Numerous issues with AT4, is this just how it is?

ChrisCXK · September 15, 2020

I bought a 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 exactly a year ago today. I knew it had lots of tech in it and figured I'd have an issue or two here and there but nothing like this.

The first problem I had was my rear window started leaking after the first rain storm.

Then I started noticing the paint was really delicate and have had to patch 3 big holes that actually left the bare metal exposed.

I had two of the "Brake system failure" warnings but that seemed to be fixed after a software update. The software update broke my lane change system, it was completely off. A computer reset fixed that.

When it started getting hot here in Texas, my "Park assistant blocked, see owners manual" warning started appearing. It comes up at least 15-20 times a day, its not just a single message though, it "flickers". The light on the dash flashes sporadically and the on screen message comes and goes. I can't clear it since its continually popping back up. Eventually, it stops and the system is off, it reactivates itself later and does it all over again. The dealer has "reset the computer" that controls it...which did nothing.

After that reset I noticed my lane keep assist was going nuts, the indicator icons on the screen would be flashing and the system was turning off and on while the in dash button flashed too.

My driver's side window rubber seal(?) that's on the outside of the window frame got sucked up inside the track and couldn't be removed. They had to replace that.

The light bezels around the fog lamps lost their finish in a few small spots and one very large section came off exposing the chrome. I bought the AT4 to avoid all of the chrome. The grill is made of the same stuff, its also got so many chips/finish loss that I can't even keep count.

The towing app has never once worked properly. I was actually excited about this because I'm a nerd and love the data tracking. I tow 70% of the time so getting to see each trailer's mileage and average MPG was going to be helpful. However, the truck doesn't keep any information on the two trailers for long. At least once a day the trailer mileage resets and the average MPG resets with it. It happens after starting the truck. I can't figure out any rhyme or reason to it. After it does reset, the average mileage is WAY off from reality. I'll drive 100 logged miles by the app with that trailer but it claims I got 0.5 MPG. If I reset the average MPG, it starts tracking the MPGs accurately until it resets itself again.

I know it sounds like I'm just complaining up a storm here but I do love the truck. I'm just highly frustrated with all of the random issues. Even more frustrated that they seem not never fix any of it. This doubles as my work truck and it has 33,600 miles with 1000 engine hours. I'm nearing the end of the manufacturer's warranty and fast!

Has anyone else had these issues and has your dealer resolved them? Are the 20's any better? I've invested a lot of money in this truck by putting work signs on it, a camper shell, clear bra to protect the horrible paint and other small things. I'd hate to trade it so quickly, especially if the next year's model is plagued with issues too. I'm not sure if any of this could fall under the lemon law. Thanks for the advice in advance!

Jefez71 · September 15, 2020

Looks like your truck was built on a Friday or a Monday. Do some research on lemon laws for your state. You may be able to do a dealer buy back and they'll place you in another truck. These trucks have had their fair share of issues and it's a hit or miss. I have a trail boss and luckily have not had a single issue over the past 10 months of ownership so I consider myself lucky. Looks like its every other truck that's having issues.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

ChrisCXK · September 15, 2020

11 minutes ago, Jefez71 said:

Looks like your truck was built on a Friday or a Monday. Do some research on lemon laws for your state. You may be able to do a dealer buy back and they'll place you in another truck. These trucks have had their fair share of issues and it's a hit or miss. I have a trail boss and luckily have not had a single issue over the past 10 months of ownership so I consider myself lucky. Looks like its every other truck that's having issues.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

You're one of the lucky ones! I looked in to the laws and they typically need me to have it out of service for 30 days or in 4 times for the same problem. I've probably screwed myself on that since it is a work vehicle. We couldn't afford to let the keep it every single time something was wrong with it. We've emailed the boss at the dealer. We'll see what his reply is. I don't expect much.

Its funny, I traded my 2011 Tundra that had 208k miles on it and was essentially fine...just boring. I sat there in the guy's office debating with myself: "Buy another, boring but incredibly reliable Tundra? Or take a chance on this really nice and comfortable truck?" I went back and forth and even said "I really hope this thing isn't going to give me a ton of problems." ...and here we are! haha

f8l vnm · September 15, 2020

1 hour ago, ChrisCXK said:

You're one of the lucky ones! I looked in to the laws and they typically need me to have it out of service for 30 days or in 4 times for the same problem. I've probably screwed myself on that since it is a work vehicle. We couldn't afford to let the keep it every single time something was wrong with it. We've emailed the boss at the dealer. We'll see what his reply is. I don't expect much.

Its funny, I traded my 2011 Tundra that had 208k miles on it and was essentially fine...just boring. I sat there in the guy's office debating with myself: "Buy another, boring but incredibly reliable Tundra? Or take a chance on this really nice and comfortable truck?" I went back and forth and even said "I really hope this thing isn't going to give me a ton of problems." ...and here we are! haha

I feel for you brother , not that it helps but it does suck not to be able to enjoy your hard earned money . Question is are they not giving you another truck when they are working on yours ?

steelcity · September 15, 2020

2 hours ago, ChrisCXK said:

Then I started noticing the paint was really delicate and have had to patch 3 big holes that actually left the bare metal exposed.

C'mon, really?! You're patching 3 big holes in the paint yourself when you have a bumper to bumper warranty? I'm not smellin what you're cookin, lol.

Edited September 15, 2020 by steelcity

ShortMag · September 15, 2020

16 months and 25000+ miles on my ‘19 AT4. Have not had any of the problems you have. Absolutely love the truck

BIGDOGx · September 15, 2020

11 hours ago, Jefez71 said:

Looks like your truck was built on a Friday or a Monday. Do some research on lemon laws for your state. You may be able to do a dealer buy back and they'll place you in another truck. These trucks have had their fair share of issues and it's a hit or miss. I have a trail boss and luckily have not had a single issue over the past 10 months of ownership so I consider myself lucky. Looks like its every other truck that's having issues.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

You cant Lemon law cheapness and sadly most of his complaints stem from that. Paint thickness and continued issues with brittle water based paints, trim discoloration, broken phone apps because they more than likely do not update it enough to keep up with phone software. I hate these sensors but at least my truck has been only a tempermental pain during snow or ice build up around the sensors. Clearly the system or wiring is causing some issues if the message flickers on and off. This is the problem with many dealers today, if the computer doesn't tell the tech what's wrong they are clueless at times.

And steelcity paint chips are not covered under a 3/36 warranty, if you do not clear bra the front when you first buy it then your likely to not take long to get some chips if you drive on the highway. I have seen some all terrain trucks that literally look like some shot it with buckshot shells. The paint they use is not only applied too thin but what is applied is brittle crap imo.

Colossus · September 15, 2020

19 hours ago, Jefez71 said:

Looks like your truck was built on a Friday or a Monday. Do some research on lemon laws for your state. You may be able to do a dealer buy back and they'll place you in another truck. These trucks have had their fair share of issues and it's a hit or miss. I have a trail boss and luckily have not had a single issue over the past 10 months of ownership so I consider myself lucky. Looks like its every other truck that's having issues.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Trucks are built 7 days a week and in most cases, around the clock.

RE1 · September 16, 2020

22 hours ago, ChrisCXK said:

I bought a 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 exactly a year ago today. I knew it had lots of tech in it and figured I'd have an issue or two here and there but nothing like this.

The first problem I had was my rear window started leaking after the first rain storm.

Then I started noticing the paint was really delicate and have had to patch 3 big holes that actually left the bare metal exposed.

I had two of the "Brake system failure" warnings but that seemed to be fixed after a software update. The software update broke my lane change system, it was completely off. A computer reset fixed that.

When it started getting hot here in Texas, my "Park assistant blocked, see owners manual" warning started appearing. It comes up at least 15-20 times a day, its not just a single message though, it "flickers". The light on the dash flashes sporadically and the on screen message comes and goes. I can't clear it since its continually popping back up. Eventually, it stops and the system is off, it reactivates itself later and does it all over again. The dealer has "reset the computer" that controls it...which did nothing.

After that reset I noticed my lane keep assist was going nuts, the indicator icons on the screen would be flashing and the system was turning off and on while the in dash button flashed too.

My driver's side window rubber seal(?) that's on the outside of the window frame got sucked up inside the track and couldn't be removed. They had to replace that.

The light bezels around the fog lamps lost their finish in a few small spots and one very large section came off exposing the chrome. I bought the AT4 to avoid all of the chrome. The grill is made of the same stuff, its also got so many chips/finish loss that I can't even keep count.

The towing app has never once worked properly. I was actually excited about this because I'm a nerd and love the data tracking. I tow 70% of the time so getting to see each trailer's mileage and average MPG was going to be helpful. However, the truck doesn't keep any information on the two trailers for long. At least once a day the trailer mileage resets and the average MPG resets with it. It happens after starting the truck. I can't figure out any rhyme or reason to it. After it does reset, the average mileage is WAY off from reality. I'll drive 100 logged miles by the app with that trailer but it claims I got 0.5 MPG. If I reset the average MPG, it starts tracking the MPGs accurately until it resets itself again.

I know it sounds like I'm just complaining up a storm here but I do love the truck. I'm just highly frustrated with all of the random issues. Even more frustrated that they seem not never fix any of it. This doubles as my work truck and it has 33,600 miles with 1000 engine hours. I'm nearing the end of the manufacturer's warranty and fast!

Has anyone else had these issues and has your dealer resolved them? Are the 20's any better? I've invested a lot of money in this truck by putting work signs on it, a camper shell, clear bra to protect the horrible paint and other small things. I'd hate to trade it so quickly, especially if the next year's model is plagued with issues too. I'm not sure if any of this could fall under the lemon law. Thanks for the advice in advance!

Seems par for the course for GM since at least 2014. Loaded with a bunch of “tech” which is largely just gimmicky poorly executed BS. Built as cheaply as possible. My 2014 has been the same. Issue after issue. Won’t rebuy GM at this point.

Edited September 16, 2020 by RE1

ChrisCXK · September 16, 2020

10 hours ago, BIGDOGx said:

You cant Lemon law cheapness and sadly most of his complaints stem from that. Paint thickness and continued issues with brittle water based paints, trim discoloration, broken phone apps because they more than likely do not update it enough to keep up with phone software. I hate these sensors but at least my truck has been only a tempermental pain during snow or ice build up around the sensors. Clearly the system or wiring is causing some issues if the message flickers on and off. This is the problem with many dealers today, if the computer doesn't tell the tech what's wrong they are clueless at times.

And steelcity paint chips are not covered under a 3/36 warranty, if you do not clear bra the front when you first buy it then your likely to not take long to get some chips if you drive on the highway. I have seen some all terrain trucks that literally look like some shot it with buckshot shells. The paint they use is not only applied too thin but what is applied is brittle crap imo.

I'm guessing it has to be the wiring or that computer too. Its the only thing that makes sense to me. I'm also wondering if the Towing App is controlled by that same computer. It may be more of an indicator that it's bad or has a wiring problem.

ChrisCXK · September 16, 2020

39 minutes ago, RE1 said:

Seems par for the course for GM since at least 2014. Loaded with a bunch of “tech” which is largely just gimmicky poorly executed BS. Built as cheaply as possible. My 2014 has been the same. Issue after issue. Won’t rebuy GM at this point.

That's highly disappointing. My Tundra was great but buying a 2020 Tundra was hardly much different than the 2011 I bought before it. I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed that the GMC will at least have a reliable engine/transmission and may go back to Toyota if they ever redesign the Tundra (assuming I like it). My wife got a 2020 Chevy Blazer RS, so far it's been great but now I'm a little worried lol. She does have a chip in the paint already though.

ChrisCXK · September 16, 2020

Thanks for the replies. My dealer did reply and has me bringing it in soon and seems pretty confident they can get it fixed. I'd really like them to take a good look at the wiring for the sensors and consider replacing the computer that controls them, especially if that computer controls the towing app. I was out working today and towing all day, the app reset the info at least 3 times. Once the weather got to 88 degrees, the front sensors started going to haywire. I then picked up my double jet ski trailer, it still had 132 miles logged on it, the Average MPG field was reading 1.2mpg. I decided to monitor it after starting the truck each time and sure enough, it reset the info. It's a weird one. Again, its really not affecting the truck's ability to drive but when this feature doesn't work at all, it makes me worry there are underlying issues.

Edited September 16, 2020 by ChrisCXK

Colossus · September 16, 2020

5 hours ago, RE1 said:

Seems par for the course for GM since at least 2014. Loaded with a bunch of “tech” which is largely just gimmicky poorly executed BS. Built as cheaply as possible. My 2014 has been the same. Issue after issue. Won’t rebuy GM at this point.

Got news for ya, it aint just a GM thing. ALL the other manufacturers are having issues trying to one up each other or keep up with each other when it comes to tech. They all have shitty ratings when it comes to computer controlled stuff.

RE1 · September 16, 2020

8 hours ago, Colossus said:

Got news for ya, it aint just a GM thing. ALL the other manufacturers are having issues trying to one up each other or keep up with each other when it comes to tech. They all have shitty ratings when it comes to computer controlled stuff.

I agree. Cross shopping all the brands and not liking what I’m seeing. A lot of issues with Ford and Ram.

My 2014 is at 119k and literally just waiting for the next issue so it’s gonna go soon. I don’t trust it any more. Now looking at 2020/2021 Tundra seriously. I want something simple and reliable.

1997SierraSLT · September 16, 2020

2 hours ago, RE1 said:

I agree. Cross shopping all the brands and not liking what I’m seeing. A lot of issues with Ford and Ram.

My 2014 is at 119k and literally just waiting for the next issue so it’s gonna go soon. I don’t trust it any more. Now looking at 2020/2021 Tundra seriously. I want something simple and reliable.

Just another great reason to go with the Tundra. Well established and reliable platform. Oh.....and all the computer controlled stuff actually functions as intended.