2003 Suburban DEFECT - rear glass hinge

[rxlrider]

I have a 2003 Suburban with 60k miles. About 2 months ago, the rear window began making a whistling noise while driving. When I inspected it I found that the hinge was separating from the window. I have tried to go through GM with no avail. Their answer is "it shouldn't have happened", but they are not going to do anything about it.

 

This truck is the 2500 with the 8.1 engine, designed for towing. I regularly tow a 30ft travel trailer, and a 24 ft car hauler. I have been told that when towing a large trailer, there is a vacuum created that could be pulling the window back.

 

Has anyone else had this type of problem, and was it resolved?

 

[email protected]

 

Thanks,

 

Brad

[Bish]

I have a 2003 Suburban with 60k miles.  About 2 months ago, the rear window began making a whistling noise while driving.  When I inspected it I found that the hinge was separating from the window.  I have tried to go through GM with no avail.  Their answer is "it shouldn't have happened", but they are not going to do anything about it.

 

This truck is the 2500 with the 8.1 engine, designed for towing.  I regularly tow a 30ft travel trailer, and a 24 ft car hauler.  I have been told that when towing a large trailer, there is a vacuum created that could be pulling the window back.

 

Has anyone else had this type of problem, and was it resolved?

 

[email protected]

 

Thanks,

 

Brad

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I have not had the issue on my Tahoe but I have heard of others that have the same problem. Some were able to convince the dealer to fix it, others have been told they will have to pay. There may be a TSB on it out there but no recall that I am aware of. Good Luck

 

BTW-I agree with the comment about a possible vacuum with a large trailer.

[rxlrider]

I have not had the issue on my Tahoe but I have heard of others that have the same problem. Some were able to convince the dealer to fix it, others have been told they will have to pay. There may be a TSB on it out there but no recall that I am aware of. Good Luck

 

BTW-I agree with the comment about a possible vacuum with a large trailer.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

I just got a call from GM stating that the case has been closed. I questioned why, and was told that there had to be something stuck between the glass or hatch or that "the wind had caused the hinge to seperate from the glass". I am questioning even replacing the glass if the "wind" could do this again.

 

 

Brad

[juliedean]

The same thing happened on our 2003 Suburban (half-ton model, 5.3L, engine code T).

 

I actually noticed the hinge pulling away from the glass, as it was deforming the rubber seal running along the edge of the window. Then the hinge just popped off while driving on the highway.

 

 

Fortunately, it happened at around 31,000 miles and within the first 36 months, so the original warranty covered it. The dealer promptly replaced it, no questions asked.

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. I seriously doubt the "vacuum created behind the glass while towing" as the single cause. If the glass can be pulled off the hinge by whatever force is created by any such vacuum (keep in mind we are not driving a Lear at 300 knots), it must be because the glue GM used was crappy.

 

 

If it's all out of pocket for you, you might look into what kinds of industrial glue you can get and see if you can glue the hinge back onto the glass. It might certainly be worth a shot before you pay a couple of hundred bucks for a replacement window.

[juliedean]

Found this other thread.

 

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...7&hl=rear+glass

 

It looks like others have had this problem. It must be a poor quality glue issue (besides the questionable design).

[Ted_Grevers]

Did it appear after a hot day? We had a 100+ degree day in boston the day before ours separated. $631.00 from the parts counter. I opened a case with GM, and they said sorry, no deal. I was pissed. Check your glass coverage, because it might be covered if your lawn mower accidentally spits a rock at your 'urban and breaks the glass.

 

I ended up purchasing a new window from the parts dept. Because the glass wasn't broken, my insurance company said it's not covered under my glass coverage, and I'd have to make a body damage claim, and pay me deductable,, (and pay higher rates..) "The glass is covered, the hinge is part of the body".

 

-t

[rxlrider]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to keep pushing GM on this one. I just JB welded the hinge back tot he glass last night. Hopefully that will work for a while.

 

Brad

[Bish]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to keep pushing GM on this one.  I just JB welded the hinge back tot he glass last night.  Hopefully that will work for a while.

 

Brad

 

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I've always been amazed at what JB Weld can do. It seems to work better with rigid surfaced so it may hold for a while. I wouldn't think it would last forever but if it works, it is a lot cheaper

[rxlrider]

Update -

 

The Area Service Manager Mr. Talmadge Mason (Phone number 800-823-0055 X 8140) called me finally. He is saying that he denied the claim due to the vehicles mileage (60K miles) and due to the fact that I am the second owner, even though I bought it from a Chevy dealer and it was a GM certified Vehicle.

 

GM's customer assistance hotline has told me that he denied the claim due to the fact that something had been lodged in between the glass and hatch, or that "wind" had caught the window and broke the hatch.

 

While I was speaking with him he "said" that he had only seen the hinge separate from the glass 3 previous times, which I found pretty strange since he is the Area Service Manager. He stated that one of the hinges had some material lodged in it, and the other had been caught by the wind. I asked how wind had caught the window and caused the hinge to hyperextend and break since the gas shocks would stop the window from blowing up. Quick as he was, he replied that the customer told him that he removed the gas shocks and then a gust of wind blew the glass up and broke the hinge. I asked if any of these 3 hinges were covered under warranty (he already told me all 3 were within the warranty period), he said that all 3 went through their insurance agencies. When I asked him why he was involved with this problem if it was an insurance claim, he told me that they all "tried" to have their warranty cover it, and he denied all 3. He said that he physically inspected all of them and personally determined that the customer was responsible. When I asked him if he inspected my vehicle, he told me that the service manager at my dealership had inspected it and relayed the information to him. He made the determination that I caused the damage without inspecting the vehicle!

 

When I asked him about all the other vehicles that have been repaired under warranty or under a "customer satisfaction" initiative, he told me that he was unaware of any other vehicles having this problem. I told him that I spoke with a tech (GM Tech) and he said that his dealership does about 2 of these per month. He again replied that he was unaware of any defect in the hinge/adhesive/glass, and that there were no service bulletins on it.

 

I had told him that I did not believe him, and that it was a little too convenient that he only has seen this 3 times, and all 3 were the customers fault. When I asked for the name of his immediate supervisor, he refused to give me the information. I asked him if he was concerned about me filing a complaint, and his only response was to refer me to the Customer Service Hotline.

 

Anyone have any advice on where to take this? Small claims court?

 

Brad

[Ted_Grevers]

I filed a complaint with the BBB, I also contacted the NHSTA (I RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN FILE A VEHICLE SAFETY REPORT). If enough people file complaints with the NHSTA, they will finally contact GM to determine if this is a major problem.

 

-t

[rxlrider]

I filed a complaint with the BBB, I also contacted the NHSTA (I RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN FILE A VEHICLE SAFETY REPORT). If enough people file complaints with the NHSTA, they will finally contact GM to determine if this is a major problem.

 

-t

 

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I am in the process of doing just that. I already have contacted NHSTA. I also think that the insurance agencies should investigate this as well. With insurance rates rising as they are, why should they be responsible when GM is the guilty party.

 

Brad

[juliedean]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to keep pushing GM on this one.  I just JB welded the hinge back tot he glass last night.  Hopefully that will work for a while.

 

Brad

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I've always been amazed at what JB Weld can do. It seems to work better with rigid surfaced so it may hold for a while. I wouldn't think it would last forever but if it works, it is a lot cheaper

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I dropped by a friend's garage. He happened to have a Ford Explorer in his shop, so I took the opportunity to check out how Ford designed the fold-up glass in the tailgate.

 

On that truck the hinge was on the outside of the glass, and it was bolted onto the glass. This definitely is not as sleek as the GM design, but certainly more durable. I saw the same exterior hinge on the rear glass of a Ford Expedition on the road. Presumably, it is the same design.

 

So, in addition to the J-B Weld, our friend could take the whole glass off the truck. Then have a glass shop drill two holes in the window and through the hinge. Thus, the glue could be re-enforced with a bolt.

 

Of course, the tricky part is finding the right kind of bolts -- for appearances mainly.

[rxlrider]

That would be the best way to fix it, if they could drill the tempered glass, and isolate the hole as not to cause undue stress on that one area. My 87 Jimmy actually had the same design, and it never failed.

 

Brad

 

 

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to keep pushing GM on this one.  I just JB welded the hinge back tot he glass last night.  Hopefully that will work for a while.

 

Brad

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I've always been amazed at what JB Weld can do. It seems to work better with rigid surfaced so it may hold for a while. I wouldn't think it would last forever but if it works, it is a lot cheaper

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I dropped by a friend's garage. He happened to have a Ford Explorer in his shop, so I took the opportunity to check out how Ford designed the fold-up glass in the tailgate.

 

On that truck the hinge was on the outside of the glass, and it was bolted onto the glass. This definitely is not as sleek as the GM design, but certainly more durable. I saw the same exterior hinge on the rear glass of a Ford Expedition on the road. Presumably, it is the same design.

 

So, in addition to the J-B Weld, our friend could take the whole glass off the truck. Then have a glass shop drill two holes in the window and through the hinge. Thus, the glue could be re-enforced with a bolt.

 

Of course, the tricky part is finding the right kind of bolts -- for appearances mainly.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

[juliedean]

I've just taken a picture of the hinge area but seem to have a difficulty with pasting the picture into this post, so I'll email it to you.

 

If memory serves me right (as our glass was replaced about 18 months ago, and we didn't take a picture of the old broken window then), the hinge attachment area seems beefed up with the rubber strap re-enforcing the hinge being bigger.

 

Anyway, check you email and compare the replacement glass with the original. This might help establishing if the original hinge attachment was under-designed. Also, see if you can collect some info about at which plant the Suburbans with the troubled glass were assembled.

[rxlrider]

I've just taken a picture of the hinge area but seem to have a difficulty with pasting the picture into this post, so I'll email it to you.

 

If memory serves me right (as our glass was replaced about 18 months ago, and we didn't take a picture of the old broken window then), the hinge attachment area seems beefed up with the rubber strap re-enforcing the hinge being bigger.

 

Anyway, check you email and compare the replacement glass with the original.  This might help establishing if the original hinge attachment was under-designed.  Also, see if you can collect some info about at which plant the Suburbans with the troubled glass were assembled.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Here is a picture of mine. I got your e-mail and will take a look.

 

 

To post a picture, it already has to be in the internet. You neeed a "http:/" link to it. I have them on another forum that allows you to upload pictures to it.

 

Brad