Update:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Who: Thirteen consumers filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors (GM).
- 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 transmissions
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 a 2015 Chevrolet tahoe ltz with a shutter problem. Took it to the shop they said nothing was wrong that I needed to service the transmission$2,000 later still have the problem. . I also own a 2013 GMC sierra where it sounds like the same problem. Got a estimate gonna cost me $3,000 to fix my tahoe. This really sucks.
I have a 2019 Chevy Silverado. I have complained about the transmission hard shifts, shuddering, hard shifting and slamming into gear when shifting from reverse to drive since I purchased the truck new. They always tell me that the truck performs as designed and I cannot believe that the truck was designed to shift so hard that it sounds like the rear end is going to explode.
I have a 2018 Silverado an shifts from 1st two gears it boggs down then takes off it shifts really hard at times
I have a 2020 Blazer and it also has these issues. I have had work done on it and i don’t even have 100,000 miles yet. I hate to drive it cause my warranty is almost up and I can’t afford a new transmission but I still owe to much to trade it in.
I have a 2018 Chevy Silverado with the six speed Trans late shift drops a gear when not needed and truck vibration at 70 ask mark Wahlberg when it was still under warranty and the adviser didn’t want to hear it and said gm knows and is not going to fix it
I owned a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe and the transmission had to be replaced with only 104,000 miles. I am interested in this process.
I have a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. Two years ago the transmission refused to shift and the engine would rev and miss shifting. The dealer told me the torque converter was bad and none were in stock. The wait would be weeks I was told. Instead I replaced the entire transmission with a rebuilt one for $7000.
My 2017 is doing the same thing surges, like slack in between gear changes and pops so loud it feels like the tranny or rearmed is breaking, also sitting at red lights it sometimes like it tries to take off unexpectingly
My truck is a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. My thirds transmission has failed on it. Doesnt seem prudent to fix it at this point.
I own a 2017 Silverado with a 6.2 engine and an 8L90 transmission. It has 41,000 miles. It has a bad transmission shutter.
I get tired of hearing the Us auto industery has released cars and trucks that have known mechanical problems leaving customers with thousands in repair bills. Why do we buy these vehicles? Being loyal to “MADE IN AMERICA”. I am no longer loyal. This is the second new GMC truck I have purchased. The first was sold with soft known, valve guides. GM Refusing to fix the problem made me pay$1600.00 to fix. I bought a new 2017 GMC 1500 with an acting up 8L90 transmission. I have an appt. $250.00 to diagnose what it will cost me to fix it. There will be fireworks at the dealership! I own a 1965 chev impala w/a 2 speed power glide transmission still shifts like new. One and done.