2020 3.0L Sierra Duramax Vibration/Balance Problem

Jaketab · September 30, 2020

Hello,

On August 5, 2020 I purchased a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax. The truck now has 2500 miles. Except for the wheel or drivetrain balance problem, I am very satisfied with the vehicle. The fuel economy is exceptional with great power.

The Sierra has a vibration problem at highway speeds on the interstate highway. The problem is a continuing vibration at 60 – 75 mph. The vibration is felt mostly in the seats. The truck has the 22” Bridgestone Alenza Tires. (275/50/R22) The problem has not been remedied through four (4) trips to the dealer.

The vehicle tires and wheels have been (Road Force) balanced 3 times. One tire has been replaced and the balance/vibration continues. I suspect part of the problem may be 6 ounces or more of weight on 2 of the tires.

During the most recent service visit, the service tech preformed an EVA – Electronic Vibration Analysis and test drove the truck about 25 miles. Because the vibrations (graph analysis) were within GMC specs, no further warranty repairs can be made without the consent of the district service supervisor. I had the service manager ride with me and he agreed that there was indeed a vibration as I have claimed. In the order of good customer relationship, the service manager is currently seeking approval to have new tires installed on the vehicle. As of today I am waiting to hear back from the manager.

Please chime in if you have experienced this. My question to other 2019 – 2020 GMC Sierra owners is this a similar ongoing problem and what may be the solution? Could the problem be related to the drivetrain/driveshaft???

Thanks and regards

Jaketab

TweetybyrdRT · October 1, 2020

Before changing the tires ask them to try a set of tires and wheels from another truck, that will tell you right away if that is your problem or if it's an unbalanced driveshaft.

DemonWorks · October 2, 2020

The picoscope readings will give an excellent reading of where to look. If they have been sticking with the tires even after the readings on that road test - I would assume it's in the tires.

The driveshaft will give different readings. The tech is correct that if the readings are within GM specs, they can't replace anything, GM will deny the claim ... I like that the service manager is still trying to go further and get a repair.

The swap of the wheels is the right idea as mentioned, I'm assuming they have done that already but if not, that will tell you if it's tires or not ....

lrtexasman · October 4, 2020

I’d get smaller rims on it. Try 18s

ScX31 · October 7, 2020

I’m getting vibration with my new tires around 70 mph. Bfg ko2 285/65/20. 2 balances and still have it. Didn’t notice it before.

2019 gmc crew

CraneGuy · May 17, 2021

I recently purchased a 21 Denali and I am experiencing the same issues. Did you ever find a fix??

Thanks,

Mike

CraneGuy · May 26, 2021

On 9/30/2020 at 7:20 PM, Jaketab said:

Hello,

On August 5, 2020 I purchased a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax. The truck now has 2500 miles. Except for the wheel or drivetrain balance problem, I am very satisfied with the vehicle. The fuel economy is exceptional with great power.

The Sierra has a vibration problem at highway speeds on the interstate highway. The problem is a continuing vibration at 60 – 75 mph. The vibration is felt mostly in the seats. The truck has the 22” Bridgestone Alenza Tires. (275/50/R22) The problem has not been remedied through four (4) trips to the dealer.

The vehicle tires and wheels have been (Road Force) balanced 3 times. One tire has been replaced and the balance/vibration continues. I suspect part of the problem may be 6 ounces or more of weight on 2 of the tires.

During the most recent service visit, the service tech preformed an EVA – Electronic Vibration Analysis and test drove the truck about 25 miles. Because the vibrations (graph analysis) were within GMC specs, no further warranty repairs can be made without the consent of the district service supervisor. I had the service manager ride with me and he agreed that there was indeed a vibration as I have claimed. In the order of good customer relationship, the service manager is currently seeking approval to have new tires installed on the vehicle. As of today I am waiting to hear back from the manager.

Please chime in if you have experienced this. My question to other 2019 – 2020 GMC Sierra owners is this a similar ongoing problem and what may be the solution? Could the problem be related to the drivetrain/driveshaft???

Thanks and regards

Jaketab

Jaketab- did you find a fix for this?

Edited May 26, 2021 by CraneGuy

CraneGuy · May 26, 2021

On 9/30/2020 at 7:20 PM, Jaketab said:

Hello,

On August 5, 2020 I purchased a 2020 GMC Sierra Denali 3.0 Duramax. The truck now has 2500 miles. Except for the wheel or drivetrain balance problem, I am very satisfied with the vehicle. The fuel economy is exceptional with great power.

The Sierra has a vibration problem at highway speeds on the interstate highway. The problem is a continuing vibration at 60 – 75 mph. The vibration is felt mostly in the seats. The truck has the 22” Bridgestone Alenza Tires. (275/50/R22) The problem has not been remedied through four (4) trips to the dealer.

The vehicle tires and wheels have been (Road Force) balanced 3 times. One tire has been replaced and the balance/vibration continues. I suspect part of the problem may be 6 ounces or more of weight on 2 of the tires.

During the most recent service visit, the service tech preformed an EVA – Electronic Vibration Analysis and test drove the truck about 25 miles. Because the vibrations (graph analysis) were within GMC specs, no further warranty repairs can be made without the consent of the district service supervisor. I had the service manager ride with me and he agreed that there was indeed a vibration as I have claimed. In the order of good customer relationship, the service manager is currently seeking approval to have new tires installed on the vehicle. As of today I am waiting to hear back from the manager.

Please chime in if you have experienced this. My question to other 2019 – 2020 GMC Sierra owners is this a similar ongoing problem and what may be the solution? Could the problem be related to the drivetrain/driveshaft???

Thanks and regards

Jaketab

Jaketab- did you find a fix for this?

Jaketab · June 21, 2021

CraneGuy - for the most part no. After several trips to service I just don't have the time to keep going back. The dealer continues to say everything is good. I hope someone else can prove this and suggest the remedy.

ColoradoCub · June 21, 2021

9.9 out of 10 times when there is a shimmy or vibration at certain highway speed ranges it is the tires…period. Unless all 4 tires were swapped and then retested it’s a waste of time. Sometimes tires just have stuff wrong with them and they can be balanced 100 times it doesn’t make a difference. I have gone through this problem before and then had the tires replaced and drove off a happy man.

black00ta · June 27, 2021

I also have a 2021 Denali 1500 3.0 with the Alenza 275/50R22 - I find them to be very smooth tires, but just like all things - there can be calibration errors that lead to minor irregularities in manufacturing, i.e vibrations.

There needs to be some verifiable results here, otherwise this is all speculation. If you are not taking the wheel and tire assemblies off of the vehicle, swapping to a known-good set. Then having the person who is not satisfied with the vibration level drive the car and say "ok it is fixed" Then this scenario will never end.