GM Class Action Says Chevy’s Blind Spot Alert System is Defective

A Michigan couple claims that General Motors’ side blind spot alert system, installed in 2013 – 2018 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles, is ineffective due to a design defect.

Plaintiffs Anthony and Lisa Hudson say the collision sensors installed in General Motors LLC Chevrolet Cruze vehicles are positioned in a such a way that they cannot function properly.

Allegedly, the vehicles are equipped with sensors designed to identify cars in a driver’s blind spot in the back left and right corners of a car, but by nature of their design, they are exposed to the elements during normal driving in a way that renders them unusable.

The Hudsons claim that the positioning of the sensors renders them useless, because they are exposed to rain, water on pavement, and snow in a way that makes them inoperable.

Additionally, the Chevy Cruze blind spot alert system class action lawsuit claims that the wiring of the sensors is ineffective, because the wiring is poorly sealed, exposing it to water and debris. Allegedly, this can cause the wiring to stop working.

The Chevrolet Cruze class action lawsuit claims that had the plaintiffs known that the positioning of the side blind spot sensors was ineffective, they would not have purchased the car, or would not have paid as much as they did for the car.

The Hudsons say that the side blind spot sensors are an optional feature of the car, and they specifically elected to have the sensors installed in their car, for an additional cost. The “side blind spot alert system,” of which the sensors are a part, is sold as part of the vehicles’ Enhanced Safety Package.

Allegedly, there is substantial demand among car shoppers of blind spot alert systems — roughly 25 percent of cars sold in the United States are equipped with them. The Chevy Cruze blind spot sensor class action claims that GM was able to use the side blind spot sensors as a selling feature for their vehicles, despite the alleged defect of the systems.

The Hudsons note that the functioning of the side blind spot alert system is covered by the vehicles’ warranty, but the warranty is ineffective in addressing the problem, because “if the sensor has been damaged, GM will replace it with a new sensor in the same problematic location.”

According to the GM class action lawsuit, GM should have known that the sensors were ineffective due to their placement, as the company conducts testing on their cars before releasing them into the market.

Additionally, the Hudsons claim that GM heard from consumers that the sensors were ineffective, as numerous consumers submitted complaints about the problem and filed warranty claims regarding the sensors.

Nonetheless, GM allegedly has made no effort to truly remedy the sensor problem or to compensate consumers who were financially injured by their purchase of the Enhanced Safety Package, the Chevy Cruze class action lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs are represented by Daniel A. Edelman and Cathleen M. Combs of Edelman Combs Latturner & Goodwin LLC; Frank Melchiore; and by Daniel Romano of Romano Law PLLC. 

The GM Chevy Cruze Side Blind Spot Sensor Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Anthony and Lisa Hudson v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:18-cv-11574-AC-SDD, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.

UPDATE: The GM Chevy Cruze Side Blind Spot Sensor Defect Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on July 10. 2019. Top Class Actions will let our viewers know if another case is filed!