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GM Sued Over Alleged Use Of Diesel Emission ‘Defeat Devices’ In Silverado, Sierra Pickups

One scandal closes—that being GM’s ignition switch recall—another one potentially opens. General Motors has been served a class action lawsuit over the alleged use of “defeat devices” in Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Duramax pickup trucks, reports Reuters.

The lawsuit accuses GM of employing three “defeat defeat” devices to pass federal and state emission tests. The devices allegedly allow the Duramax diesel engine to produce two to five times more NOx pollutants than legally allowed.

The vehicles in question are the 2011-2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models powered by GM’s Duramax diesel engine. The class action lawsuit covers 705,000 owners and lessees of the potentially affected trucks.

GM has outright denied the claims, which were filed by several law firms, including Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, the same firm that helped reach multibillion-dollar settlements with VW and owners of over-polluting diesel vehicles. GM spokesman Dan Flores called the claims “baseless.”

It should be noted that auxiliary emission control devices are legal under the Clean Air Act, though their presence must be disclosed and explained thoroughly with the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB). The law permits these devices to protect the vehicle under various driving conditions. In contrast, and where Volkswagen went horrendously wrong, is the fact VW blatantly used them to cheat federal regulations.

Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles has also been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice after the automaker failed to properly explain the purpose of eight undisclosed emission control devices.

Potential fines for violating the Clean Air Act are set at $44,539 per affected vehicle. Do some quick math and GM better hope it has its story straight.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. I had a feeling GM wasn’t done with all this “diesel-gate” nonsense! if they pinned one American company, I’m sure they’ll find others!

    Reply
  2. Little bit of a difference being sued by some ambulance chasers vs the department of Justice.

    Reply
  3. Yes ”tis is just someone looking for a settlement to go away.

    GM has too much at stake here do they may fight his one.

    If they prove clean in court it will be better than any bad press leading up. It also will stop future claims.

    It is about time many companies start standing up to the leaches.

    Reply
  4. I hope they win then go after the accusers.

    Reply
  5. obvious abuse of the legal system. its obvious that gm isn’t defeating the system, because many aftermarket tuners get 30-50% additional output on American vehicles. if these vehicles were cheating (and thus cutting in on those savings) the increase would be from 15-20% instead (that is what normal gas cars can be tuned to)

    Reply
  6. Hopefully they fight it. Seems like the lawyers working for GM have pretty good job security lol

    Reply
  7. $44,539 x 705,000 vehicles = $31,399,995,000
    That’s just crazy for potential fines
    Thirty-one billion three hundred and ninety-nine million nine hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars….

    Reply
    1. $31,399,995,000 = no mas GM 🙁

      Reply
  8. Im going thru the fuel pump problem right now, started with a blown head gasket at 108k miles then serine gmc installed new engine fuel injectors out of firing order then they did not replace the high pressure hoses. then Serine gmc refused to take the truck back. It was the day the truck was completed with its repair. I got a call to come pick the truck up. i drove it towards home, half way there the low antifreeze light came on and the check oil light came on. there was no antifreeze in the reservoir and the engine was 1/2 gallon low on oil. I called David at service, it was saturday when i picked up the truck so skeleton staff. they said to fill the fluids and drive it home. then Larry (manager of perine gmc) said do not bring your truck back to serine. i said you broke it, you fix it. he denied me, he said bring the truck to a closer dealer. the closer dealer Royal gmc said the fuel injectors were put in out of firing order, the high pressure hoses were not replaced and the fuel rails have rust and metal shavings in them, after serine charged me $10,125 now royal gmc is charging me $3400 for fuel system. no I’m given the choice of paying $3400 and taking my truck back which has the faulty fuel pump and is a ticking time bomb with a 2 year 24,000mile warranty or taking a $21500 + $3000 incentive to take a new or used vehicle off their lot. found a nice white sierra gasser asked them if i can take it for a test drive and it would not start. tested the canyon. now i have to take off all the wiring and mounting plates for my fisher minute mount plow and the whole thing is just a nightmare. has anyone else had this happen to the fuel pump and has anyone found a good lawyer?

    Reply

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