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Sunroof leak issue

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40K views 27 replies 24 participants last post by  Ruthann Brooks  
#1 ·
Did anyone ever find a solution to the water pouring out of the seatbelt assembly and lights after it rains?? No one ever came back to the forum with a solution. Some claimed it was the drainage tubes, others said it was not.
 
#2 ·
I apologize for not getting back to you guys about this. I went to the dealer three times and they had my Suburban for three of the four weeks right after I purchased it. That was really frustrating; the last time I went in with video of the leaks and they took me seriously.

I'm not very good at explaining things so I took some pictures to help.

I was told that one drain at the rear of the sunroof was kinked causing the water to back up and not drain. The water then collected and built up in the headliner, sloshing around and gushing out when I backed out of the driveway and started driving. Take a look at these pics, I hope I explain so it makes sense.


Pic 1 - This is the slope of my driveway and the green circle is where the replaced drain is located. Parking uphill caused the water to pool in the back. By the way, this issue only happened when pulled in, if I backed into my driveway I had no leaks.
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Picture 2 -This is from the dealer while they had the headliner out. The green drain line is kinked up towards the roof instead of draining down. Somehow this caused the water to back up, I guess there was too much water trying to drain and no air could escape thus causing the water to back up and overflow. Pic says "upward link", should be "upward kink"...fat fingers
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Picture 3 - Don't mind the baby, that's my little helper :) This is a view from directly above (passenger side). Circled in red are two of the many drains from the sunroof channel, that for some reason I don't understand drain from the channel to inside the vehicle. These allow the collected water to get into the space above the headliner.
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Picture 4 - This view is from the passenger side, standing on the running boards. This is a side view of the drains from pic 3, look at the left drain and you can see the headliner through the opening, underlined in blue.
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Picture 5 - This is from inside the vehicle, sitting in the driver's seat looking up above the passenger. Circled in red are the same drains from pics 3 and 4. It's hard to tell but the drains are under the weather stripping and above the headliner. If you get a hose and run it in the sunroof track you can see how the water leaks from the track into the space above the headliner.
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So, that's what I found out about the issue, and it seems to have worked. I live in NJ and we get a lot of rain, there have numerous storms since the repair and I have had no issues. I hope this helps.
 
#4 ·
Well, after GMC supposedly fixed my problem, it rained last night and water poured out just like before, only this time it also leaked out of the overhead console up front with the lights in multiple electrical controls are! So I go back to GMC for the third time tomorrow. Overall my car has been in the shop 21 days. According to California lemon law, if they can’t fix it in under 30 days, I get a new car. Also if I brought it back three times for the same problem, this might also qualify. I think I’m gonna get a ‘22 Yukon XL very soon. That will be great, as long as it doesn’t leak!
 
#5 ·
Just started with a similar issue. Did you ever get yours fixed / sold / or drove to the woods and started on fire?
2021 GMC Yukon Denali XL
I bought my Yukon New off the lot Nov27th 2020 for just under $80k.
We’ve had it just 25 months.
Beautiful SUV, We love it.
Well we did anyway..
December 2022 Noticed a water leak.
Water is coming out of the headliner and getting on the 2nd and 3rd row seats, as well as the carpet, speakers, etc…
Went to my local GMAC Dealer / Service desk.
I had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t going to end well or make me happy.
I was told that this is common, and that happens when the sunroof drain becomes clogged.
Did some checking and found out that the drains on my vehicle are not visible.
Drain tubes are located at the back of the sunroof, beneath the second piece of glass.
By the way the second piece of glass doesn’t move.
Apparently the only way to get to it is to remove the headliner.
And I was informed that this is not covered by my warranty! and I shouldn’t get upset because it’s just an object.
Absolutely perfect!!! Leaking wet, damp, about to mold, stink and rot…. So of course a 3 year bumper to bumper wouldn’t cover it.
Why would it!!!!
 
#6 ·
Just started with a similar issue. Did you ever get yours fixed / sold / or drove to the woods and started on fire? 2021 GMC Yukon Denali XL I bought my Yukon New off the lot Nov27th 2020 for just under $80k. We’ve had it just 25 months. Beautiful SUV, We love it. Well we did anyway.. December 2022 Noticed a water leak. Water is coming out of the headliner and getting on the 2nd and 3rd row seats, as well as the carpet, speakers, etc… Went to my local GMAC Dealer / Service desk. I had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t going to end well or make me happy. I was told that this is common, and that happens when the sunroof drain becomes clogged. Did some checking and found out that the drains on my vehicle are not visible. Drain tubes are located at the back of the sunroof, beneath the second piece of glass. By the way the second piece of glass doesn’t move. Apparently the only way to get to it is to remove the headliner. And I was informed that this is not covered by my warranty! and I shouldn’t get upset because it’s just an object. Absolutely perfect!!! Leaking wet, damp, about to mold, stink and rot…. So of course a 3 year bumper to bumper wouldn’t cover it. Why would it!!!!
 
#9 ·
I have had the same issue with the new 2021 yukon denali I purchased 12/2020. I have had my suv in times to fix different leaks (back seat foot area - water & mold. It was in for a month), front passenger (wheel well and coming out the seat belt & driver side leak) and front passenger side closer to the console. The suv was in to a different dealer for the last leak because they could get the vehicle in to their shop in 2 weeks instead of the other 3 dealers 2+ months. This dealer had really good customer service (FINALLY!); however, I received the car back on Thursday and the carpet is now very wet. Has anyone had success with getting a replacement vehicle? if so, did you go to the dealer or call GM customer assistance. Would love to hear any information. I love this vehicle but the leaks are not getting fixed and with one exception, the customer service has been subpar.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Exact same issue!
Waited 3 months for My 2022 Tahoe z71 paid sight unseen due to “market demands” $80k plus $10k in dealership required add ons …clear coat, protective liners ceramic coat etc etc service contracts extended warranty etc..so $90k in on this bad boy…absolutely loved it 6.2 with the Borla exhaust every upgrade….well I did love it until it started leaking…pouring actually water though the headliner Dec 8th 2022… I live in Oregon ..it rains here the truck has now been to the dealership 3 times now they have had it for 50 days total as of now.. filed a case with GM. Yesterday was told car was “fixed” found rodent debris blocking the real exit sunroof drains by the wheel wheels wells. So they “cleared the debris” GM called to let me know since this was not a manufacture issue our case is closed sorry about your luck. Asked the service etc if they had rain tested it said yeah it’s all good! Skeptical I came home gave it a car wash being that I was extremely skeptical I held the hose over the roof for extra long and guess what!? It’s leaks!!!!! Same exact problem as before water out the seatbelts, airbags, lights on star buttons. ….the “rodent debris” excuse was a lie so was the first 2 excuses they came up with… Brand new tahoe now completely flood damaged and unsafe …water through all of the airbags and electrical equipment and now moldy carpets…. Beyond frustrated taking it back a 4th time now and have opened another claim with GM hope they do right here I feel this one is a lemon. I’ll get some video up soon.
 
#11 ·
This sounds like it happens enough that there should be a recall or fix for this. We have a 2022 suburban that we bought new less than a year ago. Today water started leaking through the back passenger light, passenger seat belt, and center console where the rear view mirror is.

Our previous car was a 2015 suburban and we had leaking in that roof as well. When we took it to the dealer, they told us they could check it, but if they didn't find anything they would charge us for looking (~$1,500). We couldn't afford that so we just accepted that it leaked when it rained sometimes.

Now it's already happening with our brand new suburban. Chevy must know is a perpetual problem. I feel like I got swindled.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Just FYI. Gm will do nothing. Get a lawyer and don’t waste your time with the dealership or custmer service. My sunroof has leaked 5 times under warranty and they do nothing. I’m grateful the dealership provides a loaner which helps keep the miles down on by suburban. But he advised, an extended warranty’s doesn’t cover water leaks.
 
#13 ·
Do they know why it is leaking? I have a 2023 tahoe and it has leaked 3 times so far. Usually only after being parked at an incline. They said it was clogged drain tubes and they cleaned it out for free this time but said that is not covered under my warranty. I barely open the sunroof but they said there were pine needles, leaves etc. I don’t even have trees near my driveway.
 
#18 ·
Hello, I bought a 2023 Tahoe in September and have immediately had issues with water leaking through the roof and now soaking the passenger side carpet on the front seats. The car smells like mold, and the carpet cannot get dry. GM is giving me the runaround and the dealership is claiming none of it’s covered under warranty. Does anyone have a lawyer that they’ve sought out to help with their issue? Between the dealership (Curry Chevrolet in Scarsdale, NY) and GM there are no advocates and everyone’s pointing the finger a different way but not themselves. I love this truck, but this is absolutely outrageous for a brand new $75,000 vehicle.
 
#20 ·
Hello from grey skies Ohio - We are currently experiencing the same issue with our 2022 Tahoe. Our driveway is on an incline and after about almost 2yrs of bringing it up to multiple dealerships. Even mentioned they had a "water specialist" look at it, which I found out never happened. Wife opened the sunroof today, the air deflector that pops up was soaking wet. She touched it immediately said it smells so bad and her hand smelled like musty, moldy water. We are taking it in to be repaired, since they did nothing before they should check my liner for mold. I can't agree more on spending $70k on a car and it leaks.
 
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#24 ·
I took mine in to a local mechanic. After Chevy failed me after “fixing it by cleaning the drain channels”

They checked the drains that were near the rear wheel well and they were blocked by insulation. they cut two small sections of the insulation to let the water thru, they tested it and said it’s working properly now. We will see during our next rain
 
#28 ·
Yeah, this issue is usually caused by clogged or disconnected sunroof drainage tubes, especially in the rear. Water backs up and leaks through the headliner, seatbelt assembly, or dome lights. That said, in some cases, the drainage tubes are intact but poorly sealed where they exit the body, or the grommets shrink over time. Best fix is to check all four drains (front and rear), clear them with compressed air, and reseal the exit points if needed.