many issues-- need to vent--apologize ahead of time

[Rhino19]

My recently purchased ( Nov.1)  '19 Sierra 1500 5.3L 8-spd. X-31 4x4 SLT crew cab w/premium pack (61K sticker) is the 25th 4x4 pickup I have owned in the past 45 years.  (mostly GM with a couple of Fords and a couple of Dodges in the mix).  I consider myself a GM guy.  Traded in a similar '17 GMC 5.3L Z-71 8-spd.  4x4 crew SLT.  

  Let me say it's my fault -- totally--  for expecting significant improvements in this new generation from GM and not shopping other brands more.

1.  Unloaded ride worse at freeway speeds over expansion joints and rough sections.  Jiggly and /or disconnected from front to rear.

2.  Why did they shrink the gas tank to 24 gal?  With no option to go larger like Ford's 36 and Dodge's 33 in their short box models. They advertise the truck as larger with capacity to haul more.  Plus so far, with 2000 miles, my average everyday mileage is 2 mpg less than my '17.  14 to 16 vs 16 to 18.  So the 24 gal tank means much less range.

3.  One of the most important features of any vehicle is the driver's seat.  My heated/vented seat is hard and unsupportive and small -- reminds me of a barstool.  Just like the seats in my '15, '16 Denali, and '17.    Every survey I ever get I ask GM to improve the seats.  Ford and Dodge have much better.

FYI --- GM bought back my '16 Denali--  google "Chevy Shake"

3.  The stereo (bose premium ) is poor no matter how you adjust it. You have to crank it to painful levels or it sounds like all the sound is coming from under the Nav screen in the center of the dash.  The rear speakers are a disgrace in a vehicle costing this much.  No CD player anymore?  OK so I'm behind on the latest tech.  

4.  The Nav screen looks "washed out" and lacking in color.  Hard to read day or night.   Last years was much better, my phone looks much better.  The screens in other modes like climate control are better so what's up with that?

5.  The rear view camera is fuzzy and unclear day or night.  Last years (and every other one I've seen in the past few years is better)  and yes I removed the clear plastic shipping tape.

6.  Before it was a month old rust spots appeared on the rear bumper due to pits in the chrome.  That will be replaced under warranty.

I am considered a "VIP" at my dealership yet they have no answers so far, except for the rear bumper, on any way to address my concerns.

Sorry for being so long-winded.   It's a sharp looking truck, I like the lines.    Anyone know where I can get a bigger gas tank? 

[GMC-AT]

I agree.. all of these but #6 is totally your fault.  You should have test drove before you purchased and you would have know about the NAVI screen, BOSE, seat, etc. The gas tank size....if you researched in advance you would have known. 

I can tell you coming from a loaded 2016 SLT to my new 2019 - the seat, ride and BOSE are defiantly better in this new truck in my opinion.... NAVI screen seems about the same. 

 

Does the truck lack a lot of tech compared to Ford and especially RAM? Yep... I knew that in advance and could have purchased a RAM limited with that big $ss fancy screen... but they have tons of issues...just go read their forums.   My take was as long as my 2019 Silverado was problem free.. I could deal with the lack of tech. So far so good....

 

[Rhino19]

Test drove Silverado High Country around town.  Didn't need Nav for that .  Noticed how quiet and refined the truck seemed at relatively low speed. Much improved over previous years.   Didn't listen to the radio--  was paying more attention to how the truck sounded.   Researched fuel tank size and that was listed-- at the time-- as 26 both for "limited or classic"  19 models along with new model 2019.  Dealer told me same info-- same as 2018.   The seat is what it is-- adequate.

You seem to know a lot about trucks --in my research I have not yet been able to find a larger replacement gas tank.  Have you come across any after market companies (like Transfer Flow) that offer something?  

Thanks

[GMC-AT]

No, I haven't looked into after market gas tank.. and won't.  I agree it is small, but not one of those things important to me ( I only drive about 10K miles per year)  And if I do on a rare road trip... I'll surely want to stop within 400 miles for a break anyway...so it's not an issue. 

[drucker]

I traded my 2014 LTZ 5.3 for a 2019 HC 6.2. I did all the research in the world on the 2019. I test drove the same truck before the one I ordered came in. My radio, Nav, cameras, and seats are a lot better in my 2019 than 2014. The heated seats in my 2014 were terrible. I could turn my heated seat on and drive 3 hours and hardly feel it but the 2019 is almost instant heat. The 2014 cooled seats felt good but nobody could sit in the back because it would blow the hot air straight in their face. The fuel tank doesn't bother me because I'm getting 3-4 mpg more with the 6.2 than I did with 5.3. I drive about 4-500 miles a week and would burn 1.5 tanks in my 2014 and I only burn 1 tank in my 2019. The life mpg on my 2014 was around 14 and so far the life mpg on my 2019 with 5500 miles is 18.4.

[diyer2]

I apologize but...............

When I read posts like this I get confused.

Sorry you're not happy with this new truck but it's fixable.

So you've wasted a lot of money on new trucks but aren't happy with the new gen 19.

Money seems to be no problem, trade it.

Being V.I.P. at a car dealer means the dealer likes your wallet.

Simple.

 

[Sierra Dan]

19 hours ago, Rhino19 said:

1.  Unloaded ride worse at freeway speeds over expansion joints and rough sections.  Jiggly and /or disconnected from front to rear.

This is in due in part to the factory Rancho (Tenneco) brand shocks that GM is still using on the T1s.  X31 = the GMC version of Z71 package (includes Rancho Shocks)

They are pogo sticks.

Bilstein 5100s are a better option.

[Slizzo]

17 hours ago, Rhino19 said:

Test drove Silverado High Country around town.  Didn't need Nav for that .  Noticed how quiet and refined the truck seemed at relatively low speed. Much improved over previous years.   Didn't listen to the radio--  was paying more attention to how the truck sounded.   Researched fuel tank size and that was listed-- at the time-- as 26 both for "limited or classic"  19 models along with new model 2019.  Dealer told me same info-- same as 2018.   The seat is what it is-- adequate.

You seem to know a lot about trucks --in my research I have not yet been able to find a larger replacement gas tank.  Have you come across any after market companies (like Transfer Flow) that offer something?  

Thanks

So you drove what is the equivalent to a Denali around town. Which probably has magride. And a 6.2L. And a 10 speed. Then you bought an SLT and are surprised that it drives really different?

 

Am I confused here or??

 

My '18, the screen is perfect, I can't see that they regressed on this. I use CarPlay all the time however, so maybe that's masking things for me.  In this age though, if it's available, you should, for sure, be using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay all the time. There's no real reason not to.

[Rhino19]

I seem to have generated a lot of confusion .   

 

Wasted money?  I'll spend my hard earned G D money any way I want to.

 

I LIKE MY NEW GMC.  It is beautiful, gorgeous, sharp looking, pleasing to the eye, and any other positive adjective you care to add.  It drives and handles very well, but as with most things there is always room for improvement. 

 

The Silverado high Country I drove was equipped with the 5.3 and 8 spd.  My SLT X-31 rides no different.

Mag Ride is no longer available as an option on either Sierra or Silverado.  

Sierra Denali now has ARC -- not available yet on Silverado  (according to gmauthority)

I wish I had the Nav screen from your 18, it doesn't look like that anymore.

 

Thanks to Sierra Dan for the post on Bilstein shocks.  I have used them many times in the past and will install them.  They are excellent.  GM used to supply them in their Z-71 off road package many years ago.

 

For anyone who cares to--- pick up the Jan. 2019 issue of Car and Driver.  Interesting article on the Big 3 2019 trucks.

[f8l vnm]

On 1/10/2019 at 12:00 PM, GMC-AT said:

... but they have tons of issues...just go read their forums. 

 

And GM trucks have no issues ?

[GMC-AT]

all trucks have their issues.. no doubt.  But I assure you the new 2019 RAM, with all that fancy tech is hell right now.  Their issues are way beyond what we are seeing so far with the new 2019 GM trucks. 

[DirtyMarcus]

I wanna know how you become a VIP at a dealer?  Does it involve trading in vehicles yearly, taking a hit on your old truck, and taking a hit on the new truck?  

[Black02Silverado]

28 minutes ago, DirtyMarcus said:

I wanna know how you become a VIP at a dealer?  Does it involve trading in vehicles yearly, taking a hit on your old truck, and taking a hit on the new truck?  

If you see this is his 25th truck in 45 years. That is a new truck every 1.8yrs.  I'm sure the dealership loves this kind of customer.  Hence the V.I.P. 

 

Sucks that you don't care for the vehicle.  I pretty much have read all the posts on here where others have stated what you just did.  I'm willing to purchase one anyway.  I'm sure it is a major improvement over my 17yr old 2002 silverado that I purchased in September of 2001.  I get 14 to 16mpg now so that will not be an issue for me keeping the same mileage. 

[Rhino19]

My original post was to see if other owners noticed the same things I did about my new truck.  As I have said I still LIKE it.

Of course the dealership loves me.  They should.  

I recently retired after spending most of my life working in the construction industry.  Driving 40 - 50 thousand miles per year on average.  

Reliability was key.  Example.  The 1999 I bought new spent so much time in the shop I put more miles on the loaner truck they gave me than my own.   so I traded it before it was a year old.  The 2000 that replaced it had an electrical issue that GM couldn't figure out so that became a 2001.  

The 2016 Denali I bought developed the "chevy shake".  google it.   2 sets of tires, 3 wheels, re-balanced drive shaft, rear end gears, 2 alignments and get this--  remove the body from the frame by lifting it 4 inches and resetting it.  At that point I said stop.  They bought it back.   My wife wouldn't ride in it because of the vibration.

Yes,  your math is right on.  Yes, I spent a lot of money over the years being loyal to the General. Many people buy a car and expect to keep it for a long period and that's fine.  That's what I am hoping this new truck will do.

[diyer2]

Retired construction worker also.

Boy, you had some bad luck.

I apologize again.