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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So..my husband I filed our “claim” by the date requested. Just received notice that our claim was denied. We submitted all the necessary paperwork, letters from our mechanic, etc….only to be told it was denied. They said of course we have 10 whole days to respond contesting the denial. But my question is…Is it even worth it at this point to contest? Did anyone receive an approved claim? I would bet my paycheck no one will receive a settlement.
I’m done with GMC’s
It’s still possible that someone got the claim approved so then usually they won’t bother to find this forum to discuss this issue. But I agree with you per what we’ve seen by now that obviously this law firm is trying to deny all the claims as their initial response. If someone just gives up, they just pay one case less. If someone contests, they might look into the specific case to see if it’s a strong case or weak case then they would determine if they would approve the case or not later on. Anyway, they have nothing to lose to deny in the initial response. I would suggest everyone at least contest with a letter to keep the dispute ongoing. In another word, they won’t be able to get away from this so easily. My question to whomever here knows legal things better than I do is “Is there anyway we (all the victims who have financial loss due to this GM engine defect) could hold this law firm accountable to reimburse the loss rather than benefiting themselves from legal perspective?” Personally I feel what they do is kind of fraud so we might have to sue them? Or write a formal letter to GM?
When I received the letter and it said you don’t need a lawyer I got a lawyer. I sent in all the proof and made copies of what I sent in. My lawyer said the same thing about contesting so we are sending in the letter from the mechanic explaining that it was in fact because of the oil consumption. If they deny again we will start with a formal letter to GM and then from there make our own law suit to GM about my car. And GM can end up filing a suit against the firm that did the class action for not paying out.
I am doing the same and if denied again I will seek additional legal advice. Sent my letter back on Wed.
Good luck finding legal advice .. I called just about every attorney in our area and none of them deal in class action suits!
This is my second time around, unfortunately my warranties are up this time. Dealership quoted me 8700 for an engine plus labor. Lol guess I’m walking and bumming rides from now on. I just spent all of my savings 6 years ago to pay cash for this car. And it only lasted 2 weeks before it started knocking the first time. Almost 2 years the second time. I was told the car would go to 300,000 and above with regular maintenance. Jokes on me.
try a private mechanic. Our engine cost us $5500 total still alot but cheaper than buying a new car as ours was paid off as well.
Guess that’s what I get for trying to buy american made cars. Next car I get will be so foreign
I guess they just sent out a mass response letter to all of us. I receive mine this week as well and of course DENIED. I will send my response this weekend.
I’ve given up . Good luck to all . You can take GM and stick it where the sun don’t shine. The end
This is a long shot, but if there is someone out there that got a check of hasn’t been denied yet, what did you include with your claim? I too submitted some of the same things as above but was denied. Not sure what I need to submit with my claim in order to be approved. Any help would be appreciated.
I got a check for only $600 out of the total $4,800 due…I sent 35 pages filled with all my receipts, proof from the internet that the problems I had/paid for tied into the Oil Consumption problem…an estimate on how much the dealer said it would cost to put in the new pistons, etc…to fix the problem. I did not know that I would have only 10 business days to refute their measly check, but I did find out in time and sent them a detailed letter along with the original 35 page PDF file I sent them….hoping, and praying, they will review the info and find in our favor. Hope this helps you in some way.
This is the email they sent me as to how to contest the too low check:
Thank you for your email,
If you wish to contest the amount of your check, within ten (10) business days of your receipt of the letter you must mail (via the United States Postal Service to the address listed below) a detailed written statement, including your claim number (which is in the upper right corner of the letter), with the reasons and grounds for contesting the denial of your claim. Your written submission must also include a copy of the letter and any documentation which supports your request for further review of the denial of your claim. Your written submission will be further reviewed and you will be advised in writing of the results of that review within approximately 45 days of the date we receive your submission.
All correspondence regarding the denial of your claim must be mailed to the following address within ten (10) business days of your receipt of the letter.
2.4 Liter Oil Consumption Litigation
c/o Analytics Consulting LLC
P.O. Box 2003
Chanhassen, MN 55317-2003
Sincerely,
Office of the Claims Administrator
Jus thought a used 2015 Terrain from my cousin that works for GM. Haven’t even got to drive it once guess what’s wrong with it? Timing chain and all of the above same as the 2010-2013
Well well here we go again. Regrettably I have a 2010 Equinox that magically consumes oil steadily but doesn’t smoke at the exhaust.
Never again GM!! I’ve learned my lesson with the GM trickery never again GM .
General Motors has been building cars for over a hundred years but they haven’t got it right yet ,simply pitiful !
And they scratch their heads and wonder why they are losing market share year after year !
My next purchase will be a new Toyota ,they have a reputable history up taking care of their customers and they build Great Vehicles !!
GM’s problems are mainly the exorbitant wages negotiated with the ruinous Labor Unions and the ridiculous Federally forced Affirmative Action BS in the engineering and design depts.
Tens of thousands have had enough and learned costly lessons with GM , so never again !!
I have a 2014 Equinox so mine car supposedly doesn’t qualify for this lawsuit. But about 3 years ago I was left stranded when my dash board lite up like a Christmas tree because the car burnt through almost all of the 5 qts of oil in less that 6,000 miles. After taking my car to the dealership for repair I then had to take my car in every 1,000-2,000 miles to prove it was burning oil. Finally the warranty would cover the replacement of the pistons. Now 3 years later my car is yet again burning oil to the point of engine issues. On top of the oil issues, around the same time I had to have the pistons replaced they had to repair a cracked in the exhaust manifold, I had the work done at a GM dealership hoping that would ensure it was done correctly. Just over 1 year after repair the crack was back but my car was now out of warranty and the repair work out of warranty. When I called the dealership all I got was sorry nothing we can do. I’ve been living with the crack now for 2 years and it is to a point again I can’t sit at a stop light without rolling down the windows to stay safe. It’s winter and I live in Michigan, it’s getting little cold to do that. As a single mom or 2 it’s what I have to do to keep them safe until I can dump the POS car. I grew up with GM cars but I really considering buying from someone else after this car and the service I have received on it.
i have a 2012 malibu 2.4 ecotec and i bought it with 154000 miles oni it.i had to put a timing chain in it at 155000. it was also leaking oil badly so they replaced the head, now it makes a horible clatter when i start it.
I have a 2015 equinox and of course same issues started going through oil then eventually got an oil leak, now I’m sitting with a seized engine on a vehicle I’m STILL paying over $400 a month for, and can’t afford $5000 for a bee engine. Ridiculous. I’ve been searching for lawsuits something to get this replaced just always end up at a dead end.
I have the same problem with my Terrain Im trying to get a form to submit to get my terrain fixed anyone know how i can get the form to fill out
You need to go to the dealership and tell them what the problem is. Talk only with the supervisor, they will check it out. Keep everything documented for back up. I hope this helps. The thing you have to know that if this gets fixed, the dealership gets paid from GM just as if you were paying out of pocket, so they should help you out.
gm does not even come close to paying the same labor rate as a cash customer also they pay the dealer no markup on parts
My brother in-law owns a GM dealership. They welcome recall business, and make money on it. Just saying.
i had to put in a timing chain at 157000 and a new head at 160000 in my 2012 chevy malibu with a 2.4 ecotec.
My mother purchased a 2010 equinox a few years back With 80,000 miles. Noticed like everyone else that it to was consuming extensive amounts of oil. I made an appointment with a gm dealer to have the oil test performed over the next 3 or 4 weeks. Car failed miserably. Used 2 quarts every 1000 miles. The dealership filled the claim for us and was approved. They clearly stated it was due to piston ring failure. They did try to say at first it was not burning oil but I was present every time it went in to get checked and recorded video of the mechanic performing the test. Proof it was using oil. They couldnt argue their own certified technician stating it was the rings….. Document everything. Have a gm dealer run the test. Cost what a normal oil change would. They wasted no time rebuilding the entire engine free of charge.
I just heard about this class action lawsuit. I had a2013 gmc terrain 2.4L in less than a year it was burning oil. Had to replace the piston rings etc cost was almost $4000 I caught with gm and they paid 1/2, but would like to get the rest back. Can that still happen?
I do not know where you live, but do you have a local news station that has a consumer reporter. Call them and stick them on the case, it is amazing how bad press will get them to cave and make good on what they owe you.
Good luck!!
My wife has a 2012 GMC Terrain, same engine, doing the same thing, oil consumption very poor. Get this, it only has 38,000 miles on it. Yes that is correct 38,000 miles. She drives so little that I changed the oil based on time and not mileage. Every 6 months it was changed, Mobil 1 5w-30, and a new filter. Just recently she has been driving a little more, so I checked the oil after the last change (576 miles driven) and it was down 1 full quart. I added and monitored the oil level. Now around every 600 miles I am putting a quart of oil in this oil sucker. I called the dealership and have an appointment to bring the car back, but I am now reading everything I can to be prepared to deal with this. I believe in going in armed for bear even if hunting squirrels. I will keep everyone posted on how we make out.
After turning in all the paperwork that GM asked for it took almost a year to hear back. Of course they informed me that my claim had been denied. I had a 2010 Equinox with only 50 thousand miles on it when I started having problems. I had to pay for the initial repairs at a cost of about $1600. After the repairs it was still giving me problems and I went through the oil consumption tests. The initial test indicated it used up all the oil in less than 4 thousand miles. That was when I had the problem. After the repairs the next oil consumption test showed my car used over a quart of oil in less than 1,000 miles.
The next test showed that it had used almost 2 quarts in 1,000 miles. While going through the third oil consumption test my car was broadsided and eventually totaled. I just received a letter saying my claim was denied and if I wanted to object I had only 10 days to respond. I currently have 3 Chevrolets including a 1996 Corvette and being from Flint, Mi I have always bought GM cars. If they don’t do something about this obvious problem I will not buy GM cars again.
My valid claim was denied as well. I responded within the 10 days and haven’t received anything else since then. I am very frustrated. Did actually anyone get their money back? Is there anything else I can do, or do I really need to write this off for good?
Keep fighting!
Has anyone actually had success getting replacement from GMC? I have a 2014 Terrain and this just started for me in the past 2 months. My mechanic just called me to tell me what the problem is and recommended I reach out to GMC dealer to learn about the replacement option for my motor.
Joined CA Lawsuit from the very beginning. Was sent denial letter from GM. So, I wrote a rather lengthy letter to the CEO of GM, the Judge that ruled on the case, local news stations copying everyone on the reasons why my case should not get denied. I included CarFax report showing all oil changes, listed every single conversation I had with GM customer service and the dates. (I saved all voice mails so I knew exactly when I spoke to them) Sent all letters certified. Heard back from Executive offices at GM asking me to call them. I was done talking to people and being told there was nothing they could do, so I did not call back. Judge actually copied numerous people after receiving my letter. Low and behold……a check arrived for the full replacement amount of my engine several weeks later. Best of Luck. I put some time in to get all the information accurate in the letters, but it paid off. Sad that GM just denied majority of the claims and made everyone jump through hoops to get reimbursed/reconsidered. Keep Fighting!
Kevin, is it odd that the dealership told me it will all depend on my VIN# ? Is that how they track problems with a vehicle? My brother told me I should’ve gotten a letter from the dealer if there was a problem with the vehicle but I’ve never got anything but hassled to come trade in with them.
Kevin, can you send me all the contact information so I can also reach out? Thank you!