A faulty headlights GM class action lawsuit proposed as a nationwide case has been limited to California only.
The federal judge in the case filed by lead plaintiff Chester Steele determined that the federal warranty law referenced in the GM class action could not be applied to out-of-state drivers.
Initially, the GM faulty headlights class action lawsuit argued that GM was responsible for violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
The judge says that because the claims about faulty headlights had to do with implied warranties, which are defined by state laws, that those consumers outside of California could not be included.
Now, California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, referred to as California’s Lemon Law, will apply to the case.
The GM class action lawsuit argues that the manufacturer knew they were putting Cadillac SRX cars out on the market between 2010 and 2015 with headlights that failed early. According to the consumers who filed, the company purposefully took steps to hide the defect.
The GM headlights class action lawsuit says that the company knew of the defect as early as spring 2010 since that’s when a notice went out to dealerships regarding headlight issues.
At that point, dealerships were encouraged to replace the bulbs for free if customers came in with complaints. According to GM, however, that headlight problem was a separate issue from the allegedly defective products.
The plaintiffs in the GM defective headlights class action lawsuit say that the manufacturer knew of the defect but failed to disclose it, leaving car buyers with the problem of replacing bulbs too frequently.
Car defect lawsuits have increased in recent years, with many of the legal issues in the cases revolving around whether or not the manufacturers knew or should have known about the problems and then failed to take action to notify dealers and consumers in a reasonable amount of time.
Many of the claims filed by the co-lead plaintiff in the GM class action lawsuit over headlights were eliminated during the same day in court that a nationwide Class was blocked. Since that plaintiff could not show that his used car was under any warranty, the judge said any Song-Beverly claims were not applicable.
Steele continues with many of the same claims that led him to file the GM faulty headlights class action lawsuit.
While an implied warranty period for a used car is 30 days and no longer than three months following the sale, according to the judge in the case, the lead plaintiff was able to make use of tolling, or extending, that statute of limitations because he filed a claim shortly after discovering the defective headlight issue.
Steele is represented by Jordan L. Lurie, Tarek H. Zohdy, Cody R. Padgett and Karen L. Wallace of Capstone Law APC. Francisco Campos and Angeline Krolnik-Campos are represented by Jordan L. Lurie and Cody R. Padgett of Capstone Law APC.
The GM Defective Headlights Class Action lawsuit is Steele v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:17-cv-04323, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2025 Top Class Actions® LLC Various Trademarks held by their respective owners This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
Did you lose money on the Cardi B WAP coin? Join the class action investigation.
October 8, 2025 | Legal News
19 thoughts onGM Faulty Headlights Class Action Lawsuit Claims Limited to California
Someone who has great influence is stopping these lawsuits. These lights are a terrible safety issue and it will take a death of some innocent person before something is done. A person I know had it repaired twice each time costing 1600. Dollars. She was elderly and had no clue it was a manufacturer defect. And noone including the dealer told her about the defect. This was before the original lawsuit. And this lady probably never received any money back. How can this company be trusted again.
A little late, but count me in. Matthews, NC, 2013 SRX.
I would like more information on getting my 2015 SRX lights fixed so I can SAFELY drive my vehicle. Driving after dark is not an option with this vehicle. Lord forbid I or any of my family members are in an accident before this is resolved. I can not afford to pay an additional 1600.00 up front and told I “SHOULD” be reimbursed. That is just not acceptable. This light situation creates a danger every time I drive my vehicle.
1.Headlights are dim/don’t work at night they have water in the frame around them, my passenger upper front windshield got cracked and my rim on the same side is messed up from running off the road because the lights went out while I was driving on the interstate.
2. My cue system has spider web cracks in it causing my navigation not to work this is the second one that has done this.
GM told me that since the warranty has ran out it’s nothing they can do to fix my car.
Cadillac of New Orleans is who service my car I have addressed these issues with them but it’s always the same no results.
Just trying to see if you can help or send me in the direction of someone that can. All I want is to drive my car safely, It’s my only transportation, this car is putting me and my 2 year old granddaughter/Others at risk of getting in a bad accident or worst
ever time I drive it.
I also have an SRX with a faulty headlight. It is a 2012 and I live in Kansas. I was told that my VIN number indicated it was an assembly from OK. Because it was not FL or CA related it would not be covered and case closed. There needs to be a class action against all SRX Head Lamps nationwide and quit hiding behind a known, nationwide problem.
I also have one in Minnesota. Don’t even dare drive at night.
Nancy Turnage I have the same problem in NC with my 2011 SRX. We need a class action suit filed here in NC. It will be an “easy road” (never really true when fighting a huge corporation in court) since the Fla and Cali cases are exact with same settlement.
OTHER NC residents with this problem. Contact me! Let’s get a large enough group and get this filed class action in NC!!!
I own a 2014 Cadillac SRX Luxury and my headlights are so bad I have to replace them with after market or not drive it at night. Count me in on the class action, maybe I can recover the money I spent in the upgrade