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I have to think heat has something to do with the problem. I noticed the problem when the dash piece over the instrument cluster was quite hot. The bubble was very noticeable. Once cooled, it was barely noticeable.
When de-bonding occurs, the bubbling up and away from the dashboard surface, is where the heating effect becomes evident. It's not known whether heat caused the de-bonding to occur. That's my feeling on the issue.
The 3LT bug caught me again as I am soo eager to get the red dash. I searched and found there is a tear mender / syringe approach to even out most of the bubbling.
I also noticed in an alfa 4C forum that someone followed this approach and got most of the bubbles evened out.
I am curious to know if anyone has tried this?
Yes the bubbling has occurred twice on my 2021 C8 3LT. Replaced one in 2023 cover under warranty, happening again in 2025 not under warranty. 326.00 to replace not including Tax or labor. It's a problem going forward. part# 84972564
I have a 2023 3LT. The dash over the instrument cluster is starting to bubble. I had the car in the sun with a windshield shade. It was not too terribly hot in the car but I noticed the dash over the cluster is very hot even when the inside of the car is cool. The rest of the dash is only warm. I had the stereo about 1/2 volume which is fairly loud. I don't know if there is an amplifier under the dash in that area or something else generating so much heat. Do others have that area of the dash getting so hot compared to the rest?
Yes the bubbling has occurred twice on my 2021 C8 3LT. Replaced one in 2023 cover under warranty, happening again in 2025 not under warranty. 326.00 to replace not including Tax or labor. It's a problem going forward. part# 84972564
Yes the bubbling has occurred twice on my 2021 C8 3LT. Replaced one in 2023 cover under warranty, happening again in 2025 not under warranty. 326.00 to replace not including Tax or labor. It's a problem going forward. part# 84972564
If you want to save some money you could easily replace it yourself, it just attached with clips. It can be purchased for a little over $200.
Repeat here from a similar thread. I have a 2023 C8 3LT with 8700 miles. This car has always been garaged. I've read about the dash bubbles here and on Facebook forums. I had hoped I dodged the bullet until today... Errrr the dreaded bubble showed up on the dash 'beak' above the speedo. I was pushing it down, thinking about calling the dealer, see if I can get it fixed outside of warranty..... (over 3 years) Anyway went to lunch came out 90 degree day in SC and to my surprise, the heat made the bubble disappear. The dash looks good, it's tight, no bubble. 1. I think the leather surface and the plastic or whatever is under the leather, expand and contract at different rates and that may cause the glue to let loose. 2. Has anyone tried to fix the problem themself? I was thinking a hypodermic needle with glue, inject it under the leather and then pressing it down to dry... would that work OR some kind of surgical slit to let the leather expand and contract....
Not sure what to do with a well documented problem that went away.... for the time being anyway.
Repeat here from a similar thread. I have a 2023 C8 3LT with 8700 miles. This car has always been garaged. I've read about the dash bubbles here and on Facebook forums. I had hoped I dodged the bullet until today... Errrr the dreaded bubble showed up on the dash 'beak' above the speedo. I was pushing it down, thinking about calling the dealer, see if I can get it fixed outside of warranty..... (over 3 years) Anyway went to lunch came out 90 degree day in SC and to my surprise, the heat made the bubble disappear. The dash looks good, it's tight, no bubble. 1. I think the leather surface and the plastic or whatever is under the leather, expand and contract at different rates and that may cause the glue to let loose. 2. Has anyone tried to fix the problem themself? I was thinking a hypodermic needle with glue, inject it under the leather and then pressing it down to dry... would that work OR some kind of surgical slit to let the leather expand and contract....
Not sure what to do with a well documented problem that went away.... for the time being anyway.
I had the same thing happen to my Cadillac leather dash. Bubble in the AM, sun in the afternoon and it went away. It did come back however and had the entire dash pad replaced under warranty. Take pictures when it bubbles and bring them to the dealer. Worked for me.
I tried the glue syringe technique and it worked great. After applying the glue, make sure there is no glue on the dash, I put down a folded towel that would fit the dash contours and put two heavy books on the towel to press it down while the glue dried. Dave July 2025
The trim inside the heads-up display (C8 HTC) developed a bubble while in the extremely hot sun yesterday. Is this replaceable? The dash looks great with no bubbles (knock on wood). I was ready to sell until the wife calmed me down Recommendations
I have a 3LZ and luckily no issues after 1 year of ownership in hot Florida. Just been trying to maintain the safest approach with my dash but I'm curious if people that are having issues are using allot of products on it and possibly soaking through causing the adhesive to get contaminated and let go.... I have used very very little product on my dash and didn't spray it directly. Anyone else have any thoughts on this theory?
I have a 3LZ and luckily no issues after 1 year of ownership in hot Florida. Just been trying to maintain the safest approach with my dash but I'm curious if people that are having issues are using allot of products on it and possibly soaking through causing the adhesive to get contaminated and let go.... I have used very very little product on my dash and didn't spray it directly. Anyone else have any thoughts on this theory?
I have wondered if well meaning people have used some kind of leather conditioner and exasperated the problem. It especially makes me suspicious when the same person has the dash bubble multiple times as well as people that have both dash and door problems at the same time. I follow the instructions in the owner's manual and use a cloth dampened with a mild soap solution. I never had a problem on my 2015 3LT and haven't had a problem on my 2020 3LT. It isn't real leather and a leather conditioner doesn't do it any good.
But debonded dash panels have been observed on new cars sitting on the showroom floor. Unless the dealer did something to cause that there is probably more to it than just using a leather cleaning/conditioning product.
I tried the glue syringe technique and it worked great. After applying the glue, make sure there is no glue on the dash, I put down a folded towel that would fit the dash contours and put two heavy books on the towel to press it down while the glue dried. Dave July 2025
I used it on the HUD cover piece. It had air bubbles it it though. I used the syringe to inject the glue and tried to smooth it out. I could hear the glue 'sloshing' around under the material, but I could not get the air bubbles out. I quickly rigged up a vacuum pump and adapted a hose that fit snugly into a syringe without the plunger in. I started the vacuum pump, inserted the needle and it just sucked all of the air out and pulled the material tight to the surface. I put a piece of foam on top with some small sand bag weights overnight and it looks very good now.
UPDATE. I have tried the glue syringe 'solution' three times now. There are still bubbles and now the leather on the dash looks like a heroin addict with needle marks. Glue didn't work for me and now my dash looks like a mess. I found out I can buy a new replacement from a local Chevy dealer for $241. This is for black napa leather with red stitching. I'm concerned it will happen again, the parts person said the part number has been changed several times. I hope this means Chevy has been fixing the problem and they wouldn't DARE sell a replacement with the same problem. This is the HUD dash piece, central, over the speedo, directly in front of the driver. It looks like it is held with clips and can simply be popped out. I looked into other solutions, a carbon fiber option is available for $900. I called a local upholstery shop and looking into having this piece recovered with leather by them. Anybody else have solutions, recommend third party sources of replacements etc?
I don't know why the glue system didn't work for me. I used Bish's Original Tear Mender as I saw on several videos. This glue is very 'watery' not the consistency of most glue I'm used to.
UPDATE. I have tried the glue syringe 'solution' three times now. There are still bubbles and now the leather on the dash looks like a heroin addict with needle marks. Glue didn't work for me and now my dash looks like a mess. I found out I can buy a new replacement from a local Chevy dealer for $241. This is for black napa leather with red stitching. I'm concerned it will happen again, the parts person said the part number has been changed several times. I hope this means Chevy has been fixing the problem and they wouldn't DARE sell a replacement with the same problem. This is the HUD dash piece, central, over the speedo, directly in front of the driver. It looks like it is held with clips and can simply be popped out. I looked into other solutions, a carbon fiber option is available for $900. I called a local upholstery shop and looking into having this piece recovered with leather by them. Anybody else have solutions, recommend third party sources of replacements etc?
I don't know why the glue system didn't work for me. I used Bish's Original Tear Mender as I saw on several videos. This glue is very 'watery' not the consistency of most glue I'm used to.
Some people have purchased the 2LT HUD cover which doesn't use "leather" but a synthetic leather instead.
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