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A group of consumers alleges in a recently filed class action lawsuit that a defect in the GM 8L90 and the 8L45 transmissions included in vehicles made between 2015 and 2018 causes problems when drivers try to shift the vehicles.
Lead plaintiffs, all GM owners, allege in their class action lawsuit that the 8L90 and 8L45 transmissions are defective, causing drivers to not only experience the “hard shift” but also engine damage. Ultimately, GM owners and lessees face mounting repair costs because of the alleged defect, the complaint says.
“Drivers attempting to accelerate or decelerate their cars feel a hesitation, followed by a significant shake, shudder, jerk, clunk, or ‘hard shift’ when the vehicle’s automatic transmission changes gears,” alleges the GM class action lawsuit.
Further, “The shuddering, shaking, jerking and hesitation is related to internal issues within the transmission and/or torque converter causing friction surfaces, hydraulic systems, and gears to not function properly, and resulting in metal shavings being circulated throughout the transmission,” continues the complaint. “Over time, damage to the transmission and torque converter occurs.”
The GM class action lawsuit contends that the car maker has known about the alleged transmission defect “for years.” Pointing out that GM has issued a technical service bulletin about the problem, the plaintiffs allege that the company has failed to inform consumers.
“But current purchasers and lessees should not have to cross their fingers for a fix, and prospective customers should be told of GM’s awareness of a defect,” argue the plaintiffs. “Presently, it appears GM is merely biding time until its warranty expires.”
According to the GM class action lawsuit, the alleged transmission defect presents a safety risk to drivers and passengers in 2015 through 2018 GM vehicles equipped with GM 8L90 or GM 8L45 transmissions. The defect can, according to the plaintiffs, cause the vehicle to shudder and jerk so violently that owners have complained that it feels as if they have been hit by another car.
The plaintiffs say that one GM owner reported that he almost drove through his garage door because the gear shifted so violently due to the alleged defect.
The class action lawsuit alleges that the defective transmission issue stemmed from GM’s use of an 8-speed transmission starting in 2015. The car maker said that the new 8-speed transmission would distribute power more evenly than the previous 6-speed transmission – a “win-win-win scenario” for consumers, according to advertising released in 2014 about the change.
The GM vehicles that include the 8L90 or 8L45 transmission are the 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado; the 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado; the 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette; the 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro; the 2015-2019 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; the 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS, ATS-V, CTS, CT6, and CTS-V; the 2015-2019 GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL, and Yukon Denali XL; and the 2017-2019 GMC Canyon.
The GM class action lawsuit seeks to represent owners and lessees of vehicles equipped with the GM 8L90 or GM 8L45 transmissions in six different states: Florida, California, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The plaintiffs are represented by Theodore J. Leopold, Andrew N. Friedman, Douglas J. McNamara, and Julia A. Horwitz of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and Robert Gordon and Steven Calamusa of Gordon & Partners PA.
The GM Class Action Lawsuit is Duffy, et al. v. General Motors, Inc., Case No. 9:18-cv-81726-RLR in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida.
UPDATE: The Vehicle Safety Defect Investigation is now open! If you own a vehicle that has a safety defect and you believe it should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, submit your information here.
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291 thoughts onGM Class Action Alleges ‘Hard Shift’ Transmission Defect
I have the same issue with a 2018 GMC Canyon. Its definitely torque converter slip… which will likely destroy the transmission. I am furious that they have been producing this clearly defective product and have not only done nothing to fix it, but have lied to people that have tried to get this issue fixed.
I wish I knew this before I bought it…. I will never buy another GMC product!!
They have received preferential treatment from the government, the least they could do is produce a reliable product.
I too have this problem with my 2017 Silverado High Country. I bought it with 19k miles and since the day i drove it off the lot i thought there was issues. I called the dealership and they said it was normal. I have taken it back so many times this is beginning to be a joke! First the did a fluid flush which made it shudder worse, then they did the “relearn” which did no help, then the did the torque converter which again did not help and only made it shudder worse at the speeds of 50-70 then they had it and tore transmission apart to find that the shift plates work scorched and told me they needed to rebuild the transmission. They ordered parts and after about 3 weeks of waiting they told me the parts were on a nation wide back order to they called GM and made them ship a “new” transmission from the factory. I got the truck back in 29 days and it is still the same shudder and clunks as it was before. Now that I have taken to social media to bash Chevy they have reached out to me and want me to take it back again because in the the last 30 days they say there is a new fluid fix. In my opinion they are waiting for the warranty to run out so all these costly repairs will be out of my pocket. GM is a joke!
16 LTZ bought with 14k miles transmission problems at 17k
They flushed the fluid once and after I started having problems again and take it back they say they want to change it to the latest greatest fluid . Help
Have a 2017 Chevy Silverado LTZ loaded. Have all the transmission issues mentioned.. they now want to buy back, minus the mileage when I first reported ( first oil change at 9k). Don’t know if I should except anything less than all my $, downpayment, accessories, warranty. Also, I gave up rebates to get 0% financing which I now do not get to realize. Need help.. thanks
I own a 2017 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate withe 6.2L and 8 Speed Transmission, bought new with extended 100k warranty. I have had all the symptoms, slamming into 1st while downshifting, surging between 2-3, shudder at slight throttle. I’ve had to the dealership 4 times, relearn, flush trans, relearn + flush, then the latest was another “new” fluid they flushed with. The issue is back yet again. How do I get on this law suite. I live near Detroit, MI.
Hi. I live in Georgia, but bought the truck in Michigan. It is a 2017 Denali GMC Sierra truck and I experience the hard shift from gear 1-2 at around 6-7 mph. How do I leverage this class action to fix my transmission?
Bought 2015 that had 15k with 6 speed that had long lags or no gear when turning or merging. Dealer said it is normal and would not repair. I was worried about safety of family so after owning it for 5 months I let dealer convince me to buy 2018 5.3 8 speed and guess what, dealer says hard shifting is normal and won’t fix.
I have a 2017 Chevy Silverado crewcab 1500 4wd with the same transmission issues and I’ve taken it several times to the dealership for trouble shooting and repair. They’ve done the transmission computer reprogramming and also replaced the valve body and still the same transmission issues exist. I’ve also filed a complaint with the customer care department but was only in contact with them twice and then they never call me back for any follow ups. Please let me what can be done to fix this problem. Thanks
Same here. 2017 Sierra 5.3l 8 speed. Been in the dealer at least 10 times. Still not fixed. Replaced trans then torque converter, flushed out 4 separate times.
Love the truck, but need this fixed!
How do I get in on this Class Action lawsuit?
I own 2 gmc trucks 2016 Yukon Denali and a 2017 Sierra Denali. Both have faulty transmissions that GMC has given the the brush off about. 150k in automobiles and that’s the treatment I get. Government bailout frauds they are. ?