GM Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Vortec V8 Engine In Full-Size SUVs And Pickups
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General Motors has been slapped with a new class-action lawsuit over alleged issues with the Vortec V8 engine in its GMT900 platform full-size trucks and SUVs.
This lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio, is yet another class-action proceeding against GM over alleged oil consumption problems in the Generation IV 5.3L Vortec V8 engine. The automaker is already facing a number of other similar class-action lawsuits over this problem, two of which were filed just this year.
The oil burn problem is allegedly caused by the PCV valve in the engines, which can draw oil out of the valvetrain and into the intake before it is burned in the combustion chambers. This lawsuit also claims the piston rings fail to maintain pressure in the crankcase and that a faulty oil pressure relief valve sprays oil directly at the piston skirts, overloading the rings and allowing oil to sneak past into the combustion chamber
These issues can lead to low oil levels in affected vehicles, the lawsuit says. Severe engine damage can occur if the engine is run with insufficient oil levels, including piston and rod damage, among other issues. The oil leakage can also foul the spark plugs, causing the engine to misfire and/or shut down completely.
GM has implemented various fixes for this issue through Technical Service Bulletins, although the plaintiff in this suit says the automaker’s suggested repairs only temporarily solve the issue.
This lawsuit claims the following GM full-size trucks and SUVs with the 5.3L LC9 Vortec V8 engine are prone to these issues:
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2010-2014 GMC Sierra
- 2010-2014 GMC Yukon
- 2010-2014 GMC Yukon XL
In early November, a judge tossed out a similar lawsuit that was filed in Ohio back in 2019 after finding multiple problems with the plaintiff’s claims. The judge found GM did not breach its warranty terms and also said the plaintiff in the nationwide suit lacked standing “to assert claims under the laws of the states in which they do not reside.”
We’ll provide an update on this latest oil burn lawsuit against GM when more information becomes available.
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IF there is actually a design problem with the 5.3L, driving the vehicle while low on oil is still the negligence of the owner for not checking oil level.
I’m not sure if there is a design flow or not, there seems to be a bunch of evidence that poor maintenance leads to the majority of engine issues. There’s a ton of those engines with 4-500K kms on them around where I’m from.
So engine has design flaw, but the owners negligent for not constantly checking and adding oil when they shouldn’t have to. Hence the lawsuit.
Is it covered under warranty? How do you define a “design flaw”?
A known defect from the manufacturer are not by any means ambulance chasing nor playing tech. Kinda like the 15 cent spring in the cobalt ignition that killed 13 people by fire (burned alive mind you) the manufacturers play the odd hoping that casualties will be low enough so complaints can be mitigated or ignored all together UNLESS safety becomes a issue as far as negligent manufacturing or safety is ignored. I am a 40 master technician and worked for UAW and have seen and signed non disclosure agreements where ( we dont talk about this issue) media or other wise.
How about just making a good vehicle manufactured in the states with us parts to boot so we don’t have to seek lawyers to take care of the issues that created this mess in the First place. Let make America manufacture all the parts with pride or did we loosed that all together
Buy a Ford. They run on all cylinders.
All six.
Heard Ford is doing this nonsense to their 5.0 in 2021.
I don’t like this technology.
I have a 2008 tahoe 5.3 and it is doing the same thing I just got my oil changed 3 weeks ago and it said I was a quart low
Lolol google Ford Class Action…..no they don’t.
Yeah I have a 2013 Sierra it is down right now over these issues how do I get in on this lawsuit who do I contact
That’s why, the class action lawsuits!
Did you read the article? Pretty sure they explained the design flaw. Oil does not seep into the combustion chamber on a normal engine!
If you use covengenal oil it will burn oil. Use synthetic motor oil. No problem. My 03 had 368000 miles on it. No problem. My current 2012 has 18000 miles. No problem. GM requires full synthetic oil.
2003 didn’t have AFM. That didn’t start until 2007. That’s when the problems started on these motors
2013 Silverado 5.3– As soon as I had the AFM turned off (at 93k miles) my oil consumption quit. I have 215K miles on it now and not a drop.
My last one,2012 Silverado 5.3–had 130k on it, no oil consumption but I pressed the gas to pass someone, the AFM kicked off, the valve stuck open, 4500.00 later I have the engine rebuilt by GM. I’m burning oil like crazy. After lots of research, I had the AFM turned off. No oil consumption, no worries about the damn valve sticking open. I lost 1mpg keeping it in V8 all the time.
Hi,
How did you cancel the AFM? Thank you.
I have a 2009 GMC Sierra that is giving me the same problems. I did all the fixes on the vehicle bulletin but it still burns around 2qts of oil between oil changes. Doesn’t help that GMC dealerships and mechanics play dumb or are dumb! I am the original owner but I don’t plan on buying another GM truck in my future.
Sold my Sierra- dealer had torn engine down and added shields in crankcase and valve covers to prevent splashed oil from being pulled into cylinders that were turned off by auto fuel management (no combustion in cylinder creating suction) If I still had truck would have AFM software disabled
Should have purchased the Range Tech, AFM eliminater plug in. $200.00. It turns ALL that krap off!
All you have to do is drive in M5. It’s disabled.
I don’t see the word “constantly” anywhere in his comment.
Motorists who were taught right know to check the oil every now and then. I do so about once a month (I am now a low-mileage driver), or, if on a road trip, every couple of days. It hasn’t really been necessary in many years, but situations like with the Chevy V8s indicate it is still a good idea.
Classic case of the idiousy of “ambulance chasers” trying to play engine techs. This should never even got to a courthouse door, much less filed. I can sit here and debunk almost if not all of these claims as bogus. Hope the judge is blessed with the defense being of the auto tech field to advise.
I have 07 Escalade and a 07 avalanche plus an 02 avalanche all do the same oil low b4 oil change require
I have a 2002, always a quart low on oil, 5.3 ! Before change oil comes on!
I’ve owned several Chevys iwth V8s over the years. The ONLY one that took any oil at all was a 2001 Silverado with the odd-ball 4.8 litre fleet engine. One quart every 3,000 miles or so. It did it from day one through when I sold it with 128,000 on the clock.
AfM system is causing the oil consumption and the lifters failure on this vortex engines . Not all have the Afm system the ones that dont have it are ok
Yes . The engines without AFM, run just nice. The AFM engines are no good, if the AFM is still are active. Just get the Range Tech. AFM eliminater plug in. It works!!!!!!!!!
I have a 2008 Silverado where the o ring seal for the pick up tube in the oil pan went bad and it took me almost 12hrs to replace it. G M knows about this problem and did not send anything out about it. Good thing I know how to work on it. But i think GM should do something about it. Not to make it a so called silent recall.
Also replaced the left side valve cover because the built in PVC valve has issues. Mine smoked big time every time I started it up when it was cold. Another G M mistake
Wanda is this the same propblem they had with the equinox
Is not owner responsibility to add gallons of oil between oil change
First off your thinking is flawed. You can’t assume the issues are do to poor maintenance by the owner. The major problem stems from the rings GM bought from a particular vendor and used. The vehicles getting 300-500 miles on the motor did not get the faulty rings. Next, this issue started in 2008. I have a 2008 Suburban. We did everything GM recommended, actually what folks had gone through and showed on the internet and then I checked with GM. GM hid the issues. Nothing solved the problem. I’ve never owned a vehicle that I have to put multiple courts of oil in it between oil changes, thus the second flaw in your thought process. I finally had to put a new motor in the vehicle that cost me $6,000.00. GM has been well aware of the design flaws with this motor, but chooses not to resolve the issues. I would be very hard pressed to ever by a GM product again as they do not support their customers or their product.
100% correct. GM laughed at us when we took our 2012 Tahoe in. The lifters sounded like they were about come throught the hood. Told us we used the wrong oil. Just like they did to poor souls in the late ’70’s, early ’80’s over bad cam shafts. They finnaly (GM) got taken to the cleaners after a class action, took them on. Now they are giving owners every excuse in the book. It’s very poor design!!!! They tried to get a better “CAFE” average by doing stupid krap like AFM. Now they are doing “Stop & Start”. Another stupid idea. At least this time, owners can turn it off. But you have to do it EVERY time you get in the vehicles. They just need to stop this stuff. Build great gas milage engines. And stop making customers pay for engineering flaws.
Curious how does someone sign up for the lawsuit, I just spent 3904 to fix the issue.
Are you kidding me?
Regular oil changes at 3-4K miles using synthetic oil on mine and it uses 6 quarts between changes. Yep it has low oil pressure. That’s my fault😂
Yes, one should check their oil I agree. However, technology is suppose to save us from human errors/shortfalls. Not sure on these trucks but I found out by asking the Corvette DOES not have a sensor if the oil is low. My 2000 MB SLK and 2012 Audi TT had this – meaning at about a quart low an low oil light will show up. Seems silly not to have this when oil is so important.
It’s hard to argue running out of oil is GM’s fault when they have a dipstick in which to monitor your oil level.
Check when you fill up with fuel used to be standard protocol. That being said, modern engines don’t usually burn any oil, so we are all in the habit of not check very often, so it is also ridiculous that GM waited so long to add an oil level sensor.
Interesting, as my 2000 Silverado W/T base model with a V-6 has an oil level sensor screwed into the side of the oil pan!
How about those stupid lifters that pop and leave it in 4cyl mode
Agreed. Our 2012 Tahoe LTZ had just that problem. GM laughed at us. Told us it was not enough oil changes, BS. I researched it, and found we were not alone. Found the RANGE plugin. $200.00, but it works like a dream. No more dropping to 4 cylinders, ever again. Try it, it’s really!
If honda can put a low oil sensor on a generator, why can’t GM on a truck???
Sensors false all the time, particularly when the oil gets heavily aerated or foams (the antifoam additive doesn’t work, or the oil picks up silicone from new or repaired seals). Therefore low oil sensors are likely heavily damped, they will only trigger when the oil is almost dangerously low, and then only after a certain number of cold starts or idle times.
For a performance vehicle like the Corvette, the sensors couldn’t be made to work reliably before engine damage occurs, so it’s best not to put one in.
Not true at all, sure its ‘possible’ for the sensors to work unreliably if… if… if…all this certain criteria is met. That doesnt mean 90% of the vehicles don’t perform accurately. If the imports ive owned back in the 80’s and 90’s could have a working low oil level sensor than a bloody 100 thousand dollar frickin corvette can have one too. Its not a matter of cant, its dont want too. Typical GM!
The LT1 in my 95 Caprice has an oil level sensor which still works fine 25 years later, despite my use of fancy synthetic oil. It was just a simple float. I’m pretty sure GM used the same oil pan and sensor in the Corvette that year. 😉
I can say with personal experience 2006 Silverado’s have a low oil sensor, I would think these would as well.
Complete BS! These LS engines are the pinnacle of “bulletproof”. Do they have failures? Ofcourse, all manufacturers engines will, especially when kids squat all of them and WOT everywhere! Not to mention only changing the oil when they remember after the 10th time putting off(because the idiot minder only helps the literate, white collar operator, who’s still paying student loans). GM has always made a decent V8, and almost all engines will last without major problems with proper maintenance. People have put to much faith in technologies and have failed to do the required to keep theses and most vehicles in proper operating condition. Manufactures dont say to service at specific intervals to keep your dipsticks clean! Service regularly people! I digress.
You can’t fix stupid
THE A GENTLEMAN MADE COMMENT ABOUT PERSON SHOULD HAVE CHECKED HIS OIL.Well my Truck Oil pressure dropped plus the Truck had Only 30,000 miles on it and just had an oil change.Must be a GM ENGINEER.I believe if the Company makes a mistake own up to it which alot of Engineers won’t do that.
Had this exact issue in my 2010 GMC Sierra. Led to a misfire that was revealed to be a bent push rod. Did a DOD Hardware and Computer delete, problem solved. The active fuel management system that turns 4 of the 8 cylinders on and off is the culprit.
The hardware delete cost me over $1,500 in parts, but totally worth it in the end, and led me to put a Stage 1 cam in the engine. Truck runs like a champ and no more burning oil issue.
Dodge had same issue around same time with there HEMIS, seen many of them but luckily it wouldnt bend a push rod. Not a fan of cylinder deactivation…
I just unplugged Oil Pressure Sensor Switch and the AFM doesn’t work without that and who needs to read this gauge ,no oil pressure anyway.
I have a maintenance free engine- people that complain about major engine issues.
I can understand why this is an issue. My yukon “misplaces” oil every week. Forget about if I go long distance, the light will come on in a day or two after. After purchasing an expensive vehicle no one should have to replace oil every week.
You can fix stupid, but it will hurt
2004 Silverado 2500 HD. 270000.
I do all wrenching.
Change oil every 2500 miles. Add Lucas.
Just r and r the heads. Shop asks why I am getting them rebuilt.
Drive her nice and easy
Keep her lubed.
Going to take her to 500k.
I love chevy.
I love my caddy too.
You people its thats stupid 8 to 4 cylinder deactivation to save a quart of gas every 20 gallons what b.s. buy a hemi
Definitely NOT BS! This has been going on since GM added AFM to their V8 engines in the mid 2000’s. The LS engines are wonderful engines as long as they don’t have AFM. The rule on AFM is, if you don’t have it, don’t get it. If you have it get rid of it. It can be disabled in about 3 different ways and if it’s disabled before it destroys your piston rings you can prevent the oil consumption, but not the lifter problems associated with it. It requires an engine tear down to completely remove the whole system and it’s associated problems.
I’ve replaced oil pressure sensor ,valve cover gaskets and oil pan gaskets in my 2011 Silverado with the 5.3 with other repairs totaling $3,000 or more to find out gm engineer’s knew of problems so I want in on the class action lawsuit they neglected to inform the consumers
I have a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, only have 484,391 miles on it. Still runs great uses less than a quart of oil between oil changes. Started using a little oil at 300,000. Guess that not to bad with the miles. Strange thing is that it doesn’t smoke. Usually use Risolen or Marvel Mystery Oil at oil change.
GM has been known for years to use and leak oil. It is just part of their DNA. Stop complaining and stop buying their junk. They begged us to bail them out of financial trouble and then killed over 200 hundred people due to a part that cost less than a dollar. And people still buy this junk. They moved all their production to Mexico and bankrupt Detroit. Great American corporation. Lol, sounds to me like yall got what you paid for. 100% junk.
Irony at its finest as the Hemi engines also have cylinder deactivation in the Ram 5.7 and 6.4 as well as the Charger/Challengers with automatic trans and 5.7 or 6.4 engines.
First of all, Hemis have cylinder deativiation. Second, I have owned several cars with it, and my brother owned many GM pickups with it. His were driven in commercial service, and usually were changed for new at 350,000 to 400,000 miles. The engines in virtually all of them were flawless in every way. No oil consumption, no bent pushrods, no this, no that.
I have no explanation for the “good luck”, but, there it is.
My documentation is on file with the my GM dealer. I visited with them about loss of oil well under the 100 k warranty claim.
Everyone standing up for “correct lack of maintenance” should not own a car. They all have an oil pressure sensor. They all get triggered when roughly 2 qts low. 2 qts low won’t damage anything right away. Over time, sure. But over time you should start to learn that you need to add oil. Lazy ass people. Too good to get a drop of oil on your hands?
EV’s can’t come soon enough for these people, no wait, then it will be lawsuits on no “low spare tire pressure” or “low washer fluid” warning sensors.
The years in question do not Kyle
Oil level sensor. Oil pressure sensor does not detect oil level, just oil pressure.
Bow tie till I die
It’s aboit damn time. My 2012 didn’t burn a drop when I bought it, then all of the sudden it’s down a quart every 3000, I’d be fine with a qaurt in 6000. If the EPA didn’t have everybody by the balls we could just get rid of all the stuff that causes it! That’s who should be sued. Same goes for masks, just stand up for yourself before you have to make modifications to meet requirements, only its not oil you’ll be low on.
Oh boo hoo pal. What that mask hurt your face? Is it to hard to breath? Does it make your poor liittle face break out in zits? I’m free to do all the things I did before as long as I put a mask on. No one’s taken your freedom, youve just politicized common decency. Maybe if people showed even a little bit of willingness to work towards making life safer for people who are vulnerable to aggressive lung infections you wouldnt be getting told what to do.once again boo hoo, I’m sorry it so hard on your soft little soul.
This a major problem. We have two 2015 K9 Tahoe’s that can’t go through a 12 hour shift with out consuming 2qts
And that would be an actual problem. Much more than 1 qt every 500 miles I would assume
I have a 2008 Avalanche with a 5.3, 193,000 miles. Doesn’t fall in that year range and doesn’t burn oil at all.
I bought the active fuel management delete module from Summit and put it in my 2012 GMC Sierra. Problem solved.
The engineers should slow down and make something work, then put it in the line. I love all makes of vehicles, rhey all have problems. Don’t hate the player hate the game. Loves ya all be good
Good Man. I’ve been spouting about the Range Tech. module for months. It fixes 99% of all AFM problems. If GM really wants to improve CAFE numbers, put 3:08 gears back in the rear axle. Just like they did a long time ago. put the 3 speed Turbo 350 or 400 trannys back in. Then leave them alone!!!!!!!!
Buying a Dodge Hemi is not going to solve anything. They use the same exact system that GM does. The only difference is that their lifters seem to be even more failure prone than GM’s.
I have a 2005 silverado 2500 hd crew cab with 8.1 vortec and allison tranny the motor eats 2 qts of oil every 3000 miles and has done this since day one any ideas on cause or fix
GM has been known for years to use and leak oil. It is just part of their DNA. Stop complaining and stop buying their junk. They begged us to bail them out of financial trouble and then killed over 200 hundred people due to a part that cost less than a dollar. And people still buy this junk. They moved all their production to Mexico and bankrupt Detroit. Great American corporation. Lol, sounds to me like yall got what you paid for. 100% junk.
Well within the acceptable limit. Keep oil in it and you won’t have any problem. Check and top off every fuel fill up like is documented in the owner’s manual.👌
Get the Range Tech. AFM delete module. $200.00. It’s worth EVERY penny!
The Hemi engines also suffer from wiped cam lobes on certain engines and we have personally seen this with around 100K miles even on later model 2012-2014’s
2009 Silverado with the 5.3L “AFM” NEEDS to be included. Mine currently has the problem.
No offense but these issues happen to any vehicle when they get on the higher side of mileage. Its completly normal for piston rings to not hold up like they used to after 200k+ miles, it’s called wear and tear. and lack of proper maintenance will just cause the problem to happen sooner, my 05 silverado with the 5.3 v8 LM7 (which is pretty much the same as the LC9 in the tahoa) has the same issue, but, the truck has 250k miles on it, I
just make sure and check my oil level once a week. SO WHATS THE REASON FOR A LAWSUIT, YOUR 200K PLUS MILE VORTEC SUV IS BURNING OIL AFTER SO MANY MILES, BIG WHOOP
What are you talking about the new transmossions are worth a bunch of milage and lees wear on engines. I have no problem with old school but use your head
what about 06 monte carlo ss,it should be included.mine uses oil because of the active fuel management
I have a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, only have 484,391 miles on it. Still runs great uses less than a quart of oil between oil changes. Started using a little oil at 300,000. Guess that not to bad with the miles. Strange thing is that it doesn’t smoke. Usually use Risolen or Marvel Mystery Oil at oil change.
This is because you take care of it. We’ve had Chevy V8s in the family for years, some going to 350,000 miles before trade, Virtually no oil burning in any of them. No Rislone, no Marvel, no nothing.
I daresay the only time an aidditive has been used in any f our family vehicles was for my 1974 Opel Manta. Those things could clatter like a sewing machine if the lifters got out of sorts. GM’s own oil additive knocked that out within a few miles. The Buick agency told me not to overdo; one can every 20,000 miles or so would solve the problem. They were right.