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
My 2015 Silverado needed a 6 speed replacement at about 62k. Cost me $4700 and that one was replaced under warranty at 90k . Couldn’t get to the Ram dealer fast enough . 21Ram 1500 with the 8 spd 5.7Hemi and haven’t even considered ever looking back
I own a 2017 gmc and the transmission shifts hard between gears , sometimes acts like its in neutral when shift , loud clunking noise when shifting, won’t downshift smoothly it seems to jerk rapidly like its try to down shift.
I’ve had issues with my 2018. They’ve flushed it and replaced the valve body and it still vibrates.
How do I join the class action lawsuit? I have a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado with the 8 speed transmission. I can attest that it shifts very harshly and surges.
What about all the GM 6L80e failures that die under 200k miles because they cheaped out in the Torque Converter? The guts of the Torque Converter fail and wipe out the entire Transmission! And, you have to replace the radiator and trans oil cooler and flush the trans lines to eliminate all the failure residue! Ends up being a $7000 to $8000 job, if you get a GM transmission. But they come with the same defective Torque Converter, so 195k miles later the same thing happens. To avoid the failure you have to buy a good aftermarket billet Torque Converter for $1000 to $1200! So, now your out $8k to $9k, on a vehicle that may only be worth about that amount! My friend that owns Village Automotive in Mukwonago WI, says his shop is doing many of these replacements, all triggered by the cheap defective Torque Converter, including on his own 2014 GMC Denali.
Btw, my own GM 6L80e Transmission in my 2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV just died at 194k miles for the same reason. This is still within the 12 year limit law timeframe for product liability, per the law Congress passed awhile ago.
I have a 2017 Yukon Denali with only 29,000 miles. The transmission shudders, chunks and vibrates. Clearly there is an issue.
I had issues with my transmissions and clunk and jacking how can I fine out what transmission I have 2016 cadillac ct6
Why isn’t there one for the 6L90s?? I had a GM tech friend tell me these are rebuilt at 3x the rate of the 8 speeds. Mine needed rebuilt at 58k miles, and I know of 3 others who needed it before 100k miles. Always the torque converter.
I have had issues with my 2018 transmission
I own a 2015 Silverado 1500 LTZ with an impressive 8L90 transmission. However, after crossing the 100k mark, my truck started exhibiting some issues, such as spitting, shuddering, and jerking. I took proactive measures by flushing my fluids every 50k miles with a filter change, but the problems persisted.
I have a 2019 GMC Sierra SLT. I purchased it in December 2022. Several months later I started experiencing the shudder, acceleration hesitation and lurching. Took it to the dealership, acourse the warranty would not cover it. They did a transmission fluid flush. It did help afterwards but it is back during the same thing.
I have a 2021 Colorado with an 8 speed transmission that also does this. I’ve taken it to dealer, they say it is normal.
It started at about 10000 miles and now has 18000 miles on it.