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In this photo illustration General Motors Company (GM) logo is seen on a mobile phone and a computer screen.
(Photo Credit: viewimage/Shutterstock)

General Motors PCV System Class Action Lawsuit Overview: 

  • Who: A group of General Motors vehicle owners have filed a class action lawsuit against the car manufacturer. 
  • Why: Vehicle owners claim GM fails to disclose an alleged defect with the positive crank ventilation system in certain vehicles it manufactures and sells. 
  • Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Michigan federal court.

General Motors fails to disclose a defect with the positive crank ventilation system (PCV) in their vehicles’ internal combustion engines, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

A group of GM vehicle owners claim the PCV systems in certain vehicles manufactured by the company are prone to “plugging and clogging” during cold weather. 

The vehicles affected by the alleged defect are GM’s 2010-2016 Buick Lacrosse, 2011-2017 Buick Regal, 2012-2017 Buick Verano, 2010-2015 Chevrolet Captiva, 2010-2017 Chevrolet Equinox, 2013-2014 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles, according to the class action lawsuit. 

In the event a PCV system malfunctions, the owners argue the vehicle’s engine pressure can increase and lead to a rupture of its rear main seal, which they say can cause both catastrophic and permanent damage. 

GM, vehicle owners claim, sent out a “Diagnostic Tip” bulletin to dealers, but not to customers, in 2019 on account of the alleged clogging issue.

GM Class Action Claims Automaker Neither Recalled Affected Vehicles Nor Extended Warranties

Vehicle owners argue, meanwhile, that GM neither recalled the vehicles nor extended their warranties, instead electing only to “advised technicians to use a drill bit to clean out the clogged orifice.” 

Further, vehicle owners claim GM has known since “at least 1985” about the “PCV system’s vulnerability to cold weather and clogging” with owners arguing the company has repeatedly advised dealers on “how to fix” the issue.

“Despite this track record, GM continues to conceal this defect from consumers at the point of sale and continues to design, manufacture, distribute and sell hundreds of thousands of vehicles prone to this defect,” the class action lawsuit states. 

Vehicle owners claim GM is guilty of unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment, among other things, and in violation of a number of state consumer protection acts. 

The vehicle owners want to represent a nationwide Class and Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin subclasses of all persons or entities who purchased or leased one or more of the affected GM vehicles.

Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief along with costs, restitution and punitive, exemplary and treble damages for themselves and all class members. 

In related news, GM recalled more than 740,000 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles last month over concerns the vehicles’ lower head lamps could present a glare issue due to a headlight housing defect. 

Have you purchased a GM vehicle containing a defective PCV system? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by E. Powell Miller, Sharon S. Almonrode and Dennis A. Lienhardt of The Miller Law Firm PC and Steve W. Berman, Jerrod C. Patterson and Anthea D. Grivas of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP. 

The General Motors PCV System Class Action Lawsuit is Kiriacopoulos, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:22-cv-10785, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.


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186 thoughts onGM Class Action Alleges Automaker Fails To Disclose Engine-Related Defect

  1. JESSICA says:

    I have a 2014 chevy captiva and last year we had to replace the entire engine, this year it got super cold and started having issues, my car started stalling in the middle of the road, and leaking oil. Well my car has been in the shop now for 4 months, they say they are waiting on an intake manifold, which I’m told there’s only 13 in the entire country, but when my dad calls they only have 6… I’d love to be included in the lawsuit..

  2. Michael Chasse says:

    My son has a 2013 Equinox with the 2.4 Ecotec . During sub zero weather last February the PCV system froze and blew out his rear main seal. $8000 for a new engine. GM says the vehicle is not covered under the special bulletin. Exact same issue as the vehicles covered. GM is pulling a fast one

  3. Steve Severson says:

    My 2013 equinox burned up 4quarts of oil 2 months after being service after being service by dealer. Now dealer is saying this is a known issue and that the car is likely out of warranty. Looking for joining lawsuit in MN.

  4. Aieysha Fauntleroy says:

    Add me to the lawsuit I’ve put so much money into my equinox it’s crazy and I keep getting the same issues

  5. Donna says:

    Please add me to list

    1. Aieysha Fauntleroy says:

      I have a 2013 equinox and the same oil burn issues which causes my car to act like it’s cutting off when I’m at a stop light it’s redicilous how much money I put in there

  6. M says:

    Have a 2016 Equinox dealership states clogged pcv valve and blown rear main seal. GM will only cover 20% of the repair, all because I drove on a day that was below 10 degrees outside.

  7. Michael Keunecke says:

    I am in Canada, same oil burn issue in 2013 Buick Verano. Is there any legal recourse. Is the class action U.S.A. only?

  8. Anthony Cammarata says:

    Please add me to this suit. I am having the same issues with my 2017 GMC Terrain. It only has 45,000 miles and was serviced in the appropriate windows. I made the mistake of asking GM for a show of goodwill and they laughed in my face. The dealership refused to cover the expenses as well and expected me to pay for a $2500 repair. The dealership even told me that this is common and happens frequently but GM has made no effort to notify the consumer or apply a corrective measure. I even purchased GMC’s platinum extended warranty plan when I bought the vehicle in April of 2020 but that fails to cover the damage due to coverage not extending to “extreme cold” aka below 32 degrees fahrenheit according to the dealership.

  9. Lynn says:

    I own a 2012 GMC Acadia Denali. I have been struggling with the PVC system for three years .blown rear main seal
    Absurd amount of oil found in the breather intake for the last (3) years . Attempts to rectify have failed repeatedly .As of today this very day the mechanic was again looking into the PVC system .

  10. Mary Myers says:

    2017 Chevy Equinox 2.4 liter engine, 70,000 miles. Firestone checked oil last Friday as I had a tune up done on the car and oil was full. 5 hours later my daughter drove it one mile and the check engine light went on and drove it to the repair shop. There was no oil at all in the car and the engine needs to be replaced. The car is not drivable. PLEASE add me to the lawsuit. I’m in IL.

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