2013 Silverado typical rusted frame issue

[jhwis]

Just curious if any of you have any comments on the rusting frame issues on the Silverado. I know what it would entail to fix it, but am looking at hearing your experiences. It's a poor design as the frame is a boxed rail version rather than the C rail version of older models. Mine is the 2013 and has 145000 miles, just wondering how long you ran it before you had real issues with the frame being actually compromised, etc. My 2001 has the C rail frame and is rusted bad in a few spots, hut keeps on going.

 

[sms]

My 2500 needs the rear spring hangers, plan on doing them when it gets warmer unless I buy something else. 180,000 miles. Frame seems okay.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Just curious if any of you have any comments on the rusting frame issues on the Silverado.

That's a loaded question on this forum.

What I do know is if you go and ask it on a GM truck forum, you will be repeatedly shamed and mocked for not performing some ridiculous never-before-heard-of maintenance task that would have prevented it from rusting out: "What? Are you stupid? How could you not know that you are supposed to completely disassemble the truck and wash out the interior of the frame rails with the pressure washer ONCE A MONTH???"

 

[EFV]

Ah yes,Chevy truck frames. Also known as the Welder's Full Employment Act. Son's 2011
was around 2K from a guy who did it so often he had templates made to cut the repair pieces.

 

[jhwis]

That's a loaded question on this forum.
View attachment 104253

What I do know is if you go and ask it on a GM truck forum, you will be repeatedly shamed and mocked for not performing some ridiculous never-before-heard-of maintenance task that would have prevented it from rusting out: "What? Are you stupid? How could you not know that you are supposed to completely disassemble the truck and wash out the interior of the frame rails with the pressure washer ONCE A MONTH???"

I hear ya.

 

[Tim in New York]

Gave up on my 01HD in 2015. It was not so much the frame as everything else rusting, shackles, PS cooler, brake lines like 3 times. Loved that truck, and it still looked good, but was shot underneath.

 

[Welding man]

Replacement frame sections, crossmembers etc. are readily available for these trucks. Set the bed off and go after it. We have done a few along with Toyota and Nissan and a Dodge or two and a Ford or two. They all have problems.

 

[NDIHC]

I'm surprised there hasn't been any class action lawsuit brought over the issue. I regularly do rust inspection and prevention on vehicles 15+ years old under warranty. We don't have problems like in the rust belt, but we sometimes see vehicles that have spent time there that have a lot of rust. And we've had a couple of instances where the manufacturer decided to buy the vehicle from the owner as part of the class action settlement.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I'm surprised there hasn't been any class action lawsuit brought over the issue. I regularly do rust inspection and prevention on vehicles 15+ years old under warranty. We don't have problems like in the rust belt, but we sometimes see vehicles that have spent time there that have a lot of rust. And we've had a couple of instances where the manufacturer decided to buy the vehicle from the owner as part of the class action settlement.

What's a piddly token payment from a class action suit going to do? It won't be enough to get the frame repaired, if that's even possible. It won't be enough to replace the vehicle or even make a good down payment.

Even if auto manufacturers paid out hundreds of millions in a class action suit, they made billions off the sale of the vehicles originally, and billions more off the sale of their replacements. Sue away. Cheaper to pay off the lawsuits than make the vehicles better.

 

[jhwis]

I love my 2001 Silverado. It's a fantastic truck. It's beat to heck, but still keeps going. It's just annoying that a good company like GM can't have some better foresight into their design. This one seems like it was very easily preventable. Just make a solid product.

 

[NDIHC]

What's a piddly token payment from a class action suit going to do? It won't be enough to get the frame repaired, if that's even possible. It won't be enough to replace the vehicle or even make a good down payment.

Even if auto manufacturers paid out hundreds of millions in a class action suit, they made billions off the sale of the vehicles originally, and billions more off the sale of their replacements. Sue away. Cheaper to pay off the lawsuits than make the vehicles better.

We have bought vehicles back after they were over 15 years old. They wouldn't do that if there was no class action to start with. I do warranty rust repairs on 2001 model year vehicles. Replacing suspension parts and subframes. I did the rear lower control arms on my own vehicle about 5 years ago. It was 19 years old with over 200,000 miles on it and the control arms rusted through. Since mine has a salvage title the manufacturer supplied the parts for free but I had to put them on myself. But then I know that Ford, and I'm assuming Dodge and GM are terrible about warranty matters. My brother's F150 had rusted out cab corners at 6 years old and 60k miles. His Exploder had the aluminum hood corrosion at 30k and only a few years old. Ford wouldn't cover a penny of the repairs.

 

[Texasmark]

What's a piddly token payment from a class action suit going to do? It won't be enough to get the frame repaired, if that's even possible. It won't be enough to replace the vehicle or even make a good down payment.

Even if auto manufacturers paid out hundreds of millions in a class action suit, they made billions off the sale of the vehicles originally, and billions more off the sale of their replacements. Sue away. Cheaper to pay off the lawsuits than make the vehicles better.

I was reading some time ago that Toyota had a problem with its frames rusting and some had the entire frame replaced apparently at no charge....that had to be some undertaking to take all the parts off a truck's frame and put them on another.

 

[ss55]

Just curious if any of you have any comments on the rusting frame issues on the Silverado. I know what it would entail to fix it, but am looking at hearing your experiences. It's a poor design as the frame is a boxed rail version rather than the C rail version of older models. Mine is the 2013 and has 145000 miles, just wondering how long you ran it before you had real issues with the frame being actually compromised, etc. My 2001 has the C rail frame and is rusted bad in a few spots, hut keeps on going.

Washing the underside of vehicles really helps reduce rusting. Best done after the last road salts have been washed away by spring rains.

 

[Ray,IN]

I haven't noticed much frame rust on my 2013 Silverado when lubricating and changing oil, which is nearly always garaged when unused. Perhaps I shouldn't look now?

 

[jhwis]

I haven't noticed much frame rust on my 2013 Silverado when lubricating and changing oil, which is nearly always garaged when unused. Perhaps I shouldn't look now?

Take a look and report back. In particular where the frame bends behind the cab.

 

[formerly ny bill]

what year did GM switch from the C channel frame to the box beam?

my 2005 2500 has no rocker panels left, and will need to be replaced sooner than later. It is my winter truck, as my 2017 2500 stays in the barn during salt season. Never seen salt, never will if I can help it.
I had holes in the 2005 rear frame repaired last summer. The garage guy said he sees Silverados all the time with that problem.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

I was reading some time ago that Toyota had a problem with its frames rusting and some had the entire frame replaced apparently at no charge....that had to be some undertaking to take all the parts off a truck's frame and put them on another.

bThose were the real old (think small) Tundras. Local dealer had the replacement down to a science. Lift the cag and bed off, cut out the old frame, weld in the new, put the cab and bed back on and out the door.

 

[Jeff NWOH]

Just curious if any of you have any comments on the rusting frame issues on the Silverado. I know what it would entail to fix it, but am looking at hearing your experiences. It's a poor design as the frame is a boxed rail version rather than the C rail version of older models. Mine is the 2013 and has 145000 miles, just wondering how long you ran it before you had real issues with the frame being actually compromised, etc. My 2001 has the C rail frame and is rusted bad in a few spots, hut keeps on going.

Not just the chevys that rot out.. This is a 2008 f150 I patched up last week.

 

[JOCCO]

What's a piddly token payment from a class action suit going to do? It won't be enough to get the frame repaired, if that's even possible. It won't be enough to replace the vehicle or even make a good down payment.

Even if auto manufacturers paid out hundreds of millions in a class action suit, they made billions off the sale of the vehicles originally, and billions more off the sale of their replacements. Sue away. Cheaper to pay off the lawsuits than make the vehicles better.

Barnyard you will get $3.45 from the class action suit!

 

[JOCCO]

I can't help you much on newer Chevy. I just did the frame and put a better bed on an old Dodge. It was not rotted through or anything but a lot of work. I will caution you to look at price this work can add up quick.