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A judge in Florida federal court has put her stamp of approval on a $42 million settlement agreement which resolves three lawsuits claiming that General Motors sold vehicles with an oil consumption defect.
Plaintiffs Ellen Berman and Dayana Guach allege that General Motors model year 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain cars that have 2.4-liter Ecotec engines suffer from the defect that consumes oil at a very high rate.
The primary cause of the defect is malfunctioning piston rings, which are prone to premature wear, the judge’s order states. The defect necessitates the need for the car owner to replenish the car’s oil more frequently.
The plaintiffs filed suit in September 2018, claiming that General Motors breached their written warranties under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Two other class action lawsuits were subsequently filed, based on similar allegations. The judge’s approval of the settlement resolves the claims in these three cases.
Starting in 2014, General Motors issued Special Coverage Adjustments (SCAs) for the model years 2010-2012 of the class vehicles, the judge’s order reads.
The SCAs were put into effect to extend the class vehicles’ warranty for piston replacement beyond the normal warranty expiration period, which was five years or 100,000 miles.
“The SCAs provided that owners of Class Vehicles could take their vehicles to a dealership and undergo an oil consumption diagnosis. If the diagnosis indicated excessive oil consumption, GM would replace the piston rings for free, if the vehicle was within certain time and mileage limitations,” the judge states in her order.
The Settlement Class is defined as: “All persons within the United States who purchased or leased, at any time before the Preliminary Approval Date, a new retail or used model year 2010, 2011, 2012, or 2013 Chevrolet Equinox or GMC Terrain vehicle equipped with 2.4 liter Ecotec engines, manufactured prior to the Production Change, and who have not executed a prior release of claims related to Class Vehicle oil consumption or resulting piston or engine damage in favor of GM.”
In addition, the judge’s order states that, for model year 2010-2012 class vehicles, owners will be able to get a free replacement of piston assemblies at authorized dealerships.
Also, Class Members who already paid for covered repairs but who did not already submit a claim under the Special Coverage Adjustments will have 120 days to submit a claim.
For model year 2013 class vehicles, Class Members will receive free piston assembly replacement. Also, those who previously paid out-of-pocket for repairs can file claims for reimbursement of expenses.
Each Class representative will receive $4,500 as a service payment, which the judge determined to be “appropriate, fair, and reasonable.” This award is being paid by General Motors separately from the funds being made available via the settlement agreement.
Also, the attorneys for the plaintiffs will receive fees of $3,390,351, which is eight percent of the settlement value. Class Counsel will also receive reimbursement of $109,649 for litigation expenses.
Do you own one of the class vehicles mentioned as part of the settlement? Leave a message in the comments section below.
Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.
The plaintiffs are represented by Rachel Soffin, Gregory F. Coleman, Adam A. Edwards and Mark E. Silvey of Greg Coleman Law PC, Robert Ahdoot of Ahdoot & Wolfson PC, and Daniel K. Bryson and J. Hunter Bryson of Whitfield Bryson & Mason LLP.
The GM Chevrolet Equinox SUV Oil Consumption Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Ellen Berman, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:18-cv-14371, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida; Hindsman, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 3:17-cv-05337, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; and Sanchez, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 1:18-cv-02536, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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2,085 thoughts on$42M GM Chevy Equinox Oil Guzzling Class Action Settlement Approved
I have $4000 worth of 2012 Equinox 2.4 L engine rebuild to pay due to this issue. Is there a class action we can join?
I own a 2017 Equinox (purchased 2016) and I have been experiencing costly monthly oil changes, and don’t get me started on fuel consumption since the very beginning. My SUV chugges, jumps and tries to stall whenever the oil meter hit 58%. It also has a rough start and makes a terrible sound when the oil is getting low. I tried researching this issue years ago but only recently found these kinds of articles until today and let me say that I am MASSIVELY PO’ed that GM would make this crap let alone sell it. Also since last August we have been having issues with it shifting gears from 1st to 2nd. We have had the transmission checked and scoped but they can’t find the issue. I purchased my equinox because my husband and I were impressed how long my 97 cheverolet lumina has lasted (still driving today) and thought that chevy was a great quality vehicle. I was wrong. It’s pretty sad that my lumina is in better shape and condition as our equinox. Our equinox start rusting around the wheel wells and bottom of the doors after 2 years. My lumina just started to rust 4 yrs ago. I have currently put close to $8 000 in our equinox in the last 7 yrs and I haven’t spent anywhere close to that in the 26 yrs of owning our lumina.
It was my hope to retire my old beast this year as she’s beginning to show her age, but I’m not sure if I will be able to do that since I have a feeling we will be scraping the equinox soon. I refuse to drop anymore money into it and I am definitely not putting in a new engine.
I own a 2013 chevy equinox and I am constantly having to put oil in! I didn’t know there was a lawsuit for this problem! Am I still able to take to a chevy dealer and have mine fixed free of charge?
I bought a 2010 equinox 2.4l engine in late December of 2021 I wish I could get the money I’ve suck into repairs; not to mention time and mental anguish as this car has cost me time with my children and missed appointments. I’m on disability, the car was meant to ensure safe and reliable transportation it has done completely opposite, I am now again with out transportation and live in rural small town Indiana and have no family near or means to fix another part.
Is there a nationwide class action lawsuit that we can join or would we need to file a new one? Since GM is aware of this they should be responsible for repairs. At the least they should recall this. It’s dangerous to drive with an engine that can die at any time.
Is there a nationwide class action lawsuit that we can join or would we need to file a new one? Since GM is aware of this they should be responsible for repairs. At the least they should recall this. It’s dangerous to drive with an engine that can die at any time.
I bought a 2012 that uses so much oil I have oil on auto ship so I always have a quart available. This is ridiculous!! I took it to my dealer who told me I’d have to PAY for new rings, pistons… etc. $ 3,300.00 out of my pocket because my car didn’t qualify for the repair!!! So now what do I do?!
Im out $ 12,500 , …drove it one day after purchuse …now sits there. Toke all our savings. Now Gm states our 2013 2.4 l equinox dont fit year of oil consumtion testing repairs. Which is bull crap.
I bought a 2010 equinox last year . And it used so much oil I had to have an extra quart in my car all the time. and didn’t even have it a year and the timing chain busted the block about 3 months. Ago
I owned a 2010 chevy equinox and had to replace the motor because of this, after is blew up!! It was terrible!