A nationwide class-action lawsuit filed in Ohio against General Motors alleging defects with the GM 5.3L LC9 V8 engine has been thrown out by a federal judge.
This plaintiff in this class-action suit, which was filed in December of 2019 in the U.S. District Court in Ohio, said the 5.3L V8 engine in their 2011 Chevy Silverado consumed an unusually large amount of oil due to alleged problems with the engine’s piston rings and crankcase ventilation system. The suit said these issues can lead to significant engine damage, including spark plug fouling, ring wear, lifter collapse, bent pushrods, camshaft wear, valve wear, rod bearing wear and rod breakage, among more.
The suit claimed the following vehicles are affected by these issues:
- 2010-2013 GMC Canyon
- 2010-2013 GMC Savana
- 2010-2013 GMC Sierra
- 2010-2014 GMC Yukon
- 2010-2014 GMC Yukon XL
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2010-2013 Chevrolet Express
- 2010-2013 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe
Now a federal judge has dismissed the suit, saying the “named plaintiffs lack standing to assert claims under the laws of the states in which they do not reside or in which they suffered no injury,” as quoted by Car Complaints. Additionally, the judge threw out a separate complaint in which the plaintiff claimed GM breached the terms of its warranty agreement. The plaintiff cannot state claim for an express violation of the warranty, as the oil consumption is due to an inherent design defect and not a part failure, the court found. Design defects are not covered under GM warranty.
There were other problems with the plaintiff’s claim, too. Car Complaints notes the person did not experience any engine trouble or failures with their 2011 Chevy Silverado, even though it may have burned oil an a higher than usual rate, and was able to drive it problem-free for eight years before deciding to file suit for millions of dollars.
While this oil burn lawsuit has been dismissed, GM is still facing a number of other similar class-action claims, including one that was filed just recently in April.
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Comments
Use oil use next heavier weight. Motor honey has always helped me.
Hmm, BMW’s high performance inline 6 burns oil and it is a accepted norm… How much is too much is the question as little bit may be just fine. Crankcase ventilation or was it piston rings as they are claiming both. One will definitely cause the other, but to say it otherwise is interesting shotgun approach. How many miles on said vehicle after 8 years?
Hmm, well, it is important to have the ability to call out the manufacturer, but….
IMHO
a lot of these problem happened when GM was in financial trouble and cutting corners to save money
There is a fix to that excessive oil consumption. The baffle in the driverside valve cover was redesigned to stop it. Replacing the valve cover with that new cover will take care of it. I have a 2010 silverado 1500 lt with that same 5.3 liter LC9 engine.
You need to put this out there! Save a bunch of unnecessary headaches.And how much is too much? GM states not unusual for a qt ..per 1000 miles in gen.1 and 2nd motors.
I also have 2013 silverado wt 180 thousand trouble free miles no oil burning the dealer did the first oil change didn’t tighten the oil filter still don’t understand why it didn’t die then never went back called Gm no response. Just lucky.Gm dealer network well I can’t say it hear.
Folks, this kind of thing is why people have been seeking out other car makers. The Big has been doing stupid stuff like this for decades. Still can stop rocker panel and fender well rust either. Tge asian big three have though.. How the hell cant we figure this stuff out!
My 2007 used a quart halfway through change interval, or about every 3000 miles. I put 172000 miles on it before trading to a 2017 without engine problems. I don’t use a quart between changes with the newer 5.3.
I have a 2000 Chevy 2500 6.0l with 311,000 miles on the original engine. The problem is the pcv valve is pulling oil into the intake due to the wrong type valve and baffle in valve cover. I fixed mine years ago because being a mechanic has its advantages. Love my Chevys!!
The GMT900 trucks had two 5.3 engines. LMG and LC9.
The 5.3L V8 Vortec LC9 was an engine produced by General Motors for use in the 2006-2014 GMT900-based Chevrolet Suburban 4WD and GMC Yukon XL 4WD.
The LMG was used on most 2WD models. My 2012 Silverado LMG uses no discernible oil consumption. I go 7000 miles oil change intervals. 80,000 miles so far.
I had a 2010 Avalanche 4WD with the 5.3. The gutless engine is what turned my desire toward a diesel. My 5.3 didn’t consume any oil even when towing 7k across Texas.
Meaning that we should Avoid any American Designed Car or Engine, well lets specifically ask for German Designed Engine, and car and steering system and Transmission, and suspension, have I left anything out? Please Add as required.
My last GM was a 1980 Buick Skylark, I sold it 3 months after I got it with a 75% discount and Got a Basic LADA, believe me I had No issues after I changed the Clutch( I bought it used and the previous owner learned how to drive on it).