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Certain GM eight-speed transmissions are defective and can result in “violent” lurches, according to a recent class action lawsuit.
A group of plaintiffs claim that General Motors (GM) manufactured vehicles between 2015 and 2019 that were equipped with defective transmissions.
The allegedly defective automatic transmission models are the GM 8L90 and the GM 8L45.
The defect in these transmissions reportedly results in a “hesitation” when drivers are attempting to accelerate or decelerate, “followed by a significant shake, shudder, jerk, clunk, or ‘hard shift’ when the vehicle’s automatic transmission changes gears.” This can reportedly also occur when the driver is accelerating in a single gear and not actively shifting gears.
According to the GM transmission class action lawsuit, the shift from the transmission is so violent that it feels as if the vehicle has been hit by another car. One purchaser even reported almost driving through his garage door when the transmission shifted from reverse to drive.
Plaintiffs in the GM class action claim that the defect is related to internal issues with the transmission and torque converter.
The defect allegedly results in “undue friction” on surfaces which causes the hydraulic systems and gears to malfunction. As a result, metal shavings are generated in the transmission and circulate throughout the component, the GM class action states.
The GM class action lawsuit claims that the only repair for the defect is a complete replacement of transmission components. This includes the torque converter, valve body, or, in serious cases, the entire transmission.
“As such, the Transmission Defect endangers the drivers and passengers of the vehicles and diminishes the value of the vehicles,” the plaintiffs argue. “It creates uncertainty for drivers of the Subject Vehicles, who cannot rely on their vehicles to operate consistently, reliably, or safely.”
The plaintiffs claim that GM is aware of the transmission issue and has even released 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs) related to it. Despite this internal acknowledgement of the problem, GM has allegedly failed to warn consumers about the defective nature of their transmissions.
Additionally, if the transmission defect reportedly cannot be repaired under a vehicle’s warranty, drivers are being forced to foot the massive bills for replacing their defective transmission.
“Had GM been truthful with Plaintiffs that the Subject Transmissions were unfixable, and that as a result, GM was not able to repair the Subject Transmissions effectively under warranty, Plaintiffs would not have purchased their vehicles, or would not have paid as much as they did,” the GM transmission class action lawsuit claims.
Plaintiffs in the GM class action seek to represent several state-based Classes of consumers who purchased or leased a passenger vehicle equipped with a GM 8L45 or 8L90 transmission on or after April 10, 2015. The states represented include Michigan, California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
The GM transmission class action lawsuit seeks restitution, disgorgement, compensatory damages, actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Plaintiffs are represented by Michael L. Pitt and Beth M. Rivers of Pitt McGehee Palmer and Rivers PC; Theodore J. Leopold, Andrew N. Friedman, Douglas J. McNamara, and Julie A. Horwitz of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC; and Robert Gordon and Steven Calamusa of Gordon & Partners PA.
The GM Transmission Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Francis, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:19-cv-11044-DML-DRG, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
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29 thoughts onGM Class Action Says 8-Speed Transmissions Defective
I am concerned also about my older GM Grand Prix. It’s a 2005 I bought brand new & had to replace the entire transmission after only 40,000 miles. I was told it was because of “how I drive the car.” What is that supposed to mean? How do they know how I drive my car? It sounds like their problems with transmissions is more than what is being said.
Having the same issue with my 2017 GMC Sierra… They need to make sure the lawsuit goes thru with some kind of action the owner can fall back on.. since a transmission CAN NOT last long that shifts this hard, it is going to break something and leave you stranded in the middle of the highway and some one may get hurt if NOT killed…….
Purchased a 2017 Cadillac CT6 Premium Luxury 3.0TT at $73,000 and now it sits.
Dealer cannot fix and tells me all is fine.
I cannot deal with the dangerous lurching and neck breaking shifting from 1-2-3 and then from 3-2-1 gears.
If you travel at speeds over 50, you cannot focus on anything in the rear view mirror or side mirrors. Shaking is horrible.
What a lemon and GM is really sticking it to their customers. Sorry Ex-Customers.
Count me in on this
just rolled over 7k miles, 2018 Canyon. Same problem!
i dropped my 2019 colorado off at dealer on 10/03/2019 with less than 8000 miles on it, in august i called them with3700 miles on it ,they told me they are smart transmissions and have to learn the way you drive. when i dropped it off they told me that i was the 1st person tha they heard this from , after13 tech bullitens , they are obviously lying to me. i have read a few different fixes on these and everyone says that the problem does return. i lve in springfied , pa. . i would like to be included in this class action suit. please contact me.
coerction , the date i dropped my colorado off was 11/03/2019
Same issue in Alabama. 2019 Sierra 5.3 v8 AT4 IS violently downshifting when approaching a stop after normal highway speed driving ater engine warms up or is hot outside. Please help me protect my Sixty thousand dollar investment.
How do we join lawsuit? Having same issue with 16 Escalade been in shop with no resolution
2017 GMC Denali bought in 2018 with 7k miles . Launches forward, hard shifts . Shutters . Dealer flushed transmission but still same . Saved 12 years to pay cash for , if know about trans problems would have never purchased
My GMC Serria has the shifting issues but dealer says it cosmetic and nothing they will do to fix. GM is now calling the dealer but getting the run around. This is a 60 thousand dollar vehicle and I should NOT have this problem it has been in the shop 5 times and is back in for the 6th. Deal8has had it for 2 weeks and nothing is being done
Dealing with the same thing.
Add me too please! 2018 Silverado LT. been in the shop 8 times! Best line yet “it happens when it’s hot outside”!!!! So you can’t own a Chevy in AZ?