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
Yes, I own a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette with a 8 speed Automatic Transmission.
Own a 2017 Yukon and every single issue described has started to happen to my vehicle within the last 6 months from the jerking forward to the trouble shifting gears. I owned a GM Tahoe previously and had to have the transmission repaired at 150,000 miles and my Yukon has approximately 135,000 miles and it’s performing worse than my Tahoe. I’m afraid to drive it now because it’s getting worse each time. I currently don’t have $5000 for the repairs and I don’t like the runaround from the dealership. Now within the last week the preprogrammed radios stations have grayed out to simple numbers which I have heard is another issue that has been happening with these vehicles.
I own a 2020 gmc sierra it started shuddering and the dealership said transmission fluid must be changed before they can see if that’s the problem it’s still does it not enough for the dealership to turn it into the warranty because they say can’t get it yo do it when they drive it.
I have a 2019 gmc serria SLT and after 15000 miles it started shuddering and slamming into gear between 1st and 2nd gear. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the torque converter. It fixed it for about 1000 miles then it’s back to the same issue.. not happy with this this truck cost 55000.00 dollars I should not have to deal with this.
I have a 2019 chevrolet Silverado 4.3 wt my transmission over heating once I reaches a certain temperature all the gauges pops on and shout the vehicle down and they want 6 thousand dollars to replace it I’ve been having it service since I had the truck now I’m with out a vehicle
I have a 2016 Chevy Impala and it shudders, skips and shakes
I just spent $4500 on the transmission of my 2018 Tahoe. The transmission was shuttering and slipping.
I have a 2015 gmc sierra and I had to pay $5,000 to have my transmission replaced because of this problem
I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado crew cab and the transmission started shuddering and now won’t shift after it warms up
2018 GMC Sierra was shuddering badly. GM dealership gave me the run around and wanted to replace torque converter. Said there was metal and clutch material in fluid. I explained to them that I knew of the issues with this transmission. They didn’t seem to care. Said they couldn’t believe the fluid had not been changed because it had 48000 miles on it. They stated most people complain of this problem at 10-12000 miles. I took it to a real transmission shop and they changed the fluid and all is good. Paid dealer 165 for diagnostic fee and 300 to transmission shop. Hope it lasts.