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How paint problems are infuriating 2015 Chevy Silverado owners

A check of recent truck forums finds that a number of owners of 2015 Chevy Silverados are having problems with paint flaking or peeling off. The problems are serious enough that people are taking their complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, because they aren’t receiving help from the dealerships.

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On one discussion about “weak paint”, one owner asked “Has anyone else noticed that the paint on 2014+ silverados chip and scratch very easily? Seems like every time I wash my 2015 I find new chips or scratches.”

Another person adds, “Yes the paint quality on the 2014+ trucks is poor, my 15 already looks about how my 08 did after it was 7 years old. You can thank the epa for that.” And yet another posted, “My black 2015 gets scratches just by looking at it. I have a buddy who needed to get his front end repainted a month after purchase because of all the stone chips.”

A person who claims to work for a dealership denies there is a problem with the paint on 2015 Chevy Silverados “Well as a painter at a Gm dealership, your 2015 weak paint complaint is completely false. The paint is actually pretty good vs the 09-13s. We haven't been seeing any issues with 14 and ups at all.”

But yet another owner fires back “about the fragile paint on the K2XX trucks, worst paint I have ever seen, but the problem is wide spread over all the newer GM vehicles, water based paints suck but our air has improved 700 percent since GM was forced to switch.”

Chevy Silverado Paint Problem Complaints Are Widespread
The complaints are widespread, from different climates all over the U.S. and Canada. A check of the website CarComplaints.com, that compiles consumer issues on all types of vehicles, finds that the concerns are serious enough that many owners have taken their complaints to NHTSA.

For the 2015 model year there have been four complaints to NHTSA over paint problems with the 2015 Chevy Silverado. The complaints are that the paint either peels or chips too easily. The paint problems seem even more pronounced for the 2014 Chevy Silverado. For the 2014 Chevy Silverado there are 33 complaints, again for peeling or excessive chipping.

I have messaged the public relations person who oversees truck production for General Motors but haven’t heard back yet. It is true that the auto companies are constantly reformulating paint mixtures to be more environmentally friendly but paint peeling within the first few months or even the first few years is inexcusable. I can’t find any recalls for paint for these model years but there are enough forums and complaint sites to indicate that the issues are widespread enough to trigger concern.

Mary Conway covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary on Twitter at @maryconwaymedia.

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Comments

Randy Oakes (not verified)    November 10, 2016 - 7:36PM

I bought a new 2015 Silverado blackout at 6000 miles I found paint chips worse than on my 2007 Tahoe. Took it to the dealership today they would not acknowledge the problem. Said rock chips and if it flaked around the chip it wouldn't be warranted. This really sucks. Saved along time to buy a truck like this. Very disappointed.

Mike (not verified)    November 15, 2019 - 3:34PM

In reply to by Randy Oakes (not verified)

Well here's another one costing us $1400.00 to fix paint chips. We were wondering if anyone else is having this problem with there 2014 high country. Will not be buying a chevy again.

Howard (not verified)    December 21, 2021 - 1:59PM

In reply to by Robert (not verified)

noticed same problem with our '15 Yukon. I spoke with a firm that offers automotive wraps this morning. He asked if the hood and top look as though I'd washed it with a Brillo pad...he said he'd seen that problem on other Yukons.

Frustrated owner (not verified)    July 31, 2021 - 2:17PM

In reply to by Joe McGowan (not verified)

2016 Chevy suburban with same problem! Didn’t notice the discoloration on the hood and roof until I took my car in for service. I have a black suburban and the discoloration is in the middle of the hood and the top of the roof. GM basically saying they were only repaint the roof and the hood. My worry is that this is going to be a problem that affects the rest of the vehicle along the way too. Only 25,000 miles on my vehicle. I’ve seen other cars that are 15 years old that have perfectly intact paint. This is a huge problem when you pay so much for these

Jon Scharber (not verified)    August 15, 2020 - 10:33AM

In reply to by Ted Crsbtrer (not verified)

I have the same problem with my white truck on the same location. It's down to the gray metal. Auto body shop said to call GM, but I see from other posts that they aren't concerned about it.

Mike Wolfe (not verified)    September 18, 2020 - 6:14PM

In reply to by Jon Scharber (not verified)

We have same problem with our 2014 silverado truck.
We have taken our 2014 silverado in twice to have areas on right passenger side 2/2019 and fender 4/29/20 repainted. Now today I noticed the driver side back door has paint falling off.
So frustrating. Contacted dealer in 2019, they would not reimburse because they said it was out of warranty. Any ideas on furtherAction would help?

Rick (not verified)    March 13, 2021 - 4:03PM

In reply to by Ted Crsbtrer (not verified)

I have the same problem. The paint started chipping driver side pillar and it's just getting worse. I contacted GM and they told me to get a estimate. The estimate was $1000.00 and GM was going to reimburse $100.00, that's crap. My truck is 2015 High Country with the pearl white and it started pealing around 50000..My friends and family who own chevy trucks switch to ford. Something has to get done.

Kimberly Kresin (not verified)    October 4, 2021 - 5:21PM

In reply to by Rick (not verified)

I have a 2015 silverado crew cab that is the diamond white the paint is peeling off the frames right behind the back doors in exactly the same spot has anyone had any luck with GM helping to repaint it IT LOOKS LIKE SHIT and I paid 65,000 for the truck love it but its a deal breaker with Cheverolet

Terry R Fancher (not verified)    October 4, 2021 - 6:44PM

In reply to by Kimberly Kresin (not verified)

I called them, but they said it was environmental. Mine is peeling in exactly the same place as yours. They said I would have to take it to a dealer. They said they would fix it, but was going to charge me almost $800.00. Mine is a 2016 GMC Denali. It too cost about what you paid for yours in 2016. It also is peeling on the front of the hood now. Dealer said it was because of a rock chip. I called BS on that one too. They just do not want to spend the money to fix them. This is happening to alot of people as you can see on this site. Do they really want to risk losing customers?

Lorrie (not verified)    April 29, 2022 - 12:17PM

In reply to by Rick (not verified)

I have a 2015 Silverado LTZ. Pearl paint. Start peeling a few years ago on back door. I was told it was caused by a chip. Funny there was no chip just paint flaking off. I paid to have it fixed. Now the same thing is happening to the other rear door. I was told it’s not under warranty. They said Call GM…. Haven’t heard anything

Eddie (not verified)    October 5, 2021 - 10:55PM

In reply to by Ted Crsbtrer (not verified)

My 2015 white GMC started flaking at 64k. Dealer told me it was out of warranty. Now it’s at 84k and there is an area as big as my hand on hood, a 3 inch spot on door multiple smaller areas all over. Typically in bends or edges. I’ve owned dozens of GMs. Never again.

Thomas M Mitchell (not verified)    March 9, 2022 - 7:38PM

In reply to by Ted Crsbtrer (not verified)

Same problem, and a friend with the same year 2015 GMC paint flaking off and growing about 3-4 inches in the window well on passage side of truck, i have heard many others with the same problem, time for a RECALL.

Michelle (not verified)    May 4, 2020 - 9:25PM

In reply to by Ted Crabtree (not verified)

My white 2015 GMC Denali is peeling. The back two doors around the windows are both peeling. I called gnc and they said it wasn’t on them. I call BS! Waiting for a recall and dealerships to open!

Terry FANCHER (not verified)    March 23, 2021 - 6:57PM

In reply to by Michelle (not verified)

I have a 2016 GMC Denali Diesel crew cab. It is white and it is also peeling paint behind the rear doors where the water channels off. There is a small crack running up the pillars and this is happening on both sides. Also a place on front of the hood. I bought this truck last March of 2020. Paid too much for the paint to be coming off. GM should cover this, but I have my doubts.

Terry R Fancher (not verified)    April 12, 2021 - 11:05PM

In reply to by Terry FANCHER (not verified)

When I took my truck to dealership the said they would fix the places behind passenger doors but would have to collect $758.00 dollars as a deductible. So I am actually paying to have the vehicle touched up on those two places. The place on the front of my hood they said they would not repaint because it was caused by a rock chip even though there was no ding or dent. They could care less about us the consumer.