2007 Silverado Gripes

cashtown · March 20, 2007

Well, I have to say that I joined this site for answers and not to gripe, but here it goes in any case.

I got an '07 Silverado in the middle of January and I loved it.

black crew cab, LT Texas edition with tan leather, 20" wheels, 5.3 LTR

For the first few days I was really happy with the truck, but after a week or so, some things started getting to me.

The only really serious gripe I have is with the tranny. Pretty regularly when I shift into reverse the tranny will make three or four very audible clicks (sounds like a starter clicking due to loss of electrical power, but this obviously isn't it) then when I shift into drive it will click a couple more times and then subsequently pulling away from the stop it will click some more. This problem manifests itself for the worse when cornering. When I slow to take a corner, and then start to acclerate mid corner, the truck will bog down and make a similar clicking noise. It won't accelerate hard until it kicks up into the passing gear. This problem is very annoying and seems to indicate a goodly problem on a truck with 700 miles on it. Sometimes the truck will click rapidly before starting, then if you try again it will start right up. <-- Same tranny noise.

Minor problems are with fit and finish.

The rear seat belt brackets (inside the column) rattle like hell when going over slight bumps. The glove compartment door has a pretty good rattle-buzz most of the time.

There is TERRIBLE wind noise at any speed over 60 MPH that seems to be the result of poor fitment of the driver's side door.

The driver's side window almost sounds like it's grinding slightly when it is lowered and raised.

The truck did not come with a license plate bracket mounted up front. (The bracket was under the back seat) When I called the service department, they said that it would "snap right onto the bumper." I was like "yeah right" and sure enough it will require holes to be drilled.

The "premium" Bose speakers, turned up to full volume, are the quietest of any vehicle that I have ever driven. Now, I'm not saying that I drive around with the stereo blaring, but you would figure that with the top of the line speakers, you'd be able to hear the music with the windows down at 50 MPH. No sir, not even at full volume.

The chrome SILVERADO lettering on the tailgate was tarnished after the first wash. I used a car-wash specific, soft sponge and car-wash specific soap, and afterward the lettering looked like someone had rubbed it with fine-grit sandpaper.

I really love this truck, and having driven Dodges and Fords, I can't see any reason to want to drive either. These issues seem minor, until I remind myself how much I paid for the truck and that it is brand new. I bought new hoping to avoid these problems (my first BRAND NEW vehicle). It sure is a pretty truck, and with an intake and chip, maybe I can get the throttle response out of it I want.

Maybe the dealer will have a quick-cure for the tranny problem, but I know I'm SOL on all of the little stuff - sound dampening, stereo upgrade etc, are things I shouldn't have to worry about on a new truck, right?

BCNU · March 20, 2007

Well, I have to say that I joined this site for answers and not to gripe, but here it goes in any case.

I got an '07 Silverado in the middle of January and I loved it.

black crew cab, LT Texas edition with tan leather, 20" wheels, 5.3 LTR

For the first few days I was really happy with the truck, but after a week or so, some things started getting to me.

The only really serious gripe I have is with the tranny. Pretty regularly when I shift into reverse the tranny will make three or four very audible clicks (sounds like a starter clicking due to loss of electrical power, but this obviously isn't it) then when I shift into drive it will click a couple more times and then subsequently pulling away from the stop it will click some more. This problem manifests itself for the worse when cornering. When I slow to take a corner, and then start to acclerate mid corner, the truck will bog down and make a similar clicking noise. It won't accelerate hard until it kicks up into the passing gear. This problem is very annoying and seems to indicate a goodly problem on a truck with 700 miles on it. Sometimes the truck will click rapidly before starting, then if you try again it will start right up. <-- Same tranny noise.

Minor problems are with fit and finish.

The rear seat belt brackets (inside the column) rattle like hell when going over slight bumps. The glove compartment door has a pretty good rattle-buzz most of the time.

There is TERRIBLE wind noise at any speed over 60 MPH that seems to be the result of poor fitment of the driver's side door.

The driver's side window almost sounds like it's grinding slightly when it is lowered and raised.

The truck did not come with a license plate bracket mounted up front. (The bracket was under the back seat) When I called the service department, they said that it would "snap right onto the bumper." I was like "yeah right" and sure enough it will require holes to be drilled.

The "premium" Bose speakers, turned up to full volume, are the quietest of any vehicle that I have ever driven. Now, I'm not saying that I drive around with the stereo blaring, but you would figure that with the top of the line speakers, you'd be able to hear the music with the windows down at 50 MPH. No sir, not even at full volume.

The chrome SILVERADO lettering on the tailgate was tarnished after the first wash. I used a car-wash specific, soft sponge and car-wash specific soap, and afterward the lettering looked like someone had rubbed it with fine-grit sandpaper.

I really love this truck, and having driven Dodges and Fords, I can't see any reason to want to drive either. These issues seem minor, until I remind myself how much I paid for the truck and that it is brand new. I bought new hoping to avoid these problems (my first BRAND NEW vehicle). It sure is a pretty truck, and with an intake and chip, maybe I can get the throttle response out of it I want.

Maybe the dealer will have a quick-cure for the tranny problem, but I know I'm SOL on all of the little stuff - sound dampening, stereo upgrade etc, are things I shouldn't have to worry about on a new truck, right?

Everything you mentioned but the stereo loudness should be covered under warranty. I would make a list of everything you mentioned and take it back to the dealer and make them fix the problems. Good luck, hope everything works out for you.

cashtown · March 20, 2007

Yeah, you would think that the bumper to bumper warranty would cover it all (and technically it does) but most of these things are kind of sunjective - like wind noise and rattling. The tech only has to say, "I don't hear any wind noise."

Norseman · March 20, 2007

Yeah, you would think that the bumper to bumper warranty would cover it all (and technically it does) but most of these things are kind of sunjective - like wind noise and rattling. The tech only has to say, "I don't hear any wind noise."

Hey, before you start saying the tech will say this or that, take the thing in. No point in inventing issues!

svensk · March 20, 2007

Read your manual about your stereo system. My old 2000 has this auto volume thing that amplifies the volume when you drive on the freeway or something where it becomes noisy. You might have something like that (hopefully better) that works similarly.

The creaks, groans and moans are typical you need to drive it a while and let the body panels settle in. Try using some silicone spray on the window tracks, or tell the dealer about it and they might take a look at it.

hockeyfan39 · March 20, 2007

Definatly sounds like you should get a few things checked out and hopefully covered under warranty. As far as the stereo stock systems in trucks have never been great and not even close to full aftermarket system. However the difference between the lower end and higher end bose system was substantial. I test drove a a lower end gm and it was awesome truck but yeah wasn't impressed with the system (i have whole works in my 98), However after listening to the slt version i think i could defiantly live with the stock system its much better. Not sure about the lower end but the slt or ltz version has a little built in 10 inch sub which definatly helped imo. So yeah i dont know if you wanted the decent sterio pretty sure you have to go with the ltz or slt version.

327BlackBird · March 20, 2007

I diden't touch your truck, honest! lol Unless your really really like the paint on it then i will take full credit!!

07Sierra07 · March 20, 2007

Hey, before you start saying the tech will say this or that, take the thing in. No point in inventing issues!

I gotta agree on this one. Take it in and see what the dealer says before guessing what will and won't be covered. On my '04 they replaced headlights and fog light bulbs under warranty which I would'nt have thought would be covered. They also changed a fog light as it was a little foggy.

The stock stereo's in most GM cars/trucks are terrible. Always have been. In 03 I bought a new Grand Prix GT and paid a little extra for an upgraded stereo. It was the most disappointing upgrade ever as the wifes Grand AM SE had a better sound system and it wasn't 'upgraded'.....

About those rattling seat belts...... my salesman was out in my new truck this past w/end (I haven't picked it up yet) and he said their was a rattle coming from the back seat that he was going to look into... wonder if it's the same issue?

That tranny issue definately needs to be looked into.. that aint normal.....

The TEXAS edition you say? LOOKS Sweet... you americans are lucky... we don't have any 'package' trucks up here in Canada.... unless you get a Ford Harley edition etc...

70CopperZ28 · March 20, 2007

Cashtown, how smooth does your truck ride? I know with the 20's it has to ride a little firmmer than the 17's. I love the looks of the Tex Ed & wil probably get one this Summer.

HuntingEd · March 20, 2007

Just curious if its a the New Body style of or Classic?

cashtown · March 20, 2007

Cashtown, how smooth does your truck ride? I know with the 20's it has to ride a little firmmer than the 17's. I love the looks of the Tex Ed & wil probably get one this Summer.

Rides great. Suspension is firm but smooth. I don't get any body roll when cornering at speed. It's 2WD, but rides as high as my Ram 1500 4X4 did.

Hey, before you start saying the tech will say this or that, take the thing in. No point in inventing issues!

You're right. Maybe they'll fix it right up. But I have been to dealerships on warranty repairs before

Just curious if its a the New Body style of or Classic?

New body style.

GeoHawk · March 20, 2007

My truck (07 Crew Cab LTZ) has the same rattle on the rear, outboard seat belts as well. I haven't had a chance to get back there yet and see if the belts can lay a different way so they don't hit the C-pillar, but if I can't figure anything else out they can always be buckled up.

I also noticed that the Bose stereo system is pretty quiet too. The Bose system in my '03 gets much louder than my '07. Sound quality is still excellent, but the volume just isn't there. I'll have to check into that speed compensated volume thing and make sure that's not the culprit.

I've heard of a couple others that have complained about wind noise on the NBS '07s and had it corrected by some silicone treatments to the weather stripping.

GeoHawk · March 20, 2007

I diden't touch your truck, honest! lol Unless your really really like the paint on it then i will take full credit!!

The paint on my truck is just fine. Granted, it's not a $100K Mercedes, but I can't find any flaws in it.

redvett · March 20, 2007

I believe there is a fix already on the "A" pillar air noise. See your dealer.

Big Tool · March 20, 2007

I've noticed the rear passegar seat belt clunking around, I'm sure it was probably just twisted, the simplest thing to do is just buckle it in, no more clucky noise