New Truck Blues

Byrds8 · November 18, 2021

The 2021 Sierra was the first new car I have ever purchased for myself. Granted I understand that even new things can be fault, hence warranties. However, I really didn't think I would have as many issues as I do. Some may be just me and the truck is like that but others I would think aren't supposed to be. Below are the issues I am having. If they happen to be normal, please let me know. So may be.

1. The ride is bouncy as hell. Feels like a car with bad shocks. It does have the off road package and I know everyone says the Ranchos suck but are they really this bad over regular old shocks? The 2016 I traded in was great. If I had to stop hard the nose barely dipped if at all. This one will drop in a blink.

2. The bakes themselves are pretty spongy. There have been a few times I wondered if it was going to stop.

3. Drivers mirror wont tilt down with reverse tilt. I know this is a definite issue.

4. Glass has what looks to be permanent water spots over all glass.

5. Micro scratches over the entire truck. Didn't see these the day I purchased. It was overcast that day. Looks like they ran it through an auto wash.

6. Defect in hood paint. Looks like the clear is jacked in a 50 cent piece size.

7. Defect in paint under the hood. Looks like a sticker or something got painted over.

8. HD radio doesn't seem to work. If I push the button the sound just goes off. Supposedly there are numerous stations in my area but it doesn't tune to them.

9. Rattle in the rear. I think its coming from the window but could be the spoiler. Only happens once in a while.

10. Cluck sometimes when turning slowly like in a parking lot of into my drive way. Seems to be coming from the front but not 100%.

11. Ticking on cold start. After its warm I do not think I hear it but the noise it makes when first started isn't supposed to be there I am sure. The day I purchased he had started it up before we got out there so didn't hear it cold.

As you can see there are numerous items on my list for them to look at. Really kills the buying new experience for sure. It will be going into the shop on the 27th since that is when I can get a loaner. Supposedly they will take care of it all. I will say though, with this much crap it makes me wish I would have kept the 16 Silverado.

/rant off lol

voided3 · November 19, 2021

We didn't have any paint issues on our '21 Silverado, but I lot of those items sound similar to my experience with ours. We did have an incorrectly installed trim piece around the passenger side tow hook, though, and the bed was misaligned (both were fixed). Ours had the dreaded DFM lifter failure at 585 miles prior to the updated GM TSB guidance, so it took four dealer visits, four rental cars, two engine tear-downs, and 51 days to get it fixed, so at least you don't have that! We also had to replace the serpentine belt and idler pulley at 6300 miles because it started wearing and squeaking prematurely, most likely due to being removed a few times for the lifter repair(s) and it's a stretch-fit belt (the L84 5.3 doesn't have a belt tensioner... great design).

We have a non-Z71 4x4 Silverado with regular shocks and on rough surfaces the rear can get a little squirrely. It seems to have gotten a little better over 11,000 miles, or I've just gotten used to it, or the added weight of my Bakflip tonneau cover, rubber bed mat, and tool kit in the bed helps smooth it out.

The brake master cylinders on these trucks are electric-assist ZF units and definitely feel a little different. If I have to do a harder panic stop, sometimes ours makes a funny groaning sound, and the pedal travel to get a firmer brake engagement is a bit far. Apparently the parking brake also uses the service brake calipers instead of a separate drum unit inside the brake disc, so sometimes after disengaging that you'll get an intermittent rubbing sound for the first 80 feet of rolling or so. As far as I can tell from my searches, this is normal, too.

The clunk is probably the rear leaf springs or the jack under the back seat. Ours did it a few times earlier on, but I haven't heard it recently. If you search about that rear leaf spring noise, there is a rubber insert you can buy to stick between the leaf packs that is supposed to help. I didn't touch the leafs on ours, but I did remove the jack and noticed it was contacting the floor on one corner so I stuck a few round furniture felts on the floor where the jack contacts it. I think that may have been our clunk as I haven't noticed it since.

The ticking is normal, as well, as our trucks use an extremely high pressure GDI (gasoline direct injection) setup that's common on a lot of vehicles now for better fuel efficiency. My understanding is the ticking is just the injectors firing. Our other GDI vehicles do this, too.

Honestly, these trucks seem to make a lot of random ticks/clunks/squeaks/rattles and after almost a year of ownership, I've just learned to live with it. It's not great to have a bunch of random NVH on a new vehicle, but I can't keep stressing over every single sound this thing makes. I've been paranoid since my experience with the lifter failure, but I have made peace with the fact that this vehicle is essentially designed to last no longer than the 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty and I plan to trade it in right before that runs out.

Kilgore Trout · November 19, 2021

I have a new AT4 (with Rancho shocks), I have none of the issues your identified. I think you need to go back to the dealer and hold their feet to the fire. I have washed my truck in the car wash twice, no micro scratches.

On the Rancho shocks, I don't think they are junk. I do think there are much higher grade shocks available and I will likely upgrade down the road (we spend a lot of time on 4X tracks), but my ride isn't bouncy. Frankly, my truck rides as smoothly as my Yukon with Autoride on the highway and is far better off-road (although I know it will be even better with a shock upgrade).

Good luck, you shouldn't be dealing with what you are dealing.

Edited November 19, 2021 by Kilgore Trout

Byrds8 · November 19, 2021

Thanks for the replies. I have an appointment on 27 Nov since I will need a loaner. I have called and added to the list of things they need to fix as I have found them. Soon I will call and add to the list the headliner than seems to move while the window is down and squeaks. There is a lot of things in this world I am willing to live with/accept but spending $57K on a truck and having all these issues isnt one of them. They will either fix this or purchase this vehicle back. By fix I mean all of it to include the paint. I have written and called CEOs and board of directors when things didnt go right. I wont hesitate to go up GMC/GM as needed to get these things taken care of.

The ticking is only coming from one side and seems to quieten down once at op temp. I would assume its not the injectors. I know its not the fuel pump. It sure does make me wish I just kept the 16 instead of treating myself. Seems I treated myself to drama that I am not built for more than anything at this point.

Sorry to hear you had lifter issues too. That completely blows. Hopefully Ill never have that issues since it did not come with DFM.

luke1333 · November 20, 2021

On 11/18/2021 at 5:45 PM, Byrds8 said:

The 2021 Sierra was the first new car I have ever purchased for myself. Granted I understand that even new things can be fault, hence warranties. However, I really didn't think I would have as many issues as I do. Some may be just me and the truck is like that but others I would think aren't supposed to be. Below are the issues I am having. If they happen to be normal, please let me know. So may be.

1. The ride is bouncy as hell. Feels like a car with bad shocks. It does have the off road package and I know everyone says the Ranchos suck but are they really this bad over regular old shocks? The 2016 I traded in was great. If I had to stop hard the nose barely dipped if at all. This one will drop in a blink.

Agreed common complaint, buy Bilsteins and move on

2. The bakes themselves are pretty spongy. There have been a few times I wondered if it was going to stop.

Have not heard of this and have not experienced this

3. Drivers mirror wont tilt down with reverse tilt. I know this is a definite issue.

Take back to dealer, will be warranty

4. Glass has what looks to be permanent water spots over all glass.

Also should be warranty but you can fix yourself if you don't want dealer to mess with

5. Micro scratches over the entire truck. Didn't see these the day I purchased. It was overcast that day. Looks like they ran it through an auto wash.

Probably ran through car wash or hand washed poorly. Also could have been in a field for a few months with dust and dirt beating it

6. Defect in hood paint. Looks like the clear is jacked in a 50 cent piece size.

Also warranty

7. Defect in paint under the hood. Looks like a sticker or something got painted over.

Warranty again

8. HD radio doesn't seem to work. If I push the button the sound just goes off. Supposedly there are numerous stations in my area but it doesn't tune to them.

HD radio was removed right? or warranty if it has the HD Radio RPO code

9. Rattle in the rear. I think its coming from the window but could be the spoiler. Only happens once in a while.

Few bulletins on this, also warranty

10. Cluck sometimes when turning slowly like in a parking lot of into my drive way. Seems to be coming from the front but not 100%.

Make sure wheels are torqued heard of this before after rotate

11. Ticking on cold start. After its warm I do not think I hear it but the noise it makes when first started isn't supposed to be there I am sure. The day I purchased he had started it up before we got out there so didn't hear it cold.

Lifters or direct inj probably

As you can see there are numerous items on my list for them to look at. Really kills the buying new experience for sure. It will be going into the shop on the 27th since that is when I can get a loaner. Supposedly they will take care of it all. I will say though, with this much crap it makes me wish I would have kept the 16 Silverado.

/rant off lol

Lots of warranty stuff in here and bet truck was built on a Monday or Friday and rushed would be my guess. Hope your dealer takes care of you!

Byrds8 · November 20, 2021

Me and you both. We can add squeaking headliner to it now also. Right at the hanger in the rear behind the driver seat. When my window is down it makes it move and squeak. Its driving me nuts.

Byrds8 · November 20, 2021

I think the rattling I hear in the rear is the headliner also. I was back there this morning and you can push on it and here tapping on the roof of the truck. I saw another post where a guy said it has hard, dense styrofoam blocks up there. So that should be an easy fix for them to get it to stop rattling and squeaking. Definitely going to take vid and images before I take it up next Saturday. Looks like they will have to take a lot of things apart just to fix stuff.

Byrds8 · November 21, 2021

I believe I have fixed the spots on the glass. Spent a while and clayed the front and rear. Ill know more in the morning when I head to work and its dark out. On coming cars make it show more.

RadBrad · November 21, 2021

Can relate to most of these same issues...

1. The ride is very bouncy, especially compared to my 2018. If your traveling around a corner, hit a bump, you can definitely feel the truck shift and bounce. Could be the cheap shocks, I think I read that someone upgraded shocks and it made a lot of difference?

2. The brakes are for sure different with the electric booster, as mentioned in the previous post. They click and make some odd noises too from time to time after you shut the truck off.

3. The paint is a lot more thin than years past 14-18, it scratches very easily. I've got two nice ones from the tailgate, accidently lowering it with the hitch receiver on.. The surrounds around the fog lights chip and peel too over time. Also the paint on the lower door/sill area will wear out from getting in and out of the truck...shoes, boots, sand etc.

4. The bracket on the passenger door is white, when the rest of the truck is black, an ooopss at the factory.

5. These engines make a lot of noises, yea the lifter and valve spring thing doesn't help ease your mind at all lol

6. The rear power windows leak, and I'm not sure if there has been a design change yet...or if there even can be one?

7. SD card reader issues randomly, it might have something to do with plugging in phones etc.

8. I think the back seat rattle could be the headrest in back.

9. The chrome on the HVAC switches looks and feels so cheap, the older ones were rubber and just had a higher quality look and feel.

Like above poster said, just a lot of noises, creaks, rattles....not sure if it should be acceptable but it is what it is I guess...they seem to be made lighter and thus feel cheaper IMO.

Byrds8 · November 22, 2021

Yeah, they keep making things cheaper but charging us more. Im pretty OCD when washing so I can keep the paint looking nice without all the scratches. They just have to make it right first. I use the two bucket method. My wifes Jeep Renegade has 0 scratches so far. I have noticed a lot of the interior feels cheap especially around the dash. Things just arent built like they used to be. Except engines, they are built better lol.

Z45 · November 22, 2021

Micro scratches in the paint are inevitable and the darker the color, the more pronounced it will be. I own a black truck and I yet to see one that did not show scratches. Its impossible to touch the paint washing it and not do this. If you think your dark colored paint is not, look at it from different angles and in different sunlight. I have even seen it on white paint.

Byrds8 · November 22, 2021

I do understand the darker the color the easier to show micro scratches. However, even with the cheap paint we have these days, I do know I have had other vehicles that were dark in color that had no swirls and such. Had a red 2013 Camaro SS prior to going with a truck. Had it paint corrected after I purchased and and zero scratches when I sold it a year and a half later. Either way, Its a huge difference between me doing it and it coming that way.

Kilgore Trout · November 22, 2021

If you are experiencing swirl marks and fine micro scratches, you can also take them out pretty easily. 3M makes a line of fine polishing compounds and when combined with an inexpensive Porter Cable random orbital polisher will make short work of these fine scratches. Using Finesse-it II and/or Swirl Mark Remover for dark colors and a 3M foam pad will take care of your swirl marks and light scratches.

Z45 · November 22, 2021

3 hours ago, Byrds8 said:

I do understand the darker the color the easier to show micro scratches. However, even with the cheap paint we have these days, I do know I have had other vehicles that were dark in color that had no swirls and such. Had a red 2013 Camaro SS prior to going with a truck. Had it paint corrected after I purchased and and zero scratches when I sold it a year and a half later. Either way, Its a huge difference between me doing it and it coming that way.

Somewhere along the way the dealer washed it.

Byrds8 · November 22, 2021

1 hour ago, elcamino said:

Somewhere along the way the dealer washed it.

Yeah I know. Shows me that they should take greater care of the product they are selling. Get some OCD ass like me walk in and make them fix it all lol.