Welded Frame and Clean Title? Did Dealership get over on me?

Steven Gonzales · April 18, 2020

Hello I am new to GM-Trucks forum and really need some advice to help me get my mind at eaze. I purchased a 2011 Silverado LTZ 4x4 with 61k original miles, clean title, no reports of damage. I was giving my truck a really good cleaning and came across a weld on the front of my frame. When I was underneath the truck. Is this a factory weld ? Or did the dealership get me ? I paid 22k cash because I thought this truck was perfect. 7 months later I come across this weld on my frame. I have highlighted it with a red marker. It is on the front of the frame underneath the engine. Sorry about my poor description as I am a Automotive painter not a mechanic nor bodyman. Any advice will help and thank you to all! I have had the truck for 7 months now that I have brought it off the dealership and I wont be too happy if this is not a factory weld. Is their any actions I can take ? I been doing research and it's illegal to sell a vehicle with frame damage without reporting it to the buyer. Was this a possible cover up from a accident ? If anyone has any info please get to me. I hope to good I didnt spend 22k on a truck that had been in a accident and lied to with a clean title.

davester · April 18, 2020

Those two red marks are pretty far apart, so I'll assume you are talking about the weld right in the middle between them.

And that weld may or may not be factory.

It looks to be right in the middle of the crossmember, so I'm not sure what kind of accident would happen that would require a cut like that, that wouldn't also require other cuts/welds, either to replace one entire side of the frame (ie, all the welded in crossmembers have been cut the same way), or one side of that crossmember has been replaced (and then, where would they get the replacement piece, as it's not available from GM, so they'd have to also hack up another frame to get it).

You may want to go do a dealers lot advertising a similar year/model vehicle, and look at that crossmember, but IMHO, that's original.

Steven Gonzales · April 18, 2020

2 minutes ago, davester said:

Those two red marks are pretty far apart, so I'll assume you are talking about the weld right in the middle between them.

And that weld may or may not be factory.

It looks to be right in the middle of the crossmember, so I'm not sure what kind of accident would happen that would require a cut like that, that wouldn't also require other cuts/welds, either to replace one entire side of the frame (ie, all the welded in crossmembers have been cut the same way), or one side of that crossmember has been replaced (and then, where would they get the replacement piece, as it's not available from GM, so they'd have to also hack up another frame to get it).

You may want to go do a dealers lot advertising a similar year/model vehicle, and look at that crossmember, but IMHO, that's original.

Thank you sir so much !!!! I appreciate all your knowledge. God bless you !