Update:ย
- 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.ย
- On Aug. 28, a 6th Circuit panel rejected GMโs motion to dismiss the claims, saying it found no reason to undo class certification for the drivers.ย
- The plaintiffs say GMโs 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:ย
- Who: Thirteen consumers filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors (GM).ย
- 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 GMโs 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 transmissionsย
The GM transmission issues happen around the time the affected vehiclesโ 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
This is infuriating. I am on my fourth C7 Corvette in 7 months. A 2016 Z06 with only 4800 miles; a 2017 Stingray with 19k miles; a 2019 Grand sport with 2600 miles; and now a 2017 Grand Sport with 7500 miles. Every single one of them had the shudder, making it feel as though I was driving over zip strips at various speeds, from 30s all the way to 70s. My 2019 was the worst. I was driving it home after purchase and thought the transmission was about to fly out of the car it was that bad. Thank God that one was under a certified warranty and a Chevy dealer performed the triple flush at no charge. After that it was fine. Now I went back to a coupe (the โ19 was a convertible), and I cannot believe I have the same problem! Unfortunately this one wonโt be covered under warranty. I bought an extended warranty but have been told they will not cover fluid changes. Iโve been quoted over $950 to do the triple flush. This is ridiculous, the car has less only 7500 miles and I am only the second owner! I could not believe this flawless car has mechanical issues after paying over 65k for a used car! This is not okay! I am an avid Corvette collector, and unfortunately my favorite model is the C7, and I have owned 6 so far, of which 4 have had severe issues with the shudder. I have called GM and asked them to cover this flush and they refused since itโs out of warranty. The car was babied and garaged and driven only 800 miles per summer. This should not be an issue, GM should pay for the triple flush and whatever repairs the transmission may need in the future! This has caused me a lot of frustration and a ton of money! Can someone please point me in the right direction s
Our 2016 GMC Yukon Denali has all of these issues. Performed the TSBs recommended at the dealer. Flushed and changed the trans fluid multiple times. Issues would get better for a week but then come back.
Gm should just fix the issue with recall, I have a 2019 Silverado with 8 speed transmission if it fails I will never buy another gm product.
My 2018 Silverado has the transmission problem that has been described. It jumps and flutters and my husband took to place were we bought it and they said this was normal and there was nothing they could do.
What about the GM 9L65 transmission thatโs gas same/similar issuesโฆ. This trans is in many midsize SUVs like the Chev Traverse. We have a 2018 Chevy traverse with a little over 100,000 miles and the transmission went out recently. So itโs just sitting in our yard while I make payments on it while I figure out what to do. One local transmission shop wanted $7600 to replace it, thatโs ridiculous.
I have 2 vehicles with the 8 speed, one had the shudder and was flushed with the new fluid and has been good so far. GM needs to do the right thing .. but they wonโt, just to busy pushing EVโs that nobody wants..
My 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has intermittent shudders at 30 โ 40 mph and 28,000 miles on the odometer
As someone who deals with fleet vehicles and owns a 18 Colorado I can tell you that the replacement and complaints about these issues are much higher than expected. Some fleet trans were replaced under warranty but most were out of pocket. Personally had fluid replaced with no noticeable change and have reached 100k. But delay some shudder,and hard shifts have always been there.
Many full size GM owners would like an extended warranty on their transmission as most of us are just waiting for it to malfunction.
I have a 2018 had torque converter and valve body replaced by gm that was 10k miles ago and still jumping shuddering and shifting hard.
I own a 2017 Silverado and I have a clunking noise every once in a while and also some hesitation when accelerating sometimes, sounds like it could possibly be the same issues as others