GM Hit With Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged 8-Speed Transmission Defect
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General Motors faces a new class-action lawsuit after owners claimed the automaker’s 8-speed automatic transmission houses a major defect. Per the information posted to Classaction.org, drivers have experienced violent shakes, jerks, or a “hard shift” when selecting a gear with the automatic transmission.
The information also says 13 technical service bulletins have been filed about 8-speed automatic transmission problems, though none of them have remedied the problem absolutely.
The technical name for this transmission is either the 8L90 or 8L45 automatic transmission, which is found in numerous GM vehicles. The transmission pairs to cars on a rear-wheel-drive architecture, meaning owners of GM’s sports cars, luxury sedans, trucks, and SUVs have the 8-speed automatic transmission in question.
Specifically, the transmission is found in:
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS and ATS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2015-2019 GMC Sierra
- 2015-2019 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
- 2017-2019 GMC Canyon.
The problem is most common when a driver accelerates of decelerates and the transmission moves to shift a gear. Drivers reported a hesitation, then a shudder or jerk with the gear change. However, it’s not exclusive to gear changes as some owners reported the issue within a single gear. According to the information compiled so far, some drivers said the event has been so violent it felt like another car had hit them.
One owner reported that moving from the “reverse” to “drive” gear was so violent that the car nearly drove through a garage door.
It’s worth noting the NHTSA has also received numerous complaints about the transmission found in the number of GM vehicles. The lawsuit claims the issue’s source is the torque converter, which may be exposed to undue friction. Eventually, the gears may not function properly as metal shavings move throughout the transmission. This is not a definite conclusion, but an alleged issue in the lawsuit. One NHTSA complaint does cite a failed torque converter after 16,000 miles in a GMC Canyon.
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Source: Classaction.org
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Heads up if your truck is still under warranty, GMC is doing a fluid change at NO COST. Getting my 2016 Sierra done Oct 1st.
Says who? Is that nationwide or just at your local dealer?
I did little research discovered it on my own web search then called my dealer, I don’t believe any recalls. If your truck is under warranty I suggest confronting dealer GM is recommending different oil.
Why taking so long to post my link comment its GM
My apologies, your dealer should explain your warranty. I messed up mine is 6 and NO issues.
But there is a fix or improvement for 8 TSB oil change…
2019 GM Equinox Ongoing Safety Problems Being Ignored
Oct 29th 2020
Here are some purely negligent class action worthy safety problems that are not being addressed by GM for the 2019 Equinox I own that I have reported over a year ago with absolutely no answer whatsoever from GM.
1. Dangerous projector headlights that are aimed high this is blinding people coming towards me yet since they are aimed high I cannot properly see the road or whatever is in front of me and to both sides. This is for both low and high beams. The GM dealer says that these headlights cannot be adjusted at all. This ongoing problems Has been reported online a zillion times already. I have come close to a head on collision with a truck coming at me while flashing his high beams into my eyes. This issue was never put into my original case report that I made about this ongoing problem over a year ago!
2. The Bluetooth system disconnects to the cell phone all the time so phone calls cannot be made or received through the sound system as it should be all of the time. This is another HUGE dangerous safety problem because it forces drivers to dig around and manually pick up their phones while breaking the law to answer or dial and talk to people on while driving. The dealer says it can’t be fixed and the service manager has the same exact problem with his Equinox
3. This is a Horrible safety issue If you have pets, babies or children in the vehicle and you walk away from it with your key fob for only a few minutes the engine and air conditioning automatically shuts off which will allow the vehicle to quickly heat up and KILL any pet or person inside!
I have been trying to have GM listen to these issues and act on them for over a year now with absolutely no response back to me at all!
Just purchased a 2017 CT6 with 20,580 on it…three days after closing, it starts the shuddering thing. THEN i find the blogs et al about it. Hoping the dealer will perform the TSB 18-NA-355 and have it solved. If not, I’ll go to a more local dealership, pay for it…and never consider buying from the Dealership that sold it with only “as-is”.
Yes, shame on me for not getting more information, more answers before the purchase.
My only grace is that I didn’t buy it NEW with this issue and hassles that i’ve read about.
how do i join the class action?
Sorry but the courts have dropped that class action law suit about a year ago.
Glad I stumbled on this blog. I am a first time owner of a 2017 GMC Sierra All Terrain. From the beginning, the truck shifted hard from 1st to 2nd gear. When I told the dealer this, they said it’s just the way the 8 speed transmissions shift. Now that I know this is an issue and not the norm, I will be contacting the dealer tomorrow. Funny that these service bulletins are not forwarded to owners as a courtesy. My buddy who has a GMC truck was the one who let me know about this issue. I hope the GMC dealer/GM stands behind this fix.
I have a 2017 Sierra. Replaced 1 transmission at 68,000, 2nd one 25,000 miles later. Now have 150,000 miles and it needs a 3rd
Ull find the best and only way to fix the 8L45 and 8L90 8 speed automatic transmission is to trade to another manufacturer ..That’s what I had to do .General Motors will not honor their warranty commitments period. I fought for over 3 years with G.M. /Cadillac customer Care / and G.M dealership and after 3 years of grief, stress and huge expense to myself i had to trade the vehicle (2017 Cadillac ATS Premium luxury AWD 3.6 L )
I have the same 2017 Sierra and my transmission always slams into 2nd gear when it is first started till it warms up. The dealer said that it’s just normal for the 8 speed transmission to do that. Not!!! GMC has since stopped making the 8 speed and went to the 10 speed leaving us stuck with junk. Not go PR for a company I’d say.
Any there buddy of mine has a 2018 GMC and he said there is a service bulletin (18-NA-355) that changes out the fluid in the transmission to a different viscosity and he said it helped. Still not something you expect from a $55k truck.
I had to sue gm it took 2 years but I got cashed out with 115k and paid my lemon law lawyer paid off my loan and walked away with 35k thanks gm
I am having same problem. If GM does not fix this issue I will sue and return vehicle. Oh, and list the dealership that I bought it from.
My 17 Yukon only has 64,000 miles on it. Had the 20 quart flush at 30,000, and brought it back twice after and they did nothing those times…said it was normal.
I have the best GM extended warranty and I was told it that it does need the flush again with a new viscosity. In the next breath I was told that GM says it’s normal maintenance at $700!
The manual says normal at 72,000…..
They know it’s a known issue on my truck….I’m pissed!
Sorry but the courts have dropped that class action law suit about a year ago.
With all this being said how do u get GM to replace my torque converter so I don’t have to feather the pedal,so I don’t feel like I’m getting rear ended on my 2016 Chevy Silverado LTZ with 8 speed trans.
2019 CT6 clunks and chugs at low speeds while turning… While on drive with Tech he says “Woah, thats not normal” then they keep my car for 3 hours, go to pick it up and the Service Manager hands be a bulletin saying “GM says this is normal for AWD”
I have 4 years left on my Powertrain warranty no way this car lasts until than..