title it is so it can be looked up by my dealer