2024 Sierra 1500 roof panel drumming / oil canning noise do to panel flexing going through car wash

[Randy Lyons]

I have a 2024 Sierra SLT with an incredible amount of roof panel flex.   While going through the dryers in car wash the roof panel vibrates creating a drumming and oil canning sound.  When waxing / washing roof by hand the roof panel flexes over  1/2” with very little effort.   As a vehicle white body structural engineer for 37 years I’ve never experienced anything like this as being acceptable by design.  Normally there are roof arches with sealant between them and the panel or at the very least a self adhesive melt sheet that stiffens as it goes through paint ovens.   My brother-in-law has a 2022 Silverado that does exactly the same thing.  I can see where this constant flexing can cause weld or material failure in the future.  I can’t find anything on the web related to this. Has anybody else in the truck community experienced this?

[SilveradoRST]

My ‘19 New Body does the same thing around the front of the roof when I go through the touchless car wash drier.  Same oil drum sound.   

[GETGONE]

My 21 crew cab does it as well from the water on high pressure on the touchless somewhere on the passenger side rear roof. I get some as well from the dryers. There was a service bulletin on the 23's and 24's for cracks in the roof I believe somewhere around the B pillar on either side.

[64BAwagon]

The roof crack issue was a couple thousand trucks some time ago. It represented less than 2 days production and IIRC was related to panel fitment being out of spec during the weld process on the joint, lengthways above the doors. A repair procedure (which was quite involved) was developed after the units were identified.  I think its been a done deal for quite some time. Roof panel tin canning has been a thing as long as I can remember. GM doesnt stamp the ribs into the roof just for looks. 

[glassesheadscarf]

On 6/30/2024 at 3:20 AM, Randy Lyons said:

I have a 2024 Sierra SLT with an incredible amount of roof panel flex.   While going through the dryers in car wash the roof panel vibrates creating a drumming and oil canning sound.  When waxing / washing roof by hand the roof panel flexes over  1/2” with very little effort.   As a vehicle white body structural engineer for 37 years I’ve never experienced anything like this as being acceptable by design.  Normally there are roof arches with sealant between them and the panel or at the very least a self adhesive melt sheet that stiffens as it goes through paint ovens.   My brother-in-law has a 2022 Silverado that does exactly the same thing.  I can see where this constant flexing can cause weld or material failure in the future.  I can’t find anything on the web related to this. Has anybody else in the truck community experienced this? Snow Rider

There have been some discussions in automotive forums about roof panel flexing in various truck models, but it doesn't appear to be a widespread topic, which might be why you haven't found much online.

• Contact the Manufacturer: Reach out to GMC's customer service or technical support to report the issue. Given your background, your insights might be taken seriously, and they might provide some explanation or solution.

• Check with Dealerships: Visit a GMC dealership and have a service technician inspect the vehicle. They might have encountered similar complaints and could offer a solution or at least document the issue.

• Join Online Communities: Join forums or social media groups dedicated to GMC Sierra or Silverado owners. Posting your experience there might help you find others with the same issue and gather more information.

• File a Complaint: If you believe this issue could lead to safety concerns, consider filing a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This could prompt an investigation if the problem is found to be more widespread.