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2007 Avy cracked dashboard

llorca

Full Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
35
Location
Naples, FL
My 2007 Avalanche, which I bought brand new in 2006, now has a cracked dashboard.  A week ago I noticed a crack in the dashboard from the corner of the Airbag area toward the windshield, which is about 2 inches before the panel ends.  I am a die hard Chevy and GM guy, but this has me a bit peeved.  The truck isn't yet paid off (1 more month to go - whoo hoo) and I have a cracked dashboard which Chevy will not warranty because I have more than 36,000 miles.  Not for nothing but a dashboard on a $45K truck should not crack at 4 years old and 60,000 miles.  Anyone else have this issue on their 2007 and up Avy or other GM truck?  Any GM warranty people, do I have any recourse with Chevy?  Looking for some help.
 
That's very odd.. any chance you could post a picture of it?
 
I have the exact same crack in my dash... it really pisses me off.

I have a 2007 Avy and it is well taken care of.  About two weeks ago, I noticed crack in the dash in the same spot you describe.

Is there a fix for this? 
 
cracked dash.jpg


My truck is very well taken care as well, so this just frustrates me.  This cracked showed up two weeks ago as well.
I never use any amor all type porducts on the interior.
 
I have a 2008 Avalanche and noticed today (July 12, 2010) that my dash is cracked in two places.  One at the front left corner of the passenger side dash airbag panel, in the main dash piece.  Also to the left side of the "hump" in front of the driver (4 " long crack from the front of the dash piece towards the driver). :mad:  I saw another posting that talks about their dash cracked in the same place around the passenger airbag.

The truck is just over 2 and a half years old! :beating:  Has only 44,800 miles on it and has been maintained like I'm going to keep it for 20 years!  Really bad quality problem.  I've seen comments like this on this and other Avalanche forums as well as on a Tahoe forum.  A definite chronic problem that Chevy should make good on.  HAS ANYONE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THIS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY OR A CHEVY "GIMME"?

I've also had the chrome peel off the inside door latch handles.  It peels and causes cuts on a person's hands/fingers when they try to open the doors!  :beating:
 
llorca said:
cracked dash.jpg


My truck is very well taken care as well, so this just frustrates me.  This cracked showed up two weeks ago as well.
I never use any amor all type porducts on the interior.
                      My 08 cracked in exactly same place !!!!!!!!!!!!   Prior owner did use Armor All so that did not keep it from cracking. My quess is that spot has some pressure on it from the way it is mounted.
I just had it replaced under warranty and had to coat it with Armor All to get it to match. I would complain to GM ,until they told me no 10 times. Their records will show how many dash pads have been replaced.
 
My 07 just cracked in that EXACT spot, I watched it happen as I was at a stoplight, heard a little "snap" and noticed it cracked! Just shy of 40,000 miles!

Any fixes for this, superglue? A touchup?

Pretty frusterating.
 
This is the kind of thread that I hate to see.  Now I have to check my dash as soon as I get home. 

Not that it should matter but I was just wondering, I noticed that everyone here with the crack is located in a warm environment.  Are any of your AVs garaged or do you park in direct sunlight. 

A dashboard, but nature, should be able withstand direct sunlight without cracking.
 
If you are outta warranty, I suggest you guys call the Chevy customer service people and complain.  Here's what I did.  I found the TSB's on here about the cracked dash and the upper trim panel not locking and called them to complain.  I politely kept telling them about my other friends with avalanches's all across the country that have cracks in the exact same place.  Chevy know's this is a problem.  I kept using the words manufacture's defect.  It took about 15 calls between them and me and two months, but yesterday I picked up my 2007 with a new FREE dashpad.  Customer Care goodwilled me the dashpad and install.  ANd i've got an 07 with 61000 miles Good luck fellas.
 
cbatc said:
If you are outta warranty, I suggest you guys call the Chevy customer service people and complain.  Here's what I did.  I found the TSB's on here about the cracked dash and the upper trim panel not locking and called them to complain.  I politely kept telling them about my other friends with avalanches's all across the country that have cracks in the exact same place.  Chevy know's this is a problem.  I kept using the words manufacture's defect.  It took about 15 calls between them and me and two months, but yesterday I picked up my 2007 with a new FREE dashpad.  Customer Care goodwilled me the dashpad and install.  ANd i've got an 07 with 61000 miles Good luck fellas.

What/where are the TSBs and do you have the person, refrence number, etc you called. I'm doing the same thing!
If you had a case number and it showed they did that for you, it would help!
 
Just called GM about it. They said that it is a documented problem on Tahoes, but not on Avalanches so far. I politely mentioned the Tahoe/Suburban/Avalanche are all about the same.

They set me up with a dealership appointment to document the crack and see if it is indeed replicating the Tahoe cracks. If it is, sounds like they will take care of it. I am anticipationg some nonsense BS however.

Taking it in on Mon, we'll see. Wish me luck!
 
Hmm... let see, we've got Florida, Texas and North Carolina... odd, I would have thought this issue would be more likely to happen to those up in the northern parts due to extreme cold and heat changes throughout the year causing substantial expansion and contraction. You guys must be using your AC on full blast or something  >:D
 
So I called GM to tell them a crack in the dash of my 07 Avalanche is unacceptable at 40k miles.

Marvin goes on to tell me that this is a well documented problem, calls up the dealership, Herb Easley in Wichita Falls and has them do an official diagnostic to see if my dash crack falls within the well known problems (especially with Tahoes he says).

The dealership called GM (Marvin) back, and said my dash crack was within 3 inches of a Tahoe they fixed ealier this year. Marvin called me and said sorry, my crack did not fall within the known problems. Three inches is a different crack. What!?

I talked to the dealership, the shop manager was never aware they were checking it against "known problems", any documents, or any TSB. He said he called and said it looked similair to the one they fixed earlier, thats all. As far as he could tell it was the same dash crack issue as the Tahoe they fixed.

I called Marvin back, (I made sure to get his extension number) and said the dealership did not do what he asked, which was to prove a manufacture defect by comparing my crack to known issues... they compared it to one tahoe they fixed earlier. I asked, could he please provide me with the known issue so I can make sure it is done right at the dealership? Marvin then said, he was not aware if there actually was any TSB, or documents related to this "known" issue. Oh really? So how what was the dealer supposed what to compare it to? Marvin said the known issues were all "word of mouth" and dealers "just knew" unless there was something he was not aware of. The dealership would have to show it was a manufacture defect and fix it. He assured me many were indeed manufacture defects and were fixed out of warranty, but had nothing to back that claim up!!

I told Marvin this whole thing was looking like a lot of incompetance, so he said he could keep my case open and send it to the District Specialist... I'm waiting on a call from them in 24 hours... I have a feeling I'll be calling Marvin back.
 
Just curious, for anyone having this problem, what's your truck's manufacturing date?

Nevermind, looks like 08 models are having the same problem.. there goes my theory of early production dates  :E:
 
Tagging this for tracking...I'll look at my 07 at lunchtime and see if I'm having the same issue or not...
 
I talked to the regional service manager said she talked to the dealership and decided they could not help me out. They could not prove this was a manufactures defect... but had no idea why the dash cracked at 40k miles. In order to fix it it would have to be diagnosed as a manufactures defect from the service manager. I asked what would qualify as a manufacure defect, she did not know.

She said they would be able to fix it on a case by case basis. In my case... I had a suspension lift on the vehicle, so they can't help me out since I modded the truck. I told her I have a aftermarket nav radio too, at least thats closer to the dash. Does GM dicourage people from personalizing thier vehicles? Even if it voids a warranty, I am over 36k anyway, so what do my bigger tires have to do with anything? She said she was not sure, but kept stating that I modified factory parts so they can't be held liable for the dash breaking. I told her that was crazy, and if she had any other reasons.

She said I also did not have a long history at the dealership, and not many "paid" visits. I told her that I was military, moved enough not to have a long relationship with any dealership. And oh by the way, there are not many paid visits because all the maintenace was done under warantee... its a new truck, I just recently went over 36k! And guess what, they honored the warantee even with my "vehicle modifications"!!

I asked her straight out... so if I had a stock truck and had spent more money at the dealership you would have fixed it? She could not say... just kept mentioning this was a case by case issue. I asked to talk with someone higher up in the chain. She reluctently agreed. Waiting on a call.

I am concerned that if the dash keeps cracking around the passenger airbag, what happens when I get in a wreck. Will it still be mounted safely? Will it deploy at an angle? Will it still deploy safely. It does not seem to be as secure with the dash cracked around it. If the dash keeps cracking, will it explode into a million pieces if I get into a wreck? Why is the dash so crappy on a 40k mile truck that is babied?
 
Crap, I just noticed today on my 2007 (bought in May 2006 and 45,000 miles or so) that the dash has cracked on the passenger side above the airbag, just like the photo above, and also a 6" long crack from near the windshield back towards the driver just to the left of the hump on the driver's side.  I live in Phoenix, AZ, and the truck lives outside most of the time.  I will try and get pictures tomorrow.

Crap, crap, crap!

Don
 
Made me go out and look at mine....no cracks but the AV lived in the garage the first couple of years and I also have a carpet dashcover...pretty much from day one.
 
Update on my saga...

Today I spoke with Brian,  the Team Lead for the Southwest region.

He told me that since I have a suspension lift, the have "officially diagnosed" that "body flex" has caused my dash crack, not a manufacture defect.

I asked how all the HUNDREDS of other dashes cracked without suspension lifts... he was not at liberty to discuss other cases.

I am calling Superlift Suspensions to inform them that GM is officially diagnosing that thier lift kit as cracking thier dashboard. Of course they will say that is BS, and I'll ask them to send me a letter stating so.

I am going to the dealership and asking what proceedure they used to determine body flex was the cause of my dash crack, because I watched them and all they did was poke their head in the door  for 30 seconds. Ill get them to write down for me that they came up with this conclusion, than take it to the news station.

This is bullcrap!
 
You may want to try another dealer.  My truck is completely stock and I had the exact same cracks.  In the same places.  Your dealer/ regional rep is full of crap.  Keep trying and good luck
 
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