GM recall of defective engines is ‘inadequate,’ class action lawsuit claims

GM class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: A group of 10 consumers are suing General Motors LLC.
• Why: The plaintiffs claim certain vehicle engines are defective and prone to catastrophic failure.
• Where: The General Motors class action lawsuit was filed in Michigan federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges that General Motors equipped certain vehicles with defective engines that are prone to catastrophic failure and issued an “inadequate” recall to address the issues.

Lead plaintiff Robert Houchin filed the class action lawsuit against GM on May 16 in Michigan federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the GM class action lawsuit, certain vehicles are equipped with defective 6.2-liter V8 EcoTec3 L87 engines that are prone to catastrophic failure.

The plaintiffs allege that the engines are susceptible to damage and sudden failure, resulting in a loss of power during vehicle operation. They say the defect arises from improper crankshaft dimensions and surface finish, along with bearings that cannot withstand the heat and friction generated in the engines.

The affected vehicles include 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade, 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 2019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2021-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2021-2024 Chevrolet Suburban, 2019-2024 GMC Sierra 1500, 2021-2024 GMC Yukon and 2021-2024 GMC Yukon XL, the GM class action states.

GM knew of defect and recall is inadequate, plaintiffs claim

The plaintiffs allege that GM was aware of the defect but failed to disclose it to consumers. They claim that GM conducted three internal investigations into the issue, with the first one closing in February 2022, but the company did not take action to remedy the problem.

The plaintiffs further allege that GM’s recent recall of the affected vehicles is inadequate, as it does not address the root causes of the defect.

The class action claims that the GM recall only offers a temporary fix by replacing the stock oil with a higher viscosity oil rather than redesigning the defective components.

The plaintiffs are looking to represent anyone who purchased or leased an affected vehicle. They are suing for breach of warranty and fraudulent omission and are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

On April 24, GM recalled nearly 600,000 vehicles, including select 2021–2024 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC models, due to potential engine failures caused by defective components that could increase the risk of a crash.

What do you think of the allegations in this GM class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by E. Powell Miller, Dennis A. Lienhardt and Dana E. Fraser of The Miller Law Firm P.C.; Adam J. Levitt, John E. Tangren, Daniel R. Ferri and Madeline E. Hill of DiCello Levitt LLP; W. Daniel “Dee” Miles III, H. Clay Barnett III, J. Mitch Williams, Dylan T. Martin and Trenton H. Mann of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles P.C.; Timothy G. Blood, Thomas J. O’Reardon II, Paula R. Brown and Adam M. Bucci of Blood Hurst & O’Reardon, LLP; and Nicholas H. Wooten of Cheeley Law Group LLC.

The General Motors class action lawsuit is Houchin, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 2:25-cv-11462, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Rubbermaid food containers not microwave or freezer safe, class action claims
• Crossroads Trading data breach results in multiple class action lawsuits
• Two class action lawsuits allege RugsUSA uses fake sales to trick consumers
• Class action alleges Stake.us operates a real-money casino behind ‘social gaming’ front