Settlement Reached In Class Action Oil Burn Lawsuit Against GM
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Earlier this year, a class action lawsuit was filed against General Motors over claims its 2.4-liter LEA Ecotec four-cylinder engine burned excessive amounts of oil due to a design flaw related to faulty piston rings.
Now the judge presiding over the case has approved the settlement terms between GM and owners of affected vehicles, which will allow them to have the 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles inspected and repaired if needed. The customers will also be able to receive reimbursement from GM for repairs they paid for out-of-pocket in an attempt to remedy issues with the engines.
The last time we checked in on this case, Judge Robin L. Rosenberg had put it into a holding pattern after customers objected to GM’s settlement terms. Judge Rosenberg wanted GM’s lawyers as well as customers’ lawyers pursuing the class action suit to agree to more “robust” settlement terms, as the initial settlement would not allow them to receive full engine repairs or replacements – only piston ring assembly repairs. The new settlement has more specific terms that will allow for “reimbursement for repairs and/or replacement of engine components that are or were required and solely caused by excessive oil consumption due to piston ring wear.”
Judge Rosenberg also wanted GM to personally reach out to owners of affected vehicles who had previously opted out of the settlement due to being unhappy with its terms. According to Car Complaints, GM will mail claim forms to 1,709 customers who opted out of the settlement, giving them another chance to participate in the revised settlement. Other owners of affected Equinox and Terrain models will also receive letters in the mail notifying them of the settlement.
The class action suit started out as three separate cases, which later consolidated into a single case that was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. It alleged that affected vehicles with the 2.4-liter LEA Ecotec engine may burn a quart of oil for every 1,000 miles the vehicles are driven. It also claimed the engines may have faulty spark plugs, low oil pressure, damaged timing chains and might produce a knocking sound. In some cases the engines would fail completely, according to court documents.
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Source: Car Complaints
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Originally, I received notification regarding the lawsuit but haven’t received anything else. I spent the time requesting receipts from various service departments for my major repairs on my 2011 Chevy Equinox.
I replaced one engine and was told I needed to replace another. But when the air conditioning went out it would very costly to repair both.
I wonder if we all started contacting local TV stations to get the word out about how we have been treated, if that would make a difference? It seems there is a common thread here, no payment. I know there are going to be some cases among us that may have been denied, but most of us on here is saying that they have not received ANY money or very little of their claim. I say let’s get the word out.
I just started having issues with my 2012 GMC terrain oil consumption at 85,000 miles. I came to the dealership where i bought it and was told that it was a special warranty but it expired in 2020. I never received anything that i know of alerting me of this issue. Very dissappointing. I will be in the market for a new vehicle in the next few months, will not be looking at GM. What ever happened to good customer service and reliable products. Its not like these vehicles were free.
As with ALL modern engines that now come with the water thin 0W-20, they burn oil and have early bearing failures.
The cure is simple.
Just switch to 0W-30 from day ONE and the oil burning and bearing damage can be avoided.
These CAFE oils combined with the weak piston rings all new engines now use results in all the problems people report later on.
Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Audi, and on and on have been sued over these same issues and more law suits will be coming.
But while some admit their mistakes and replace engines under warranty, others merely lie and deny and tell customers it’s “normal” for your car to sound like an old beater with 300,000 miles on it a burn a quart of oil every 1,000 miles.