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General Motors PCV System Class Action Lawsuit Overview:Â
- Who: A group of General Motors vehicle owners have filed a class action lawsuit against the car manufacturer.Â
- Why: Vehicle owners claim GM fails to disclose an alleged defect with the positive crank ventilation system in certain vehicles it manufactures and sells.Â
- 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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.”Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
Have you purchased a GM vehicle containing a defective PCV system? Let us know in the comments!Â
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.Â
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
I purchased a 2014 chevy captiva and by 2018 my engine was Pouring oil at the back of the engine and burning oil like crazy. I was so highly disappointed I am a true Chevy fanatic and this was the worst I’ve ever bought in my life. I eventually had to let my car go back because I couldn’t afford to put a brand new engine in my car and pay my monthly payments of $500 so I just got screwed out $15,000 and messed my credit up because I just couldn’t afford it I had to get a actual vehicle that I could drive because I couldn’t drive that one. I always made sure I kept the maintenance up on my vehicle and this still happened.
We have a 2017 GMC Terrain that we just had this exact issue with. Blew the whole engine and is going to cost thousands to have it fixed. The temps here in Ohio 2 days ago when this happened were in the negatives. I’m so disappointed because we can’t afford this right now…
This just happened to me too in Ohio because of the near zero temps. I took my car to my mechanic and he found the bulletin on this issue. I’m at a loss for words. I feel completely screwed by who sold me the car knowing the defect and just paid half of it off.
My wife took my car to the store the day after Thanksgiving. My car was sputtering and stalled several times on the way home, until it wouldn’t start again. She has had a heart attack 3 years ago, now has a stint, and afib last year. She had to walk a mile in the cold to get home. My son and I got it started, and after several stalls, got it to the mechanic. He says, as of right now, it’s going to cost at least $2,000 to fix, but if I need a new engine, it’ll be $7,000-8,000. I have treated this car well, so I was shocked at such a catastrophic failure after only 8 years. My last car, a Ford, lasted 22 years and almost 250,000 miles.
I have a 2014 Chevy captiva with engine issues and would like a attorney to contact me for advice please.
2014 terrain rear main seal blow out Christmas morning 2022. Live in GA but had 3 days of extreme low temps. Car was bought new and serviced by Jim Hardman GMC from day one. At 103000 miles the rear main seal let go Christmas morning going to see granddaughters.
Had towed to dealership who said it had metal in oil and worn cylinder walls and scoreing on rocker arms. Spent hours on phone with GM
with no help. Cost $6000.00 to get motor replaced at dealer ship. First quote was $9700.00. It is still a GM known problem but big money and
sorry court system will take years to get any thing out of it.
My 2012 GMC Terrain is currently in the shop because of excessive oil consumption and the clogged PCV. No oil light, but there was barely any oil in it, although we just had to add 4 qts of oil about 1,000 miles ago. I had taken it in because I heard a noise that didn’t sound right, and I purchased the Power Train Warranty when I purchased the vehicle, so I wanted to address any issues that it may have. This repair is NOT covered under my warranty, according to the warranty company and I am going to have to pay over $700. I want to find out how to get them to make this right!!! I just bought this vehicle used a few months ago from a dealer in Tennessee.
My 2015 chevy captiva has had all of theses problems. I got it from a dealer and the made me pay almost 5000 grand to fix it. It was less than 30,000 miles on it.
My car my friend car & ex boyfriend mom car have those same problems they cars have completely shut down on them. It’s going cost them about 8 or 9 thousand to fix because all electric stuff got to be fixed. That water wetting up a lot stuff on passenger side of car. Now mine have started doing same thing. Sad how we as ladies get stuck with bad cars.
2013 Buick Verano. Engine seized at 44,000 miles. Cold weather, Cleveland Ohio. Clean maintenance records, began consuming oil at 44,000 miles. Engine is done.
Bought a 2013 Captiva Sport and has been in the shop 4x due to oil consumption. The car has only been driven less than 10,000 miles since buying. The dealership refuses to fix the problem and says it’s a GM issue.
I have a 2014 Chevy captiva sport and that this is the exact issue I am having with my car right now. Lately I’ve notices my car has been burning oil fast causing the engine to run hard. I have no oil spots visible on garage floor but if you look behind engine, you can see oil has been leaking behind. I was told that this was a GM issue not covered under warranty because it’s due to oil leaking. Which it is then presumed by the warranty company under the pretense that the car wasn’t maintained properly by the car owner, which in fact it was, but because GM won’t acknowledge the problem and issue a recall, warrenty companies will see it as if the car owner failed to upkeep their car for it’s required services/maintenance therefore warranty is void for this issue.