CHIP SHORTAGE HAS AN ODD VICTIM: HVAC TEMP DISPLAYS IN GM TRUCKS

No one knows when this mess is going to end with the vehicle chip shortages, but it seems to be getting worse than it is getting better. And one of the more recent casualties during this sweeping supply chain is the digital HVAC readout in General Motors pickup trucks. GM-Trucks.com reported that dealers were recently alerted that Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado and 2022 GMC Canyon, and the GMC Acadia and Terrain would be delivered without a functioning digital temperature display for its HVAC controls between August 23 through August 26. While these dates were given, dealers were also told to expect the issue to be drawn out with these vehicles through the 2022 model year, including the 2022 Silverado LTD and 2022 Sierra Limited.

GM Trucks Continue Production With Missing Content

This is not the first feature that has received a downgrade from the chip shortage. HD radio on GM trucks, for example, was canceled early on because of the crisis, as was DFM cylinder deactivation technology. GM T1 SUVs have lost the stop/start feature.

General Motors plans to issue updated software for the infotainment center that will allow the driver/passenger to have more access to the temperature options through the screen. All vehicles with missing temperature displays on the knobs will have an RPO Code of “00D” indicating the missing digital temp readout. And hold on to your hats, there will be a $20 discount applied to these vehicles.

For the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, this is not a temporary fix as almost all light-duty trucks for the rest of 2021 and almost all of 2022 will have the same RPO “00D” Code. There will be some trim levels that avoid this fate and those are the 2021- 2022 Silverado LTZ and High County and the 2021-2022 Sierra AT4 and Denali models. For mid-size trucks, changes apply to all Colorado and Canyon trucks including the ZR2 and the Denali. Although the GMC Acadia and the Denali get lucky and will receive the digital temperature readout on the knobs, all 2022 GMC Terrain models will be denied the automatic climate control readout.

Here is a quick list of the vehicles that will be affected:  

• 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500: LT / LT[2FL] / RST / LT TrailBoss
• 2021 GMC Sierra: SLE / Elevation (3SB) / Elevation (3VL) / SLT
• 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTD: LT / LT[2FL] / RST / LT TrailBoss
• 2022 GMC Sierra Limited: SLE / Elevation (3SB) / Elevation (3VL) / SLT
• 2022 Chevrolet Colorado: LT / Z71 / ZR2
• 2022 GMC Canyon: Evevation / AT4 / Denali
• 2022 GMC Acadia: SLE / SLT / AT4
• 2022 GMC Terrain: SLE / SLT / AT4 / Denali