Tailgate glass/hinge is loose

[TwinTip]

Has anyone had problems with their rear window/glass being loose on one or both of the hinges that hold it to the tailgate? This is for a year 2000 or earlier model.

 

I had a 2000 Yukon and approximately 2 1/2 years after I bought, it I had problems with both of the hinges that hold the glass to the tailgate becoming loose. One dealer told me I had broken it and another dealer accepted the fact that this was a defect and replaced the glass.

 

Now I have a 2003 Yukon and again, at approximately the same timeframe after I bought it, one of the hinges that holds the glass to the tailgate is completely loose.

 

I have less than 25k miles on it and park under a roof about 80% of the time. I don't think the sun is an issue. Both vehicles have been meticulously maintained. I also don't slam the doors or tailgate so it is definitely not because of abuse.

 

I have searched for service bulletins, recalls, etc. but have not found anything that relates to this particular subject. I am also preparing to go to the dealer and need as much information as possible. Any help will certainly be appreciated.

[99-2door]

Yeah I had a 2001 in the shop the other day. Both the top hinges had came off the rubber they are glued to.

There is almost no support the way they are glued. Suprised they don't all break within a few thousand miles.

If the hinges would have a little extra metal to spread the load on the glass they would be ok, but they don't so they suck.

[TwinTip]

Thanks. Do you know if this is something that dealers are aware of? I have been paying close attention to other trucks and noticed that I'm not the only one with this problem.

 

On one model, I noticed that I could slide my finger between the bottom part of the window and the tailgate. I also noticed that the upper part of the window was popping up at the top (both hinges popped up).

 

On the other model and since only one hinge is popping up, I can slide my finger only on one side of the bottom of the window. The glass is also popping up at the top.

 

You can clearly see a curve on the top rubber holding the window and where it meets the hinges (when the window is closed and you look at the top). I started noticing that the rubber was not straight and slowly but surely, a "ditch" started to form where the hinge is, lifting the window from the hinge.

 

Did you have any problems having the window replaced at your dealer?

[TwinTip]

Well, the window finally popped up completely out of the hinge. I took the truck to the first dealer I went a couple of years ago and they replaced the window. 3 years after the first incident, the same dealer recognized this is a problem as this time, no questions were asked and they did not blame me for it.

 

I am back to being a satisfied customer.

[woyster_00z71]

Mine did the same thing on my 2001 Tahoe. Dealer replaced it as part of a "customer satisfation campaign"...whatever that means. They claimed it wasn't supposed to happen so they replaced it.

 

Now I have the rear glass from a late 2005, new 2006 model. Complete redesign and appears to be much better.

[gwd120]

I have a 2005 envoy in the dealer for exactly the same problem. Truck is just out of warranty, any suggestions on an approach to have dealer cover costs.