Update:Â
- General Motors must face class action claims that certain transmissions in its vehicles from the last decade are defective and can create unsafe driving conditions.Â
- On Aug. 28, a 6th Circuit panel rejected GM’s motion to dismiss the claims, saying it found no reason to undo class certification for the drivers.Â
- The plaintiffs say GM’s Hydra-Matic 8L90 and Hydra-Matic 8L45 transmissions manufactured between 2014 and March 2019 can cause vehicles to shudder, lurch forward or delay acceleration.
- They allege the issues are caused by transmission fluid issues, which can allegedly cause the GM transmissions to fail to purge air properly from valve bodies.
GM class action overview:Â
- Who: Thirteen consumers filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors (GM).Â
- Why: The class action lawsuit claims vehicles with a GM Hydra-Matic 8L90 or Hydra-Matic 8L45 transmission have transmission fluid and transmission issues that cause the vehicles to shudder, lurch forward or delay acceleration.
- Where: The GM transmission class action was filed in federal court in Michigan.
(April 25, 2024)
A group of 13 consumers claims certain transmissions in General Motors vehicles from the last decade are defective and can create unsafe driving conditions, according to a new GM transmission class action.
The plaintiffs say GM’s Hydra-Matic 8L90 and Hydra-Matic 8L45 transmissions manufactured between 2014 and March 2019 can cause vehicles to shudder, lurch forward or have delayed acceleration.
They allege the issues are caused by transmission fluid issues, which can allegedly cause the GM transmissions to fail to purge air properly from valve bodies. This, the class action argues, is the cause of the shudder, lurching and delayed acceleration, as well as overall poor shift quality.
GM class action: Automaker elected not to recall, replace defective transmissionsÂ
The GM transmission issues happen around the time the affected vehicles’ warranties run out, the class action claims. The plaintiffs allege that GM covers fluid flushes for customers who complain about their transmissions during the warranty period, without fixing the underlying issues.
GM engineers asked the company to fix the transmission issues for $305 a vehicle, which would have cost GM about $592 million, according to the lawsuit.
GM instead only replaced the defective transmission in 6,518 unsold Cadillacs and trucks in certain states where it expected customers to complain within warranty, the GM class action claims.
Six drivers filed a 2022 class action lawsuit alleging that several vehicles manufactured by GM are equipped with defective eight-speed transmissions and that GM concealed the defects from buyers for years.
Do you own a vehicle with a GM Hydra-Matic 8L90 engine? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Theodore J. Leopold, Douglas J. McNamara, Karina G. Puttieva and Madelyn N. Petersen of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC along with Robert Gordon, Steven Calamusa, Geoff Stahl and Rachel Bentley of Gordon & Partners PA; Russell D. Paul and Amey J. Park of Berger Montague PC; Tarek H. Zohdy, Cody R. Padgett and Laura E. Goolsby of Capstone Law APC; E. Powell Miller, Sharon S. Almonrode, Brian M. Saxe, Emily E. Hughes and Dennis A. Lienhardt of The Miller Law Firm PC; Joseph H. Meltzer, Melissa L. Yeates, Lisa M. Port, Tyler S. Graden, Jordan E. Jacobson and James A. Maro of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP; Lynn Lincoln Sarko, Gretchen Freeman Cappio and Ryan McDevitt of Keller Rohrback LLP; and Michael L. Pitt and Beth Rivers of Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers PC.
The GM class action lawsuit is Ulrich, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:24-cv-11007-JJCG-EAS, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division.
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444 thoughts onGM transmission class action to proceed
I have had this happen with 3 transmissions. I need this fixed!! Mine has had this all happen while we drive. We were lucky to have an extended warranty but it has happened 3 times and our extended extended warranty is going out.
I bought a 2019 GMC Acadia Denali Sept. 2019. The transmission went out with only about 30,000 miles, also had the shift to Park error code.
Been complaining about this since I got my car in 2015
Started experiencing issues with 2017 Colorado just before warranty ended. Was offered a flush but held out for new transmission. Guess what-less than 5000 miles later and it still lurches!
Just replaced our 2016 GMC Sierra Transmission- only 90k miles on it. Complete BS!
I’ve purchased a 2017 Cadillacs CT6 in 2022 from a dealership. Within a week and a 1/2 to 2 weeks. My vehicle did exactly what was described. With the Engine light kept coming on and off. The dealership, where I got the car from, told me they can do nothing about the engine light because it wasn’t their vehicle that I would have to take it to a Cadillac dealership.
My 2020 Chevrolet Colorado has this shudder. The transmission fluid was flushed by a dealer while still under warranty. It corrected the problem for less than a year. The shudder has returned now and the warranty is over. Dealer charges at least $500 for a flush. They never changed the filter at the time of the fluid change. I am very dissatisfied at the way GM has handled this problem.
It is not only the 8speed trans it is the 6 spd. 2014 Chevy Silverado
Own a 2015 gmc Yukon Denali xl and experienced shifting problems and shuddering almost immediately after purchase in late 2014. Gm replaced transmission under warranty and dealership said the transmission needs a different fluid, a Mobil product to keep the problem from reoccurring. Vehicle has 59,000 miles and check engine light is on for failing transmission again and dealership says it needs to be replaced at a cost of 10k.
2014 Chevy Silverado 6dpeed does exactly as what was described