I have a 2003 Chevy Tahoe Z71. The rear bumper is facory painted. The bumper is covered with rust bulges. This is in the midwest where rust is really not much of a problem.

Has anyone else expierenced this problem?

While the Tahoe was in warranty the dealer said the rust was normal. But now 2 years later it really looks bad.

Horstmeister

 

Hey there --

I was just wondering if you were able to get GM to fix this problem?

Tim O

 

Welcome to the forum. Did you buy it new? If there has been no repairs to the painted bumper, then I don't see how it can be considered normal.

 

I did buy the Tahoe new in 2/04. I have 55k on it, so it's out of the 36-36 warranty. I took it to a dealer and they said they've seen it a few times and the only thing they can do is GM will replace the bumper, but I have to pay to have it painted and the labor to install. When I asked if I could just have the bumper, and I'd take it to "MY" shop and have it painted, they said no. When I asked for the GM rep's name and phone number, they refused to give it to me.

T

 

Try 800.222.1020. Sometimes you can get results from them. Good luck.

FYI: There's no reason they can't give you the bumper as long as you give them the old one.

 

Just paint problems with mine.

 

I have the same problem with my '03 Z71.

The dealer, Bill Kay Chevrolet in Lisle Illinois, "fixed" the problem back in October of '06 by having a local body shop slap some paint over the runst. No big suprise that it came back. When I returned it they said that there was nothing that they could do. I contacted the body shop and they said that they don't warranty that type of work, and that they tell the dealers that up front.

I contacted GM customer service where I spoke to a very helpful agent, who actually sounded sympathetic.
I ws actually hopefull that this would be resolved.

I was contacted today by Chris Wood today with the final GM decession.....
They would be doing nothing for me ! []

So even though the dealer took corrective action, and possibley made the problem worse,
they won't stand behind it.

Feel free to call Chris at (866) 790-5600 x12170, be sure to give him my best.

My previous Chevy was a 74 Monte Carlo (a great car but what a rust bucket!)
My LAST Chevy is a 2003 Tahoe !

 

I know this is an old thread (2007, it looks like?) but had to add that I have a HORRIBLE problem with rust bubbling through from underneath on our Z71. AND it's become a game with my husband and I to point out other white Z71s with the same bumper issue (there are a LOT of them by us, only ever painted white).

I called the Chevy service center at the sales center where we bought it, and he explained that the bubbled up rust and paint was due to a ROCK hitting it. I wish I had a picture because almost the entire bumper is BROWN with rust. Must've been a big rock! :/

Oh, but he told me they could repaint it for me... at normal charge.

 

Welcome to the forum.

More likely due to poor metal prep when it was originally painted. Or it's been repainted due to collision damage.

 

I suspect it was a manufacturing defect if you are seeing it on other vehicles on the same areas.... GM had problems with the white paint chipping and peeling on the early 90's vehicles thou I have heard various stories as to the cause....