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Breaking News: Two consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors (GM) saying a defective engine causes excessive oil consumption in seven popular models.
Lead plaintiffs Ron Shea and Robert Kelly say that 2011 through 2014 models of GM vehicles are equipped with the defective Generation IV 5.3 Liter V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engine, including:
- Chevrolet Avalanche
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
In 2007, GM rolled out the new engine and installed it in its popular models, but the engine is allegedly marred with defects.
“Unfortunately, the Generation IV Vortec 5300 Engine consumes an abnormally and improperly high quantity of oil that far exceeds industry standards for reasonable oil consumption,” claims the class action lawsuit. “This excessive oil consumption results in low oil levels, insufficient lubricity levels, and corresponding internal engine component damage.”
Both Shea and Kelly say they own GM vehicles affected by excessive oil consumption defect. Kelly owns a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban and says he has had to pay for repairs due to low oil levels from the defect.
Both consumers say they would not have purchased or paid as much for their GM vehicles if they knew about the engine defect.
“The Oil Consumption Defect can damage critical engine components and cause drivability problems, such as lack of power from misfire, spark plug fouling, excessive engine noise, abnormal vibration or shaking, piston cracking, head cracking, and, ultimately, engine seizure,” the class action lawsuit states. Shea and Kelly also say that they and other GM owners face substantial safety risks from the engine defect.
The problem allegedly rests with the piston rings in the defective engine. The piston rings can not keep the engine’s oil in the crankcase. This failure is compounded by other problems, specifically the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system that results in migrating oil. In turn, this oil creates problems when it burns or builds up on combustion chamber surfaces, Shea and Kelly assert.
In addition, “a flawed PCV system that vacuums atomized oil from the valvetrain into the intake system, where it is ultimately burned in the combustion chambers,” contributing to excess oil consumption in affected GM vehicles, according to the lawsuit.
Yet another issue causing excessive oil consumption is a so-called “Oil Life Monitoring System” that allegedly fails to monitor the oil level and instead miscalculates the remaining oil, causing operators to drive vehicles with engines that are inadequately lubricated. Compounding this problem is the oil change light that is supposed to notify operators when the fluid is low allegedly does not turn on until the oil level is so low that it could result in damage to the vehicle.
The class action lawsuit concludes that the vehicles were “engineered to fail.” Further, GM knew of the defects, say Shea and Kelly, but refused to disclose or remedy the problem.
The plaintiffs seek to represent consumers nationwide who purchased or leased any of GM vehicles equipped with the allegedly defective Generation IV 5.3 Liter V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engines, along with an Indiana subclass.
Do you own a GM vehicle affected by excessive oil consumption? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below!
The lead plaintiffs and proposed Class Members are represented by Scott L. Starr and Andrew B. Miller of Starr Austen & Miller LLP, Adam J. Levitt, John E. Tangren, and Daniel R. Ferri of Dicello Levitt Gutzler LLC, W. Daniel “Dee” Miles, III, H. Clay Barnett, III, J. Mitch Williams, and Tyner D. Helms of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC, and Jennie Lee Anderson and Lori E. Andrus of Andrus Anderson LLP.
The GM Oil Consumption Engine Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Shea, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 3:21-cv-00086, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
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192 thoughts onGM Oil Consumption Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Engine Defect in Popular Vehicles
I have a 2014 Chevy equinox I purchased it March 2023 and the dealership said they did an oil change but it was bone dry within a month for a tulle dipstick I had to add 3.5 quarts of oil. Then it jumped time that got repaired June 23 2023 they did another oil change and they sealed the valve cover gasket. It is not showing on the dipstick. No leaking on the ground or no black smoke out the exhaust pipe. I just don’t understand where the oil went it’s only been less than 2 weeks since I got the oil changed.
I have A 2014 Terrain. Had it less than a year. Definitely something up with the oil consumption/ motor. Contact me please & thank you.
I have a 2014 GMC Sierra with the 5.3L that is using an abnormal amount of oil. It started around 25K miles and now it currently has 36K miles. Adding oil is no problem but, it is an unnecessary hassle. From the information I have gathered online is that the oil rings are at fault or the bad engineering of the piston’s instead of oil being pushed back down to the oil pan, it is seeping by and being burned off. please help.
My 2013 suburban needs a new engine because it used excessive oil.
I purchased a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado ( first owner) and I only used it for recreational purposes . I would tow my travel trailer and always noticed it would consume oil . I thought perhaps it was viscosity breakdown. Years later I learned that the 5.3 vortex engine has this consumption issue and GM never notified me as they did with the airbag issue which was corrected. I add a quart every 700 miles.
I purchased a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado ( first owner) and I only used it for recreational purposes . I would tow my travel trailer and always noticed it would consume oil . I thought perhaps it was viscosity breakdown. Years later I learned that the 5.3 vortex engine has this consumption issue and GM never notified me as they did with the airbag issue which was corrected. I add a quart every 700 miles.