I have the Dreaded Rear Hatch Bubbling Syndrome...Help!
08-15-2009, 05:32 PM
#41
Safety Car
Not sure if you can see it in this pic, but guys asked so . . .
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Look in the yellow area to the left of the rear emblem, and to a lesser degree in the red area to the right.
When I noticed it I searched for the reason, and as stated here it is a problem to some in varying degrees. Mine is barely noticable, so Im leaving it as is for now.
[IMG]
[/IMG]Look in the yellow area to the left of the rear emblem, and to a lesser degree in the red area to the right.
When I noticed it I searched for the reason, and as stated here it is a problem to some in varying degrees. Mine is barely noticable, so Im leaving it as is for now.
08-15-2009, 05:46 PM
#42
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: Sacramento California
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Not sure if you can see it in this pic, but guys asked so . . .
[IMG][/IMG]
Look in the yellow area to the left of the rear emblem, and to a lesser degree in the red area to the right.
When I noticed it I searched for the reason, and as stated here it is a problem to some in varying degrees. Mine is barely noticable, so Im leaving it as is for now.
[IMG]
[/IMG]Look in the yellow area to the left of the rear emblem, and to a lesser degree in the red area to the right.
When I noticed it I searched for the reason, and as stated here it is a problem to some in varying degrees. Mine is barely noticable, so Im leaving it as is for now.
08-15-2009, 07:17 PM
#44
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2009
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If GM had any integrity, they should offer at least a discount repair to current owners but they won't. Getting a bailout from taxpayers does not equal returning the favor and improving GM's reputation and their customer relations. Apparently one way street as usual.
08-16-2009, 12:33 AM
#45
Le Mans Master
From the date on the TSB, it looks to me like this problem did not present itself until the end of the C5 run in 2004. I know that my 2001 did not show the problem for over 5 years and it appeared literally overnight. I guess by the time these started becoming showing up it was too late for them to fix the bonding strip? I see people from 1997 to 2004 claiming they are having the problem, so if all the hatches came from the same vendor over those years, my guess is that they my all have the problem eventually.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TSB #040851003 -- REAR HATCH SURFACE BLISTERING. *EH (NHTSA ID #10012129, JULY 01 2004)
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TSB #040851003 -- REAR HATCH SURFACE BLISTERING. *EH (NHTSA ID #10012129, JULY 01 2004)
08-17-2009, 11:00 AM
#46
5th Gear
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Jistari, I see it in your pic very well. Mine is far worse. 
KCjeff, I agree totally, heat is the catalyst that kicks off the problem. Actually I would say "super heat"! I live in Florida and it is always HOT here! Mine is an 02' and this condition occurred in about 4 hours time two weekends ago. It was especially hot that day and I left the car out in the drive which I never do. But hey who would have thunk that a $55,000 plus car wasn't supposed to be out in the weather! 
KCjeff, I agree totally, heat is the catalyst that kicks off the problem. Actually I would say "super heat"! I live in Florida and it is always HOT here! Mine is an 02' and this condition occurred in about 4 hours time two weekends ago. It was especially hot that day and I left the car out in the drive which I never do. But hey who would have thunk that a $55,000 plus car wasn't supposed to be out in the weather!
08-18-2009, 01:21 AM
#47
Safety Car
I guess heat could have something to do with it. I keep it garaged all the time but use it just about every day (short trips, but if its out, its almost always moving).
I dont know though, its black and even on the rare day when Im parked somewhere for an extended period of time it gets crazy hot (the surface I mean). Hard to imagine that I havent heated it up about as hot as its ever gonna get.
Im pretty sure mine is stable, whatever happened happened (dont see it getting worse) <=== wtf? I had to say that right? sigh. Oh well.
Good luck with yours
I dont know though, its black and even on the rare day when Im parked somewhere for an extended period of time it gets crazy hot (the surface I mean). Hard to imagine that I havent heated it up about as hot as its ever gonna get.
Im pretty sure mine is stable, whatever happened happened (dont see it getting worse) <=== wtf? I had to say that right? sigh. Oh well.
Good luck with yours
05-23-2010, 02:36 AM
#48
Drifting
I would guess that simply repainting the deck lid will only result in the blistering reappearing over time since the problem material is still beneath the surface. Can anyone comment on this?
Last edited by Speed Trap; 05-23-2010 at 02:51 AM.
05-23-2010, 05:11 AM
#49
Le Mans Master
Of course, if you are a painter it might be worth a try, but the source of the problem is not the surface or the paint - it is the bonding strip.
09-06-2010, 06:51 PM
#50
2nd Gear
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My hatch has severe bubbling to the left and right of the rear emblem. The dealer says they won't cover it after having a GM rep look at it . The estimate is $1400 to replace and paint the rear hatch. I have read other posts where some of you have gotten yours repaired under warranty(despite being out of warranty) or courtesy repairs on vettes as old as 2001. Mine is an 02 with 26K miles and showroom condition. Should I bite the bullet or is their a higher authority to contact? Also, is $1400 an OK price? I am interested in what others may have paid for the replacement. Thanks for your input. ----------------------- (After a month and a half of phone calls and trips to three different dealers I am getting a GM courtesy repair on my rear hatch. Persistence, being cordial, patient and finding an enthusiastic advocate at GM paid off. I am a bit surprised under the current situation with GM but thankful for the outcome. Thanks for the advice everyone.)
05-16-2017, 09:23 AM
#51
Drifting
So how do we fix this?
Ok so now here we are in 2017 without a solid resolution to this issue.
Forget about fixes from GM. Too much time has passed. But what about all of the low miled coddled garage queens out here. Can this be repaired by a good paint shop by sanding, sealing and re painting?
My pristine 2004 black coupe that is scarred by this defect wants to know.
Forget about fixes from GM. Too much time has passed. But what about all of the low miled coddled garage queens out here. Can this be repaired by a good paint shop by sanding, sealing and re painting?
My pristine 2004 black coupe that is scarred by this defect wants to know.
Last edited by Bruce Wayne; 05-16-2017 at 09:26 AM.
05-16-2017, 09:32 AM
#52
Burning Brakes
If this is the same issue as the Fbody roof panel blistering then nope. People had to replace the roof panels and use new type of glue to hold it down. You can sand, primer paint all you want the blisters will come back due to the glue used by GM.
I know I done it 4 times and the blisters came back over time.
I know I done it 4 times and the blisters came back over time.
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05-16-2017, 10:52 AM
#53
Le Mans Master
Following this.
Happened to my 03.
Had a local paint shop refinish it last year but it looks like it is reoccuring now ;^(
Guess I better start looking for a replacement hatch..........but the replacement could also have this problem develop ;^(
Doubt it is a heat issue now on mine as I live in Oregon and the car is always garaged.
Jim
Happened to my 03.
Had a local paint shop refinish it last year but it looks like it is reoccuring now ;^(
Guess I better start looking for a replacement hatch..........but the replacement could also have this problem develop ;^(
Doubt it is a heat issue now on mine as I live in Oregon and the car is always garaged.
Jim
05-16-2017, 11:28 AM
#54
Burning Brakes
Google- Bubbling Sail panels Fbody. A lot of us were pissed off on this. A lot of dealers refused to fix under warranty.
Last edited by bravo29; 05-16-2017 at 11:28 AM.
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05-17-2017, 12:58 PM
#56
Race Director
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Wow, never knew of this defect in the C5. My 02's hatch has a crack in it and a body shop said they could not fix it, that the whole hatch would have to be replaced. $$$ So, for now, it will remain that way
05-17-2017, 10:20 PM
#58
Intermediate
Old post on this problem
In an old post from Choreo with the title "99 c5 decklid question" and dated 12-11-16, 6:34 p.m. this is what was stated:
"There were some issues on a few of the coupes where the bonding strip on the rear deck started to bleed through the paint over time. I had this happen on my black 2001. Mine showed up as about a 1-1/2" wide strip almost across the full width of the back and it appeared overnight. You only noticed it from certain angles when the light hit it and it appeared like excessive orange peel."
Hope this helps with this question.
"There were some issues on a few of the coupes where the bonding strip on the rear deck started to bleed through the paint over time. I had this happen on my black 2001. Mine showed up as about a 1-1/2" wide strip almost across the full width of the back and it appeared overnight. You only noticed it from certain angles when the light hit it and it appeared like excessive orange peel."
Hope this helps with this question.
05-17-2017, 11:09 PM
#59
Melting Slicks
When this happened on my 01, dealer was willing to repair under warranty; they ordered and painted the panel, I brought the car in to have the panel replaced. Thats when they told me no guarantee they would not break the back glass in the process of replacing the panel. Said if the glass broke, I would have to pay for the glass.
After some discussion, the hatch was not replace.
A bunch of years and 100k miles later, the bubbles are still there.
None have broken, and the bubble patch has not grown.
After some discussion, the hatch was not replace.
A bunch of years and 100k miles later, the bubbles are still there.
None have broken, and the bubble patch has not grown.
05-17-2017, 11:27 PM
#60
Drifting