URGENT FEEDBACK NEEDED - Extremely Stiff Ride (vibration) on 2017 Denali XL

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cardude2000

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Picked up truck today. All shocks were replaced and it drives substantially better - not near as stiff. Technician said this is likely only a band aid - that they will stiffen up over time and it will likely go back to the way it was. Yet again I was told "this is what you get when you get a vehicle with MRC". That is really NOT what I want to continue to hear! Number one, it is a standard feature on a Denali XL so it's not like I had an option and number two there is no disclaimer whatsoever anywhere about the implications of having a vehicle with MRC (VERY stiff ride)! Had I known, I would have never bought this truck. And again, GMC could have easily remedied this with a couple of electronic suspension settings rather than it being only a default. Enough ranting from me...we'll see what happens. I will update everyone periodically.


My SWB denali has MRC and I hate it. Ride blows. Its the only reason I ordered 20" wheels for it instead of the standard 22's.

But I gotta ask...Didnt you realize how ****** the ride was when you test drove it? I did but I was willing to suffer through it because for me the pros outweighed the few cons...
 
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Jeremyf0923

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But I gotta ask...Didnt you realize how ****** the ride was when you test drove it? I did but I was willing to suffer through it because for me the pros outweighed the few cons...

It drove great for first several thousand miles - estimated 6K. Tech said that is not uncommon - that suspension stiffens up over time. Each truck is different regarding how long it takes. So no, had it driven like this from day one I would have never bought it.
 

cardude2000

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It drove great for first several thousand miles - estimated 6K. Tech said that is not uncommon - that suspension stiffens up over time. Each truck is different regarding how long it takes. So no, had it driven like this from day one I would have never bought it.

Interesting. I agree with you, I wish they had added adjustments to it like with the esky
 

ezstriper

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nothing but BS there, I have a 11 avalanche with over 100k still working/driving/riding great with OEM MRC, my escalade ones were killing by shipping company transporting it with 70k on that
 
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Jeremyf0923

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nothing but BS there, I have a 11 avalanche with over 100k still working/driving/riding great with OEM MRC, my escalade ones were killing by shipping company transporting it with 70k on that

What are you implying? That there is a fix for this, service department just hasn't found it yet? Maybe old shocks were damaged and these new ones won't stiffen like originals did?
 

15YUKON

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All I'll say is you think you have problems now.... wait till it hits 40k your just at the tip of the iceburg. When ours hit about 45k miles it started having a sharp vibration that would carry through the truck way after you hit a bump. The dealer took care of that when they replaced the transmission at 50,000 miles. The truck has been going south since the 40k mark and talking to other people they have similar experinaces. I almost wonder if the Denali package was a mistake it seems as though these are the WORST of the crop. I can't even remember all the problems this truck has had because it has has too many. I apologize for all the negative attitude.
 
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cardude2000

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nothing but BS there, I have a 11 avalanche with over 100k still working/driving/riding great with OEM MRC, my escalade ones were killing by shipping company transporting it with 70k on that

huh?
 

sickk23

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nothing but BS there, I have a 11 avalanche with over 100k still working/driving/riding great with OEM MRC, my escalade ones were killing by shipping company transporting it with 70k on that
Your 2011 Avalanche doesn't have MRC. And what you said about your Escalade doesn't make any sense.
 

007matman

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Your 2011 Avalanche doesn't have MRC. And what you said about your Escalade doesn't make any sense.
I've seen it in other threads. If a tow or transportation company winches the vehicle down too tight it'll damage the sensors in the shock that put it in stiff mode. The vehicle will stay in that mode leading to poor ride quality.

Look it up. There are several threads out there in the internet.

Doesn't happen to me but it seems practical enough.

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007matman

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Didn't you say it happened to your escalade?


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I said I saw it before in another thread and that I had one of the bags fail.

My ride was stiff prior to replacing the rear two. However, we bought it that way so I don't know what happened prior to that.

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cardude2000

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I said I saw it before in another thread and that I had one of the bags fail.

My ride was stiff prior to replacing the rear two. However, we bought it that way so I don't know what happened prior to that.

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Oh. I thought you said yours were "killing by shipping company"
 

tjfish

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Hey everyone - have scoured the forum and have seen a number of posts that seem to be about an issue similar to mine, but at this point not sure so starting my own thread for feedback.

I have a 2017 Denali XL. Bought it in December 2016. Loved everything about it for first 6,000 miles then things started going south. Everything has been fixed by the dealership except for one thing, which is the absolute most annoying. So for the first 6,000 miles it drove flawlessly - in fact I would always tell my friends/family that for a truck this size it was amazing how it felt like it just floated on the highway - such a smooth ride. Then the ride began getting rough. When I say rough I mean we begun to feel every little bump in the road, even on newly paved perfectly smooth highway I can feel even the slightest road imperfection. Comparatively, I have a Mercedes AMG C63S - and it drives smoother on the highway in Sports+ mode than my Yukon! Obviously there is something wrong with my truck!

That said, I took it into dealership. They rotated and balanced the tires and sent me on my way. Made the mistake of not taking it for a test drive before leaving. The rotate and balance made the condition worse. So brought it back in and they road force balanced it. Seemed to make the vibration a little less for first week or so and then it came back (in fact the improvement may have just been in my head). So brought it back yet again this past week. The Lead service technician drove with me this time and said he could feel it immediately. He said the vibration was caused by the magnetic ride control suspension and there was likely nothing they could do about it, but would speak to a GM engineer to assess any potential fixes. I asked why it drove so well the first 6,000 miles and all he could say is that the magnetic ride control suspensions seem to firm up over time and this is typical on trucks with this option. Had I known this was "typical" I would have NEVER bought a truck with this option. And what infuriates me is that it drove perfectly as I said for the first 6,000 or so miles.

Anyway, the GM engineer has no fix so I am picking it up tomorrow with the same damn issue! This is an $80K truck that obviously LACKS a drive/suspension mode option to change it from comfort to sport - and it seems to have a default suspension setting of SUPER sport. And I now have no option but to just grin and bear it until I get so fed up that I sell it. I am beyond frustrated and just can't imagine that there is absolutely nothing that can be done to correct this situation. I also know that I can't possibly be the only one out there with this problem so I am hoping that there are forum members that have experienced what I am going through and their service department found an answer.

Please let me know your thoughts - and many thanks in advance for any support/guidance that you can provide!

Jeremy
Your description of the ride getting worse is exactly our experience with a 2017 Denali. I have had everything done as you have but the ride is still not the same as when we first bought it. We now have 10k miles and they are trying to convince me that the rough ride is normal. I don't know what to do next. I wish GM would fix it with an update. This is our 5th Denali and it will be the last because of this issue. The previous Denali rode quite well.
tjfish
 

007matman

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@GM Customer Service , yall care to weigh in?
LOL..

I'll paraphrase. "So sorry for your troubles. Bring it into the dealer and we'll make sure it is resolved".

Followed by the dealer does absolutely nothing except tell you it 's not covered under warranty and it'll be 2k to replace them all.

Don't count on them for anything.. they're basically chat-bots.

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gat0r

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^ yeah, but there is always hope... lol
 

Blanch44

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Don't Count on it !!! My '15 Rides Very Stiff and Talked to Chevy Customer Service . After Taking it to the dealer who said ride was normal . CCS Called my dealer and they told them it was normal !!! Yea for a Covered Wagon !!! They aren't doing anything!!! Put Bilstien 5100's in Rear not much better . Working on something different up front. Going to lower rear with belltech springs so rear will be better .
 

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