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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Had the same experience – GM looking for anyway to get out of fixing my car even though i burn about a quart per 100 miles
Rediculous.
Same here. They didnt even isuue my letter until I was past time limit. They are finding anyway possible to get out of paying for their aweful production. I would think they would have to issue these letters in a timely manner. But no they wait until they know your vehicle will be past the time limit!
Same here. They didnt even isuue my letter until I was past time limit. They are finding anyway possible to get out of paying for their aweful production. I would think they would have to issue these letters in a timely manner. But no they wait until they know your vehicle will be past the time limit! By the way I just recieved my letter may 8th. 2020 which was the exact date that knocked me out of free repairs
We had the 2012 Chevy Equinox. We had an oil change at Jiffy Lube and less than 3 months later the Equinox makes a rattling sound and won’t start. We take it to the mechanic and they say it looked like we had not taken it for an oil change in months and as a result the engine cracked because of no oil and we would need $4,000 for a new engine. This happened January of 2019 and given not wanting to pay 4K, we were able to get $1,000 as a trade in for the vehicle even though it was worth over $4,000 running. As we took a $3,000 loss on the vehicle, am I able to recover any of the $3,000 loss I took on the trade in since the car was sold for parts?
People can call this # to see if their vehicle is covered 1-888-970-0698 . If you get their answering machine leave your #…they got back to me right away. I just got the forms to fill out to (hopefully) get my share of the settlement….they have to be filed by May….hope this helps some of you!
Your exact story actually happened to me this July. But I had to trade in my car which KBB value was over $10,000. I only got $500 for a trade-in. I am trying to get in contact with someone at general motors to get me in the right direction. I just got the letter in my mail as well
wow I do not know who needs to go first gm or your dealer
I have a 2012 gmc terrain and two nights ago my engine blew due to oil leak around the engine block but not around oil pan and i am very angry also contacted BBB CEO OF CARMAX AND FTC FCC AND ATTY GEN OFFICE AND GOV OFFICE! I want my car replaced and refund of my down payment! I an gonna fight till i get what i want! I am gonna get involved in this suit
What if you are needing repairs. My equinox has been sitting in the driveway for 4 months. I can’t afford to get the engine rebuild but still owe $4000 on the loan. First it was wouldn’t hold oil and all emissions sensors reading faulty so I could not register tags. Then after and oil change it started rattling. Took it back to oil change and they said oil wasnt that low and it’s a piston knocking. I dont have 4k available to repair out of pocket. Only 125,000 miles
So I called the number. I was told my vehicle only qualifies for reimbursement if it was bought new withing the past 7 years and repairs were performed under 120k miles. If the recall is for 2010-2013 then only late model 2013s are eligible. Because Idk how many new cars sit on a lot for over 3 years. I cant get my car fixed and I owe. Shit out of luck. Wont buy a Chevy again.
contact tylers dealer there understanding
I’m with you. My 2012 Terrain was covered because it had low miles. So what, yours just started later with the same problem. My issue now is that other parts needed replaced due to the oil consumption. Cam Phasers, Valve actuators, spark plugs, catalytic converter. I don’t know what is next. I sure don’t want to sell it to someone I know.
So I got a letter but the dealership won’t do anything. Says if it don’t have symptoms then they will do nothing. My problem is I had the oil changed a month ago or less and the oil is already dark and has a creamy substance on the tip of stick. My vehicle is just now over the mileage in lawsuit. Now what do I do? Is this the start of the rings wearing? Thanks
creamy substance is likely coolant leaking into the oil trade it in or sell to best friend
STILL HAVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AFTER REPAIRS AND $1100.00 ADDITIONAL OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THIS SO CALLED WARRANTY. i NEVER HAD ANY INDICATION THAT THE OIL WAS LOW AND NEVER HAD AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ON SINCE I BOUGHT 3 MONTHS AGO. GM DEALER STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY LIGHT IS COMING ON I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR MORE PARTS DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I’VE OWNED OVER 15 GM VEHICLES SINCE I STARTED DRIVING AND THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE! HAVE BEEN A LOYAL GM BUYER..TOO BAD GM DOES NOT RETURN THE SAME LOYALTY. HELLO FORD!
I took my 2013 Equinox in for the oil change and to monitor the oil consumption due to the issues regarding the settlement. I was given the run around. It’s ridiculous!!!
SAD.. GM NEEDS TO BACK THEIR PRODUCTS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT!
President BAILED them out when they cried about the economy and now they produce crap and don’t back up their “known issues” and takes multiple class action lawsuits for them to do anything.
Quit buying their products is the only answer i have. I have a GM, Chevy, Ford and 2 Toyota’s. Spend much more on the American made cars than the foreign ones and the Toyota’s have many more miles.
Don’t want to buy foreign…..3 kids in college and need reliability…so I have moved to buying quality vs American. Tired of going broke to support companies that produce sub par products and treat their customers the way GM has.
Need to join the GE class action law suit on my 2011 Chev Equinox with a blown engine. How do we join?
I completed the oil consumption test at a GM dealership and confirmed to burn excessive oil. Yet, I was denied any kind of repairs, unless I paid for them myself. I’d appreciate any information to move to the next step to have this taken care of.
I am dealing with this issue now with my 2013 GMC Terrain, it has 95K miles and the engine is locked. The dealer kept saying they needed to perform an oil consumption test but they couldn’t because there was no oil so the engine wouldn’t start. I told them that is why the lawsuit because the engine consumed all the oil, if it didn’t consume the oil they could do the test and a matter of fact if the engine wasn’t defective there wouldn’t be an issue thus there would be no lawsuit. The dealers and General Motors are working together to make the consumer suffer due to their defective product. I will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER purchase another vehicle from General Motors. Signed a VERY DISSATISFIED GMC owner.
Been tracking excessive oil consumption recalls for 5 years. 2013 Equinox ECOTEC engine. NOTHING for years. No warning lights, low oil lights, nothing. Just kept pumping oil in and eventually it got so bad, the engine locked up. Then literally 2 weeks after engine blows, a Class Action Lawsuit was settled. Judge held off signing off on lawsuit because GM was pushing back on having to pay for blown engines. Judge even commented that was the reason why he held off on “final settlement.”
Take car to dealer immediately, receive Class Action Paper work in the mail, hear from GM customer service, told I have a STRONG CASE. Don’t hear anything for 3 weeks. Renting cars, trying to manage without a car, and still nothing. Dealer finally calls after calling GM numerous times only to be told that GM would pay part of the new engine cost and I would have to come up with $4,500 to cover the cost. Reached out to the company handling the lawsuit… they basically laughed at me and said, “Take what they are offering because they aren’t offering much.”
GM went silent. Would not return calls, would not return emails. Sent a complaint to the GM website voicing my concerns, then low and behold, started receiving emails again telling me they are still working on my case. In the meantime had to pay Chevy dealer $4,500 to have engine replaced. Car wasn’t even worth $4,500 but have 3 in college and trying to make ends meet.
Finally received a call from Ashlyn and GM customer service, not the same person Rachel I had been working with….only to be told that she was sorry I had to come up with $4,500 to fix my engine, she wasn’t the legal department and basically i was out of luck! So sad that I try and support American Auto Makers because I love America and want my fellow Americans to do well, and they produce crap and don’t back it up!
NEVER BUYING GM PRODUCT AGAIN and I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT. Maybe they will wake up and start producing quality products like our parents and grandparents produce and Made American Automobiles Great!
I have a 2012 Terrian. My vehicle is burning oil fast, I had my catalytic replaced and spent $900. I replaced manifold, I was advised to check my oil level ever thousand miles.
I have GMC Terrain 2011. Still under 100k miles but it s not safe to drive. It does stop in the middle of the freeway many times if I turn the AC on. I also can’t go lore than 45 miles an hour
I change oil every 2 months. I wish they can take it and give me just half of my money back 🙁
I recieved the letter of the lawsuit so I can mail the oil receipts and repairs but I lost it .. who has that address where I can mail the receipts ?
2.4 Liter Oil Consumption Litigation
c/o Analytics Consulting LLC
P.O. Box 2003
Chanhassen, MN 55317-2003
Good Luck, my paper work had a claim number included along with my VIN preprinted on the paperwork.
By the way, today 5/16/20 is the deadline to have receipts postmarked, so you best get on it.
I was sold my 2012 Equinox by a dealership just shortly after the coverage had ended for the service bulletin and it had 125k miles. I Had no idea these vehicles had these types of issues. I got 10 miles from the dealer the day I bought it and my problems began the check engine light came on and it was pulling multiple trouble codes. Called the salesman immediately and was told they were closed I’d have to call back Monday. We lived 3 hrs from this dealer. Before we ever made it home the engine had began to sound like a diesel and was making so many loud noises that it didnt on the short test drive. We never could get the dealer that sold us it to help in any way they denied any issues although it was later obvious the battery had been unhooked to clear the engine light. We replaced a few sensors and thought things would be okay but nope! We checked our oil a week later and it had none whatsoever in it. We filled it and then took it for an oil change as the sticker in our window said it was time for one (something else the dealer didn’t do b4 selling it to us). We took it to the dealership twice to see if it was leaking oil because we were putting multiple quarts in it a month. Fast forward to April 2020 the car now has 130k miles (only 5k miles driven in 10 mo) my family and I go to leave to go to the store and the engine sounds horrible and it then quits we had just put 2 quarts of oil in it the week before. My husband checks the oil and again bone dry. Never once did a low oil light or any type of warning light came on! We try putting more oil in it and attempt to start it again and it starts running very rough but shortly dies. We have it towed to our local gm dealer whom informs us because of the excessive oil consumption the timing chain jumped time ruining the entire motor. When i financed the car I was forced to get a service contract or they said I couldn’t get financing with my bad credit. After a month of fighting with the service contract they denied my claim for the repairs stating I allowed it to run with no oil. Livid was an understatement! So I was then responsible for the entire teardown and diagnosis plus the cost of the new motor and all the labor. I ended up paying out $6k for the work + a rental car for the month it took them! I still owe $7500 and the car is not worth anything! I contacted Chevy who basically told me too bad, the dealer who did the work told me the service bulletin had expired 02/19 which was 4 mo prior to me owning the vehicle and at that point it was over the mileage anyways as I bought it with 125k miles. I guess its safe to say I also missed the class action lawsuit? Its been a month since I’ve had the car back and 2 days later the check engine light came back on so I take it back to the dealer who did the work and was informed the catalytic converter now needed replaced because it was contaminated with oil when the motor failure happened. They originally told me when they were diagnosing it that they did see a bit got in it but it would not need replaced. They want another $1300 for that work. The so called new motor they put in was actually remanufactured even though it cost such a ridiculous amount! Im so upside on my loan and so much negative equity I’m basically stuck with it because I don’t have great credit. The new motor doesn’t sound much better than the old one did its noisy and has slight misses at idle. It’s already showing to be consuming oil also only 1 month and it’s already a quart low again! I guess people in my situation are just supposed to suffer while GM makes millions and doesn’t stand behind their defective junk! If anyone knows how I can still get in on the lawsuit pleaese let me know! I may try to consult with a lawyer about the dealership who sold me it and concealed serious engine issues. No doubt that the motor had already had excessive damage when they sold it to us.
Shady dealer and a corporation who does not care about struggling people who are doing their best to make ends meet.
I don`t know how the salesman who sold you your vehicle sleeps at night, but I do know karma will get him.
If I were you I would start off by suing the dealership that sold you that P.O.S.
Then worry about GM.
It really disgusts me how Corporations and Dealers take advantage of vulnerable people. I truly feel for you guys, no wonder you have bad credit, how can you ever get ahead when you are dealt a terrible hand like this.
Shame on the dealership and shame on GM.
I hope God is giving you and showing you some kind of better days than those lowly scumbags.
It’s a GM best thing you can do is fully insure and drop a match. Or polish it up and leave it unlocked downtown.
I have a 2011 Equinox. I bought it used with 84k miles on it. The oil consumption was immediate and downhill from there. The engine blew and we replaced it, to the tune of $8k. I am so upside down financially in this POS that I can never sell it! Did you folks know that there is also a documented problem with the AC blowing warm air for no reason?? I’ve been experiencing that surprise function for the past year! I can hardly wait to have to replace that too🙄😒. Yeah, we are not happy.
The issue does not stop at the 2013 models, I just had the same problem with my 2014 2.4L ecotec engine that just turned over 100K miles. I have had issue after issue with my 2014 GMC Terrain and have only had it 3 years. AND not to mention that all of these parts were replaced bc of oil/engine problems 3 months after buying the vehicle. I just had to have the timing chain replaced and now am driving my vehicle knowing that the exhaust manifold is cracked and leaking, bc I couldn’t afford more repairs and still $8000 on my loan. And all of this stems from the oil consumption issue. The dealership that just did the recent repairs told me that i will have to check the oil level regularly bc of oil consumption issue. I am thankful that my warranty has cover a majority of these repairs, yet I still have had to pay $600 out of my pocket so far as a result of the faulty engine. The thing that is unfair is that I am now stuck with a vehicle/loan that I will continue to have problems with and will inevitably cost me WAY more out of my pocket that I shouldn’t have to pay. I am not at all pleased with this and believe that the 2014 should be included in this class action law suit!
Apparently, it is too late to get this issue resolved now? I just discovered that my 2013 Equinox with 74XXX miles has this oil consumption issue and am being told by my dealer that it is on me now.