Looking at the treads I don't see anything current on this issue. I have a 2007, purchased it on Oct. 31, 2007 and already the rear panels are sandblasted. After researching I find that ALL vehicles that do not have the running boards are having this issue. This has been a problem since 2006 and there is a TSB on it as well. Why mine didn't come with boards at the time I have no idea. There are (2) on the lot now with them same price I paid whats the deal. Does anyone else have this issue and has GM stepped up to fixing it. The GM rep in Maine said it was all on me and I had to pay for them myself. I can have the panels painted but not free running boards. So, I've called GM and have complained about the issue and they will investigating. I've found that Canada was giving them to all the customers who had warrenty still FREE whats the deal with that they can't help us out but can for Canada. I have (3) GM vehicles currently and this will be the last if they don't show me they care about my business.

 

It's an ongoing problem that only has one fix. Some have gotten lucky with dealerships working with them, some haven't.

 

Guess I'm one of those who are not having luck. It only shows me they don't care to much about my business and the other two vehicle's I've purchased from them. Does anyone know how much the running boards are. Either way I need them or I'll be getting that thing repainted every 6 months.

 

Keep looking on EBay, they show up often.

 

The only thing I can say about the Canada thing is Its technically 2 different companies in a sense. And even still policies change from province to province as well as state to state.

 

Did your car not come with the plastic rock guards on the doors?

 

You can get them with primer and have them painted or watch for a salvage vehicle that has them.

Here's a couple places online for the primered ones.

http://gmpartsdirect.com

GM PART # 19169603
CATEGORY: Side Steps
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $495.00
OUR PRICE: $390.04

or at

https://www.partszoneonline.com/index.php

Part ID: 19166277

Manufacturer
General Motors

Description
STEP

Old Part Number(s)
N/A List Price: $553.35
Savings: $179.02
Our Price: $374.33
Core Charge: $0.00
Your Cost: $374.33

 

My vehicle did come with the rock guards but I have only had the vehicle for 6 months and they are so chewed up that the Chevy garage said they will paint them since it is under warranty still. A GM rep called me today and said he will "investigate" whatever that means. He is going to call me Thursday to tell me if I will get them free or a discount. All HHR's should have the step rails on them otherwise the Chevy garages will be repaining these things left and right.

 

Then that's probably what's going to wind up happening. GM knows that a certain percentage of people will have scuffed rock guards, a certain percentage of those people will ever notice, and an even fewer percentage of those people will ever care enough to complain and have the parts repainted. In the long run, it actually winds up costing less than providing running boards for every car from the factory.

 

I've got the rock guards and they are getting chipped up to. I thought about just repainting them myself a offset color to make things different. Then if they get chipped again all I have to do is repaint at my own discrection.