General Motors Crossovers and Pickup Trucks Are Losing Crucial Features
Due to the chip shortage, General Motors crossovers and pickup trucks are losing crucial features. Consequently, it might be time to hold off on purchasing a GM vehicle for a while. The chip shortage has been an issue for just about every automaker worldwide. It’s delayed manufacturing of new vehicles everywhere, and now it is explicitly impacting certain parts for General Motors vehicles. The worst part is, the two types of vehicles affected are the most popular in America.
Which features are GM crossovers and pickup trucks losing?
Unfortunately, the features going away are essential for many buyers. Heated seats, heated steering wheels, and ventilated seats have all been “chopped.” Those are some of the most prominent features many potential buyers look for and can often be a selling point. The ongoing microchip shortage is the cause of the loss of features.
According to GM Authority, starting November 15th, drivers of new crossovers and pickups from GM will have cold bottoms. Fortunately, some of the highest trim levels from specific models may still offer heated seats. However, many of the most popular brands and models are affected.
Which General Motors models are affected?
Chevy models getting their features deleted include the Chevy Colorado, Blazer, and Equinox. GMC Canyon and Terrain owners will also be without warm undersides this winter. The good news is, if you’re in the market for a Chevy Silverado or Traverse, these features are available. The same goes for the GMC Sierra and Acadia; the only catch is you must purchase the highest trim.
For the Chevy models, that’s the High Country, which starts significantly higher than the rest. The GMC variant of the same trim level is Denali for both the Sierra pickup truck and Acadia SUV. In other words, if you want a GM vehicle with heated seats this year, be prepared to break the bank.
| Model | Base price | Highest trim price |
| 2022 Chevy Silverado | $30,400 | High Country – $53,900 |
| 2022 Chevy Traverse | $33,700 | High Country – $50,900 |
| 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 | $31,200 | Denali – $55,800 |
| 2022 GMC Acadia | $34,800 | Denali – $46,105 |
How long will the feature deletion last?
The absence of these features should last throughout the entirety of the 2022 model year. Everything depends on the end of the microchip shortage, though when it will end is unknown. Since it has already lasted a few years, we wouldn’t expect it to end any time soon. The good news is, General Motors is offering customers a little bit of compensation.
For your trouble, if you purchase one of these vehicles, you’ll receive financial compensation. GM knows these are essential features to all owners and offers $150-$500 to buyers. Vehicles can be retrofitted with these features in the future if parts become available.
On a positive note, GM did bring back digital temperature displays for some pickup trucks and a few other previously deleted features. The chip shortage has caused a multitude of issues throughout the automotive industry. General Motors’ heated seats are just the next casualty in the long line of production shortages. If you’ve already got one of these GM vehicles with heated seats, hold onto it for a few years because it might be irreplaceable.
