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Update:
- General Motors can’t escape most of the class action claims lodged by a Georgia resident who alleges the automaker made defective engines that put occupants at risk, a Georgia federal judge has ruled.
- In an order issued Aug. 30, U.S. District Court Judge William M. Ray II mostly denied a motion to dismiss lodged by General Motors LLC.
- GM argued that all claims brought by plaintiff Anthony Nalley should be thrown out because they are time-barred and insufficiently pleaded.
- However Judge Ray said the issue of when the limitations periods began to toll is best settled by a jury, and struck only a claim for breach of express warranty.
GM engine oil consumption class action lawsuit overview:
- Why: The plaintiff claims GM knew about the oil issues in its Vortec 5300 Engines but failed to disclose the defect to customers.
- Who: A GMC Sierra owner sued General Motors.
- Where: The class action lawsuit is pending in Georgia federal court.
(10/12/2021)
A Georgia resident is suing General Motors (GM) over allegedly defective engines and deceptive trade practices that put occupants at risk.
Anthony Nalley says he bought a new 2011 GMC Sierra equipped with a Generation IV Vortec 5300 Engine in March 2011. In 2015, after Nalley experienced an engine misfire in one of the cylinders and the check engine light, he was informed by a GM dealer that his GMC Sierra also had a fouled spark plug and an oil consumption problem.
GM, however, denied the oil consumption repairs that Nalley requested. Nalley maintains that GM never notified him about an oil consumption issue with the engine in his car.
The defective Generation IV 5.3 Liter V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engines affect select model year 2011-2014 Chevrolet and GMC Sierra, and other vehicles. Nalley represents himself and a state Class of people who bought or leased one or more of these Class Vehicles in the State of Georgia.
The class action lawsuit accuses GM of deceptive trade practices, unfair business practices, breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and unjust enrichment.
GM engines ‘engineered to fail’
The Generation IV Vortec 5300 Engine consumes an “abnormally and improperly high” quantity of oil that allegedly exceeds industry standards, according to court documents. This excessive oil consumption results in low oil levels, insufficient lubricity levels, and corresponding engine component damage.
The class action lawsuit points to several causes of the oil consumption defect. One, the GM engine’s piston rings fail to keep oil in the crankcase. Two, the active fuel management system overloads the oil sprayed onto the defective piston rings, which leads to excessive oil migration into combustion chambers where it is then burned.
The oil migration fouls spark plugs no matter how often drivers top off their oil levels. Fouled spark plugs then lead to weakened or intermittent sparks or no spark at all, which triggers engine misfires and shutdowns.
Further, GM’s Oil Life Monitoring System monitors engine conditions to calculate the recommended time for an oil change and does not advise drivers until oil levels are critically low, according to the complaint. This results in drivers traveling “thousands of miles with inadequate engine lubricity levels, wearing out and damaging moving internal engine components.”
GM knew about oil consumption engine issue
GM has known about the oil consumption defect and resulting damage as early as 2007, according to the complaint. A 2008 GM investigation supposedly concluded the piston rings were prematurely failing and causing excessive oil consumption and internal engine wear. However, GM did not disclose the defect to potential customers of the affected vehicles.
Starting with some 2014 model vehicles, GM began implementing a Generation V Vortec 5300 engine which was redesigned to fix the excessive oil consumption of the Generation IV. GM has not offered relief to customers who own the defective Class Vehicles, according to the class action lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit seeks actual and statutory damages, punitive damages, restitution, pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ costs.
Do you own a Chevrolet, GMC Sierra, or other vehicle with a Generation IV engine? How has it worked for you? Tell us in the comments below!
The plaintiff is represented by Benjamin R. Keen and H. Clay Barnett III of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles P.C.
The GM Engines Oil Consumption Class Action Lawsuit is Nalley v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 1:21-cv-04174-WMR, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division.
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130 thoughts onGM engine defect class action escapes dismissal
Add me to the list I have a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox that is burning oil threw the pistons and the rings I recently took in to Chevrolet southern pines Nc to be told GM would not pay fir it to be fixed not including a brake module computer and gas gage not working properly and timing chain is making a noise as well due to engine problems . I should not be having these issues. I have emailed higher up and still no resolution to this problem . GM should be help accountable fir their faulty equipment . This is nonsense told it would cost 3000.00 to fix oil consumption problem and 850.00 for computer box . If GM knows this is going on why don’t they recall these cars and my dads terrain has same issues with oil consumption and doesnot even have 70,000 miles on it 2016 model . Just really sad what GM is doing. Will be contacting a lawyer about this .
Add me to the list 2014 GMC Terrain with major oil consumption issues!
I have a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and I’m having the high oil consumption, along with the cylinder misfire due to this common issue and they’ve known about this issue for a few years and don’t bother to fix it. Where do they think people have the money to replace a motor due to this issue or to keep replacing parts in the engine for this to continue to be a long term problem? This is a serious problem and they need to take care of us as the consumers that are needing to continue to fix this problem ourselves and they need to be held accountable, and should give us the money to fix it or do a recall on these and pay for it.
Since I bought a 2014 silverado LT Crew Cab 5.3L truck 2021. Noticed that it uses a lot of motor oil fast but, mi engine has bn ticking and making other noises. Transmission stays up in high heated area around 194°. Need to kno wut I need to do about gettin in this lawsuit. They can jus give me a new engine and I’ll be fine.
2016 GMC Terrain with massive oil burn problem. I’m going through 3 to 4 quarts of oil additional every month and a half or so which far exceeds normal burn rates also my Terrain has stalled on the interstate about 10 times in the last 2 years while at speeds of up to 80mph
I have A 2015 GMC Terrain that’s burning oil. I can only get approximately 1500 miles on it in between oil change without adding 2 quarts of oil. I thought GMC had fixed this problem due to the older models having the same issue. This is very frustrating.
Add me to the list. 2010 equinox 2.4l burning oil, just found out car has timing issues. The mechanic found pieces in the engine.
I have a 2013 Chevy Equinox and just paid $2500 to replace timing issue and parts of the engine due to the oil consumption. They told me I need to replace the engine as well or just check the oil every week.
I bought a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 V8 6.2. I notice it was using oil I asked the dealer if it was normal, I was told it was!!! The latest oil loss was at 33590, I put a qt in at 34,800, & recently I checked the level at 36154, I put in two quarts. I will be contacting the dealer to have some sort of test done, not sure what else to do. I would not have bought this truck ($60,000) if I had known this!!???? Frusrtated GMC owner. I had a 2015 Silverado 1500 w/ 150,00o miles on it, never had an issue with it, should have kept it!!!!!
Please add me to the list.
Purchased a new 2011 Silverado 5.3 and I’ve dealt with excessive oil consumption for years. Replace spark plug #1 many times for fouling. Same problem as others.
Add me to the list. 2013 equinox burning oil, just found out car needs a timing chain. The mechanic found pieces in the engine.