Is Chevy quality slipping...

[juma33]

Just went over to www.carreview.com and looked at about 500 owner reviews of the chevy/gmc pickups. sure doesn't sound good. There was much complaining about transmissions going out at the end of the warranty, piston slap, clunks in the front end, abs failures, and u-joint/rear end bearing failures. Also, no one was happy with the dealer and service. I like the chevy and I think they are way ahead on keeping weight down, power up, and price low....but hey, this is pretty disturbing that you will have to get a lot of stuff fixed often. I guess you could buy the 100k warranty, but still, I think I want better. Don't know what to do except no to ford. Maybe that new nissan titan is an option after all.

Any thoughts out there? Is the problem rate really not that bad?

The cost is really attractive - think I can get one for $2600 off invoice and no processing fee till 3/31.

juma

[NUCLEUS.ONE]

500 complaints out of how many thousands sold each year? Any car ,new or old, will have problems, period. If not, auto makers would not offer warranties, dealerships would not need techs, repair shops would not exsist, and dealerships would not make a killing off of parts. Some things will wear out eventually. Did these owners maintain their trucks properly?
This is the 1st production year for the titan and it will most definitely have problems of its own (besides being ugly!). When the redesigned Silverados came out on 98-99, alot of owners had bugs, as well.
Think about it. I've driven lots of trucks, and they all have they're strong points, but I've opted to own a Chevy.

[red00lght]

While I'm enjoying my Silverado, it sure has a TON of squeaks and rattles in it for a truck with less than 50k miles. I suppose that can't be helped with all the plastic being used for the dash and door panels, but it doesn't give you that warm, fuzzy feeling about quality. That's ok though, I just crank up the radio a little higher and the squeaks go away!!

[Manic_Mechanic]

I have a 98 ext cab Silverado with the 5.7 (350) and the only problem I have had with it is that I had to replace the alternator and recently My transmission went out almost completely which will require a complete rebuild, but when I bought it it already had 86,000 miles on it and it now has 132,000 on it with no squeaks or rattles. I am not let down by this at all because I know I bought it used with plenty of miles on it already and dont know who owned it before me or how they took care of it. I can tell you this though. I do know personally people who have owned Silverados and one of them has over 340,000 miles and it still runs great. Also it has never been rebuilt just maintianed well. All he can say is that he wants to see how far it will go. That says quality to me. I say this to any Ford Dodge Toyota or Nissan people out there. Find me any Fords Dodges or even Toyotas or Nissans with over 340,000 miles without a rebuild on a gas powered motor that still runs great. I have owned a lot ofget me by cars before I could afford a half way decent ride and after owning a lot of well used Nissans/Datsans, Toyotas, Fords, Dodges, just to name a few. I have learned that with my experience with cars Chevy or GM in gerneral has for me been the best cars for any price range.

[red00lght]

As far as squeaks and rattles go....

I was getting a ton of them in my passenger door....especially when driving down the highway. I took off the door panel and found that EVERY SINGLE BOLT was loose. I guess they just vibrated loose over time. (I'm talking about the bolts to the inner door frame, not the screws that hold the door panel on). Once tightened, my 99 was once again nice and quiet in the cab!

[slacker_53]

The '99 - up Silverados and GMCs have their share of quirky little problems, but nothing all that serious. They're still my choice.

Me as a used car dealer, have owned over 100 '99 classic and back Chevy-GMCs, and I do think they are a better truck than the 'new' body style as far as being tight and problem/rattle free. Right now, I have a '96 Chevy Extended Cab 4X4, and two 2000 GMCs and one '99 Chevy shortbed 4X4, and when you get into the '96, it just 'feels'like a solider truck than the newer ones. Maybe it's just my imagination.

It seems the new trucks always have this or that, that needs attention. You rarely ever had to do anything to the older trucks.

I love the new trucks, but it still feels like there is something missing.

-slacker

[MrEleven]

There was a time when Chevy and GMC was the place to be with trucks.... But when it comes right down to it Ford has a great truck right now. I am Chevy all the way and stand firm in my beliefs, but the stats show Ford has us all beat. Then again when dodge remade thier truck everyone I knew rubber-necked those. Maybe all of those 500 people had other types of vehicles before,l ike cars...you will never know. Whether it be steel or plastic, chrome or painted, and rusty or trusty GIVE ME A CHEVY!!!!!!

[jeverett]

Speaking of rattles, why in the hell does my passenger door sound like its not shutting all the way? IT clunks when I hit bumps and I dont see how to adjust it.

[slacker_53]

I've got three Dodges right now, a 44,000 mile 2000 Extended Cab 4X4 with a 360, a 115,000 mile 1996 Dodge Extended 4X4 with a 360, and a two wheel drive shortbed with a 318 and I haven't touched any of them as far as needing any mantainance.

Dodge has come a long way with their trucks and I kinda like'em. They still don't DRIVE or RIDE like a Chevy.

Ford, I have heard has came up to snuff with their '04 F150. I like the SuperDutys but they will have to be pretty damned good before I could ever warm up to the F150.

I used to drive Fords all the time but I think the styling on the '97-up kind of ruined me on the Ford thing. I've had SEVERAL, but I don't like'em much. No real problems that I can think of, I just don't like'em.

I've had alot of problems with my Chevys and GMCs lately, and some of the problems were EXPENSIVE. But I still like'em.

-slacker

jeverett-I would think there would be a way to adjust your passenger side door. I get that alot on the extended cabs with the back door, but I can't remember having it happen on a regular cab.

First make sure that your door is shutting to the second latch. If it is,then it sounds like your striker bolts (two) need to be adjusted in. All you need to do this is an Torx head (sorry I can't remember the size). Loosen it up and adjust it in just a little, it probably won't take much. This should tighten up your door and get rid of your noise. If it won't adjust that way, put a board against the striker and smack it with a hammer (this would be the assembly line method), but don't get carried away!! Bending it in a little will tighten it up.

If your door is only shutting to the FIRST LATCH then it needs to be adjusted OUT

Check the outer edge at the rear of the door, to see if the door can be adjusted or should go in a little.