Peeling Chrome Rims Wheels Replaced Under Warranty

unit731 · April 17, 2012

2010 Chevrolet Colorado.

Factory Chrome Rims Wheels.

27,000 miles.

I take darn good care of my truck.

I don't do any off roading. I just drive my truck. My truck is my spare as I have an automibile as my regular daily driver.

Was washing truck the other day and noticed that the chrome was flaking off on very edge of rim. Drivers side front. Then I washed all tires/wheels and a tad of chrome was peeling off each rim.

Isn't this a little early for chrome to pit or wear off?

I cleaned each rim. Very clean. And I noticed some pitting on all chrome surfaces. Not the nice shiney chrome rims when new.

Only one winter for this truck in hill and mountain country. Previous/first winter was in Arizona.

I did a G**gle search of peeling chrome rims and read up on others who have encountered same situation on Chevrolet and other GM products. Seems to be a pattern for some. Some owners get rejected right up front. Others have to see dealer then zone manager. Some do get rims replaced.

Two folks at dealership had to view rims. Verdict came back that all 4 rims will be replaced under warranty. Rims ordered. Replacement with new chrome rims under warranty.

I took a walk around this dealership and viewed the used GM vehicles. Many with the few chrome pieces left on any vehicle - the chrome was pitting.

Acid rain? Salt used on roads today here up north? Or is the chrome plating so thin now?

Anyway, 4 new chrome rims ordered. No charge. Under warranty. No hassle. And I did not purchase this vehicle at this dealership. But I do have all of my oil changes and any warranty work done at this dealership. I did purchase my previous 2008 GMC Sierra at this dealership. The only reason I did not purchase this 2010 Chevrolet Colorado at this dealership was that inventory at the time of Colorados was quite thin at time of purchase. It was a January when I purchased this Colorado - my GM points had douibled for the month.

unit731 · April 18, 2012

Purchased new off lot. Chevrolet dealership.

This 2010 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab 4X4 came with optional Chrome rims.

I did not want them. From experience I kind of had a feeling that any chrome rims would be a hassle down the road of time.

I asked Chevrolet folks at dealership at time of purchase if they would swap rims/tires and take off a Work Truck and give me the standard steel wheels/tires/rims and put those on this truck. "Can't do it" was their answer. GM won't let them do it.

I had a feeling that there would be issues. And I did wash this truck religiously.

My 1990 Chevrolet 1500 (used) came with aluminum alloy rims. They were pitted. I went online and purchased new (take-offs) standard steel rims with plastic hub caps and those still looked new 10 years later. I sold the aluminum alloy rims from that truck.

I had one car with aluminum alloy rims and one rim/tire leaked air ever so slowly. It wasn't the tire that leaked but the rim. I had the tire mounted dismounted, cleaned, more gunk put on rim - and it still leaked air. I ended up selling those aluminum alloy rims and buying used steel rims for that car and never a leaking air issue. There were not dents/dings on that aluminum alloy rim.

Last visit to Chevrolet dealership I walked around and viewed some late model used Chevrolet vehicles. All with optional aluminum alloy rims had tarnish or pitting. Maybe this is an up North thing. Not sure if cars/trucks down South have this issue with no snow/salt in winters.

Aftermarket with a lifetime warranty is probably the way to go for optional rims.