GM class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff John Williams filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors LLC.
- Why: Williams claims GM sold certain Chevy Malibu, GMC and other vehicles with a defective continuously variable transmission (CVT).
- Where: The GM class action lawsuit was filed in Delaware federal court.
A new class action lawsuit claims General Motors knowingly sold certain Chevrolet and GMC vehicles with a defective continuously variable transmission that causes the vehicles to lose power while driving.
Plaintiff John Williams filed the GM class action complaint on Sept. 15 in Delaware federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
According to the class action lawsuit, GM sold vehicles with a CVT that is prone to sudden slipping, shuddering, hesitation, delayed acceleration, loss of forward gear and partial or complete loss of motive power during normal driving.
Williams claims the defect is caused by improperly designed or manufactured internal transmission components, including the clutch regulator valve, valve body, drive chain, pulleys and bearings.
He alleges GM knew about the defect as early as 2021 but failed to disclose it to consumers.
The lawsuit seeks to represent all persons in the United States who purchased or leased a 2019 to 2025 Chevy Malibu, 2021 to 2025 Chevy Trailblazer, 2024 to present Chevy Equinox or 2024 to present GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission.
Known defect poses severe safety risk, GM lawsuit alleges
The GM class action lawsuit claims the alleged CVT defect poses a significant safety risk, as it can cause the vehicle to lose power while driving at highway speeds, leaving drivers stranded in active traffic lanes or on highway shoulders.
According to the complaint, many Chevy Malibu and GMC owners have experienced CVT failure both within and outside the warranty periods, and that GM and its authorized dealers have denied coverage, attributing the defect to “normal operation” or performing superficial repairs.
The plaintiff cites technical service bulletins, which he claims show GM knew about the defect for years, instructing dealerships and repair shops to attribute the defect to normal operation.
Williams also alleges that GM’s announced plans to switch from the CVT in 2027 to a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission further proves GM knows the CVT is defective.
As a result, Williams claims consumers are left with vehicles that suffer recurring failures, diminished safety and substantial out-of-pocket expenses for transmission replacement and related damage.
Williams is suing for violations of state and federal consumer laws and seeks certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Under similar allegations, two California consumers are suing GM for allegedly hiding a defective eight-speed transmission in thousands of Sierra and Silverado pickup trucks for years.
Do you own a Chevy Malibu or a vehicle with the same alleged defect? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Russell D. Paul of Berger Montague P.C., Adam A. Edwards and William A. Ladnier of Milberg PLLC and Tarek H. Zohdy, Laura E. Goolsby and Ahmed H. Yousef of Drake Law Firm.
The GM class action lawsuit is Williams v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 1:26-cv-01162, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
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