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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.

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.

Comments

Mark Johnson (not verified)    August 29, 2018 - 5:12AM

In reply to by Randy Campus (not verified)

I contacted GM corporate executives. Just search google for "gm (or chevy) executive email addresses".
They did contact me back within a day or so.
They re-opened a warranty claim.
Ended with telling me that the paint meets factory specs (apparently standards are LOW).
GM claims "outside influence" and "atmospheric conditions" and my driving habits / roads as the cause.

The executive office did give me a $500 voucher for genuine chevrolet accessories for my trouble.
I call it a PITY PRESENT.

All I wanted is what I paid for, a nice looking truck.
With chevy, $55K gets you a half decent truck with garbage paint.

My RAM paint was flawless for 2 years, my chevy...... perhaps 300-350 small chips at 6 months old.

Brian (not verified)    December 6, 2016 - 11:20PM

My last truck was a 2003 Silverado that was six years old when I bought it with 56,000 miles. I traded it in March 2015 on my current 2015 Silverado that I ordered new. This is my first new truck. The paint chipping is very discouraging. I already put a bunch of touch up paint on the front edge of the hood & bought a bug shield. I have more random chips showing up all of the time in the hood, fenders, & door pillar. My 2015 with 22,000 miles seems to have more obvious chips than my 2003 did after I owned it a year or two. For the money these cost this is ridiculous.

Josh gold (not verified)    December 18, 2016 - 1:18AM

I just purchased a 2016 chevy silverado 1500 black 8 months and having paint issues it almost look like sap but but it not. I took it in to chevy dealer ship and had them fix it they had truck for 2 weeks and call me and they painted it ready for pick up so I go down to pick up truck and take a look at and same thing on drivers door right under the pen stripping fish eye on driver door when you open the door all round there white powder for wet sanding the truck so I told them I'm not taking the truck till it's right so they took the truck back it and told me they will fix it. Now 3 weeks later they call ready for pick up so go down again and look at the truck and those spots are still there in driver door, passenger door and above driver door and the shop manger pulls me to the side and says off the recored what did you get on this truck and I look at him and said" nothing I've had issues since I first got the truck I've had them detail it twice to get the sap of the truck and the sales man said we have a great service department and they will take care of any issues so now I'm waiting for them to call and see if they can fix it ?? My next to words are importance (punitive damages ) think I want a new truck
Just wanted to see if any one else is have this problem with there 2016 chevy Silverado manufacture is fort wanye Texas

Lisa Gomez (not verified)    June 12, 2017 - 6:26PM

In reply to by Josh gold (not verified)

Josh, I posted our full story on here but I wanted to personally reply to your post. You said in your post Fort Wayne TX. We were told our paint was chipping off because it was painted at the Ft Wayne Indiana plant. Did you actually mean TX?

Anna (not verified)    August 23, 2017 - 2:46PM

In reply to by Josh gold (not verified)

Hi, Yes, I have 2016 Silverado 1500... parked under almond tree ... sap took paint off of the hood. Dealer indicated that tree sap would not do that and regardless, GM does not pay for paint repairs. GM sends me to Dealership and dealer to GM... cant even get a price quote for repair or additional protective coating from either one .... getting essentially 'don't bother us' it is your problem...truck has less than 20,000 miles!

Daniel (not verified)    October 4, 2017 - 1:31PM

In reply to by Josh gold (not verified)

2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 paint peeling around windows also. Chevy rep looking at it today they want to repaint my whole truck or get me into a new truck with incentives. This is ridiculous. San Antonio Tx.

Robert falanga (not verified)    December 31, 2017 - 10:50PM

In reply to by Josh gold (not verified)

Yes Josh I am having the same problem with my 2016 Silverado . Spoke to multiple paint guys off to the side and they are telling me it’s almost like they put the clearcoat on before the basecoat dried and it is working it’s way out . I am dealing with a dealership now not ready to say their name but they only want to do the cab and take it down to the base coat . Is it 2016 Z 71 4 x 4 I bought it and then put a lot more money into a lift kit rims and everything else . I am so pissed off I save all my life for a truck like this and now I am afraid I am going to have a 3 tone truck. This factory defect will show up on Carfax due to the cost which will decrease my value . I just want them to fix the whole truck so it is consistent I paid invoice price and make my monthly payments Chevy needs to do what is right and stand by their work . My next step would be to take it to investigative reporters and see if they will help

Barry (not verified)    January 4, 2017 - 1:46PM

It's not just the trucks. I have a black '15 Equinox that is scratched up around the door handle from fingernails touching the paint. I had the 'looks like tree sap' thing on the hood but a closer look show it is pitting in the paint that is growing and showing up in different sections of the hood and roof. In one place it goes all the way to the metal. The dealer says it is environmental damage and not their fault. This is north Florida with no unusual source of environmental issues other than bugs and sunshine. If the paint pits down to the metal in 1 1/2 years due to the environment, there is something wrong with the paint.

Mary Conway    January 4, 2017 - 7:28PM

I would definitely notify NHTSA about your concerns. I would also take the complaint further than the dealer, to Chevrolet's customer relations departments. Oftentimes they will authorize repairs, especially if it is a well-known complaint.

mark (not verified)    January 9, 2017 - 1:30PM

my paint is pelling and small chips all over my 2015 Silverado ,, and the dealer is not doing anything to help me out I need help to fix this problem

mark brodsky (not verified)    January 10, 2017 - 12:49PM

my paint is chipping off all over my truck how can you help gm will not do anything what so ever and I need help

Frank (not verified)    January 28, 2017 - 11:22AM

I have a 2015 Silverado 1500 in rain forest green. The paint chips quite easily when small rocks are thrown either by other vehicles or my own 20 inch tires. Particularly affected areas are the front of the hood and lower portions of the bed of the truck. The paint is thin and the white undercoat shows through after the small chip occurs.I have purchased a small bottle of touch-up paint at a local auto paint supply and a bottle of clear coat at an auto supply store. Some chips are easily repaired and are hard to see after they were touched-up. The chips on the front of the hood are more difficult to cover and can be still visible in certain shades of light. I just have to live with it. After all, it's a truck not a show car. Even though the Silverado was quite an expensive purchase when new.

Taylor (not verified)    February 20, 2017 - 11:42AM

My 2013 Silverado was very bad for paint peeling I complained to GM to know end they did nothing so I had no choice I sold the truck before it got to bad only had 61 000km on it only got $20 000. I also notice lots of weird outward portraying dings all over the bed sides. We have two 2014 gmc's at work and it's rediculesl how much paint has peeled off and the bedsides are starting to worp and get all wavey looking I got lots of pictures if anyone is interested. Needless to say I'll never buy another GM again I'm going to try a Tundra next they have a way better resale.

grant schibilia (not verified)    July 10, 2017 - 2:47PM

In reply to by Taylor (not verified)

My 2013 GMC Sierra has a huge piece of paint that peeled off the front of the roof right above the windshield. Obviously a defective paint job, and the dealer told me only warranted for 3 years so tough sh*t. Can't believe I spent $62000 on a truck and the paint peels in 3 years and no one wants to accept responsibility. I will never buy another GM product.

Carlton (not verified)    February 28, 2017 - 2:05PM

I'm experiencing the same problems with my 2013 Silverado. The dealer did make the repair to the first chip, which was on the passenger side door around the window area. Just got it from the body shop two weeks ago and have discovered another chip on the front right panel. It's a shame that GM is aware of this situation but will not offer a recall or some kind of assistance to the consumer to correct this problem. GM was bailed out by the Government to help save an American Product and they show their gratitude by knowingly passing along to the consumers defected products.

Stephen Wood (not verified)    March 20, 2017 - 8:28AM

2014 Silver, Silverado, paint peeling. Garaged, washed regularly. Dropping in dime sized pcs. This is BAD paint.
Will complain but don't have hope. Once you sign for it it's your problem.

John B. (not verified)    April 27, 2017 - 10:17PM

2015 silverado white - first new vehicle , big chevrolet / GM guy. the paint on my truck is terrible ! at first i had random chips around the door sill area, the front hood and above the bumper is all chipped up, random chips near the roof, around the windshield , around the wheels wells, i wash the truck multiple times per week trying to take care of it, i don't get close to vehicles on the road so i don't get rock chips etc. it sucks to pay so much money for these trucks and the paint just chips off like nothing. I've only had it 18 months / 23,000 miles... i get serious orange dots all over it too ! I'm assuming this is because of something they are treating the roads with. North East Winters , the paint on these trucks is terrible , I wish GM would step up and realize it / do something about it....

Leo Davenport (not verified)    May 4, 2017 - 10:47AM

The paint issue on most GM/Chevy trucks is amazing, The white paint just doesn't seem to bond to the primer...Its amazing that they probably paint more white trucks than other colors combined. You would thing that they would get it right.

Gerald S (not verified)    May 18, 2017 - 8:58PM

Absolutely disgusted with the mist of colour they put on my truck, I wouldn't call it paint. I keep my truck in excellent condition only to see blisters under the paint with no stone chips. Try to take care of something they charge you a mortgage for only to find out it will be worth nothing due to the crappy paint and lack of primer in fender well. A stone chip should not take off paint the size of a bottle cap. This paint is garbage and GM needs to fix it. Throwing paint over this will not work either since it is letting go of the primer. I think there should be a class action lawsuit filed for them to do it right. It cost way to much to purchase for them to avoid. Plus according to the dealer they fixed the problem for 2016 and 17. So fix what you did wrong in 2014 and 15.....

Nicole (not verified)    September 4, 2017 - 11:46AM

In reply to by Gerald S (not verified)

Have you found any contact information on where to complain? Other than the dealerships? I don't even know where to go from here but I think enough people need to complain to get it fixed right like you said! I have already spent 1000 in repairs and need more! On a two year old truck!

Les W (not verified)    July 26, 2018 - 10:17AM

In reply to by Gerald S (not verified)

They definitely did not fix the problem, I have a 2017 Black Silverado experiencing alike problems that started with bubbles in August of 2017 and I purchased the vehicle new in January 2017, I have been back and forth with the dealership and GM representatives since September 1, 2017. They also claim the same thing rock chips from road debris, etc.

Mark Johnson (not verified)    July 26, 2018 - 1:53PM

In reply to by Les W (not verified)

Write to GM executives. I sent an email to the following executives complaining about my 2018 Silvertado chipping. I included links to youtube videos of my truck, links to photos of my truck, links to other youtube videos documenting the problem. I even included a link to this article, written 3 years ago and STILL getting comments.

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] (Executives)
[email protected] (Assistant Manager – Chevrolet Customer Experience)

I wrote to the executives and actually received correspondence back. They did NOTHING about the paint chipping from my silverado.
But, it is important for others to contact them. If not, they will continue to deny there is a problem.

I am having vinyl lettering installed on my truck. It will be a rolling billboard highlighting all of my paint chipping. Should be fun as my truck came with lifetime oil changes at the dealer!
I will also be forwarding photos of my rolling billboard to the gm executives.

Good Luck!

Swyer (not verified)    April 17, 2019 - 8:50PM

In reply to by Les W (not verified)

I live down a 4 miles of gravel had my 2018 gmc serria for 2 months. It’s white and it looks like I took a sand plastered to it. I had a 08 for 6 years it had 146000 on it and I could count it rock chips on my hands.

Keith Jenkins (not verified)    May 12, 2020 - 4:09PM

In reply to by Gerald S (not verified)

I've had it with General Motors!!! Purchased a 2017 Silverado 4 Door LT Pickup, and started having trouble with paint popping off of the roof In 2019. Went to Service Chevrolet and was told that because I had over 35K mileage, that the paint was not warranted. What does mileage have to do with paint???? Truck still looked new except for the peeling. They were happy to quote me almost $800.00 to repaint just the roof. I blew it off out of sheer frustration. Chevrolet's Body Shop told me that due to a rock chip, the primer would deteriorate under the paint and the paint would eventually separate. Well a year later and it has peeled off to a pitiful looking mess. My wife went in today to the same body shop to talk with the same people, and got the same answer, except when she talked about the rock chip, he wanted her to believe that it wasn't a rock chip!!!!!!!! Same Guy as before, and now the quote to fix it is over $1,200.00. I have read countless stories about this same problem with hundreds of Chevrolet vehicles, and there is nothing that I can do except get rid of it at a loss, and buy another truck, but definitely not a Chevrolet. I guess that is the only thing a consumer can do for their own sanity. I welcome any help resolving this issue with Chevrolet.

Stu Davis (not verified)    May 31, 2017 - 4:51PM

I have a 2014 silverado. Quarter size paint flakes off the bottom of doors. Gm warrantied it, sent it to a body shop in elkhart. 2 weeks later I get it back and it looks even worse. Paint runs, wasn't wet sanded, blotches. Called chevy today to file a complaint. Very unhappy.

Alvaro Gomez (not verified)    June 12, 2017 - 6:22PM

I own a 2015 Silverado 2500 Duramax and paint keeps peeling off due to it being painted at the Ft Wayne Indiana plant. Dealer covered cost to repaint two panel door panels with blended paint, but now won't give us the time of day since its out of warranty. Which has now screwed us on resale value of the truck since it isn't original paint.
Now we are playing phone tag with senior advisors at Chevy who speak for the regional general manager and tell us we have to help them pay for another paint job. I already paid $60000 for a truck manufacturer defect paint and a melting steering wheel and I'm not paying a dime more for this piece of junk truck. I'm ready to get a lawyer if they don't come up with a soultion that I don't have to pay for. I'm going to research to try to find a class action lawsuit over this. I have read a ton of complains over the paint peeling and the company not owning their mistake and making it right for the customer make a me sick. Lisa & Al Gomez Cedar Lake Indiana

Roger Burks (not verified)    June 13, 2017 - 4:35PM

Guess I will join the club. I bought new a Deep Ocean Blue Metallic 2015 Silverado 2500 High Country with painted bumpers. About a month after purchase, I made my first interstate trip for about 120 miles. After teh trip it looked like my front bumper had been shot with a shot gum with #6 shot. It continues to flake off with normal driving. I've already gone thru two bottles of touch up paint. I can;t keep up with all of the chips. I've finally given up. I also a lot of light scratches that seem to have come out of no where. This truck has never been on a dirt road.
Now I am seeing the paint being worn down to the metal in places like parallel and just under the bed rail on the driver side rear quarter panel. Today I noticed the same pattern just under and parallel to the chrome trim along the bottom of the driver side front door. These worn places are not very wide and like 2-3 foot long. Looks like someone took some light sandpaper and sanded on it. Maybe the paint is so bad that the wind friction is wearing it down.:)
This truck doesn't go off road, I drive it mostly in town and some highway driving. I wash it regularly. I haven't approached the dealer because I know I will hear the same thing all of you are being told. I understand that there will be some chips and dings. But this truck looks worse at 1.5 years old than my 2008 did when I traded it in 2013.

Mark Burgess (not verified)    July 6, 2017 - 12:14PM

I too am having issues with paint flaking off on my 2014 Chevy Silverado. Mine is a metal flake brown color. I love the color but it seems like every time I take it for a ride I find more little chips of paint missing. I have one spot that's nearly the 1" X 3" long now. I'm afraid to take it to a car wash in fear of it ripping large flakes off.

What can I do to get this corrected?