A judge with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a decision to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit over cracked dashboards in certain GM trucks and SUVs.
This class-action suit was filed in 2017 in the Eastern District of Michigan and said that dashboards in certain full-size GM trucks and SUVs sold between 2007 and 2014 were prone to cracking. The suit also alleged there were possible safety risks associated with the cracked dashboards. Plaintiffs brought forth claims of fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment and violation of state consumer protection laws, according to Reuters, however GM eventually moved to dismiss the suit, saying it had no knowledge of any safety risks related to the cracks.
The case then went to the court of appeals, where it has now been dismissed by Circuit Judge John Nalbandian. In dismissing the class action suit, Nalbandian said plaintiffs did not have sufficient facts to support the claim that GM knew there were any safety risks associated with the cracked dashboards. He also said many affected parts only complained of cracked dashboards in their vehicle after many miles of use, which did not support the claim that GM knew of the cracked dashboard defect at the time it sold the affected vehicles between 2007 and 2014.
As GM Authority reported last December, many vehicles affected by the cracked dashboard problem were recalled for a separate issue related to faulty Takata airbag inflators. GM’s product safety bulletin for the Takata recall specifically mentions the cracked dashboards, notifying dealers that customers may bring the condition to the dealer’s attention and instructing them to not replace the dash as part of the recall procedure.
“Due to age and environmental exposure, some vehicles may display warping or cracking around the passenger airbag opening in the upper instrument panel area,” the GM bulletin distributed to dealers says. “Inspect this area with the customer at the time of the vehicle repair order write up. If warping or cracking is found, inform the customer that the condition is not covered by this recall, nor is it caused by the airbag service procedure. This warping or cracking condition will not affect the passenger side airbag deployment.”
The following GM trucks and SUVs are affected by the Takata airbag inflator recall and may also experience warped/cracked dashboards:
- Chevy Silverado
- Chevy Silverado HD
- Chevy Avalanche
- Chevy Tahoe
- Chevy Suburban
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Sierra HD
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM-related legal news, GM-related NHTSA news, GM recall news, and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.
Comments
My 2010 silverado has had ceramic tinted windows (and light tint on the windshield) since i bought it new in 2010. I have had multiple cracks in the dash since 2014, so even with the UV protection, the dash still cracks.
Such a load of crap for GM to say they had no knowledge and that it doesn’t present a safety risk.
It’s things like this that make me think GM could care less about the customer. I have never considered another brand, but I am in the market this year for a new truck, and GM is no longer at the top of my list.
Boo hoo, it is unfortunate but something cosmetic like that they really can’t plan for that well. Just because you THINK the had knowledge or in your opinion it is a safety measure in order for them to get it thrown out of a US court they had to test and show it doesn’t impact safety, so I will believe engineers over a guy on the internet and his opinion. With that you are going to jump ship because of a cosmetic issue that who knows how your truck is treated when it has lasted from 2010 with I am guessing minimal issues to another brand? Good luck with that… I will take a cosmetic issues over the myriad of issues and complaints the others have had, especially if you’ve had mechanically good luck. The grass isn’t always greener, I am not blinded by pretty bells and whistles or the appearance of a truck like many seem to be these days, I want it to work and be reliable and GM has shown time and time again to do that.
Good luck though, I doubt you will have as trouble free experience this time around…
You’ve obviously NEVER worked in the auto industry!! I spent 25 years in the industry, mostly in service and with GM. They’re quality SUCKS!!!!!
GM knows full well their dashboard was junk. My was replaced 3 times under warranty and always cracked at the passenger airbag. Some holes the size of a fist. They are garbage. Hell Toyota recalled there’s because it turned to glue after a few years. You can’t even get Gm to fix the chevy shake almost all 2014-2019 trucks have. My best friend has had Gm buy back 3 trucks because it vibrates so violently. The 8 speed transmission has a faulty torque converter in it and it will start shuddering and yes you can flush the transmission and it stops it for a short time but then the converters come apart the trash the whole transmission. I put a aftermarket converter in mine and fixed the shudder problem. Gm needs to be held accountable for not helping these people out that spent 65 grand on a truck that shakes and shudders. Gm can’t fix the problem.
Their, not They’re.
STFU yourself. If youre ok with your interior cracking then be quiet, its asinine to bend over and allow a huge corp. that gets bailed out every few years bc of just this fact that = they produce & sell crap vehicles that break down, fall apart, fail, deteriorate, paint oxidizing etc etc, and NOT hold them 100% accountable for their products defects and failures. With technology today, and the prices for these vehicles, this should not be so easily accepted as “normal”, bc if it is, then again, theyre producing crap products, period. Hold these MFrs accountable, Financially, and WATCH them clean up their act fast! OR stop buying their crap and let them go out of business and DO NOT BAIL THEM OUT AGAIN! OR, in your case, continue to accept sub par products and just keep buying their NEW crap every few years bc theyve convinced YOU its normal for their crap to fall apart after just a few years.
BOO HOO if you expect what you paid for. Poster here must be a used bicycle rider. He/she surely hasn’t spent money he/she earned actually working for a living. My 54 year old Chevelle dash isn’t cracked, why? Because it was designed and manufactured in the USA.
Fix the cheap Walmart interior on the new trucks please.
GM knew there was an issue as this went on for 7 years- same nonsense with the rear window ( Tahoe) defrost plug coming away from the window- only way to fix it correctly was to replace the rear window- pissed many a customer off because of these 2 issues-
My rear glass was replaced under my insurance and had 5 GM rear glasses replaced after that at no charge because even the new rear glass rear window defrost tab kept falling off after just a month. NOT MUCH QUALITY THERE !
even the older trucks have the dash cracked problems, i own a 02 silverado since new ,my dash is destroyed like the one’s I used to see with the dodge trucks, and the worst part is chevy doesn’t sell a replacement dash, i had to go with a aftermarket skin dash over it that looks like crap, that you chevy
My 2007 Tahoe developed these cracks years ago…multiple cracks over the IPC hump and another just forward of the passenger airbag module. Brittle, cheap plastic is the reason. I also have a 2007 cobalt with zero issues with the dash cracking. Too bad the Tahoe fix would require replacement of literally the whole dashboard assembly instead of a less expensive top skin replacement.
I had an 07 Avalanche with a cracked dash. Took it to dealer and they wanted $400 to replace it. It almost always sat in garage, not out in the sun. I loved that truck but it had its problems. It also burned a quart of oil every 3000 miles, dealer told me that was normal. SMH
Dealer is completely correct, quart of oil in 3000 mi is not a problem. Parents had 2 Subarus with the 2.5l and each burned exactly a quart every 2500, since they day they were new.
Actually the oil consumption is due to a design flaw. Just replaced my driver side valve cover when a fellow Chevy owner told me about the problem. I was getting oil all over the rear end of my 2007 Tahoe. Seems that oil is able to make it’s way out your exhaust due to the flaw in the valve cover/PCV. Here is a video explaining and showing the fix..
Oil Consumption Fix: Replacing the Valve Cover and PCV on 2007-2013 Chevy Silverado
As usual typical GM and not standing up to their mistakes. It’s bad enough to take extra care of a vehicle and parts still breaking down. Toyota would cover part out of warranty and cares about their products.
GM has lost their way, they come up with excuses for all there poorly designed and constructed parts had an older avalanche and the dash cracked dealer knew that they had problems but wouldn’t replace bought a new silverado high country with the 8 speed they refuse to even acknowledge that it had multiple problems and told me it was operating as designed have been a loyal GM man my whole life bought a new dodge ram yesterday the jury is out but after a hundred miles or so it much better than the silverado GM better wake up I have three other friends who have gone with dodge rams as well that’s why I bought a Dodge they all were sick of GM dismissing complaints and love there new Dodge rams
Yet people still blindly pledge allegiance to gm. As always look before you leap. I have seen old farm trucks with dashes that are not cracked, along with some that are. But these farm trucks are much older. Will say that a friend bought a new F150 with the powerboost hybrid option and it is kind of awesome. Hoping gm responds with something along those lines soon as I am looking for a new truck.
I am still happy with my 2015 Chevy Cruze but will look farther when time to buy another vehicle.
Typical chevy crappy dashes never had one that didn’t crack thru the many years and body styles My 2011 silverado started getting cracks 2 yrs ago looks like hell but would take an arm and a leg plus several hours to replace and then it may crack again made with poor flimsy plastic
The dashboard cracked on our always garaged 2012 GMC Yukon XL Denali when it was only 3 years old… the door locks started rattling around the same time and an exterior door handle broke off a year before. We usually keep cars forever (still have a 2002 Tahoe that we bought in 2001), but by the time the Yukon was 7 years old the whole thing was a rattle box and very annoying to drive. Extremely cheaply made car not worthy of the Denali name and price. Glad to be rid of it.
Never did like crack on my dash.
What a mess! Every time Don jr. made a left turn the stuff when all over my new suit. I blame the radical left for those turns!!!
Mary Barr are you listening???
Bought my last Suburban, GM is losing a 4 time customer!!
Someone paid off a Judge. To suggest GM didn’t know is a flat out lie. My Chevy Truck started cracking at 50k miles. This is why GM sales suck. They do not want return customers and this is how they prove it. Screw GM.
and GM wonders why the competition is eating there lunch..
I have the 2007 Avalanche I bought from a Chevrolet dealership as certified the dash had 1 small crack in 1 year it had gone to pieces there are actually pieces that have fallen inside leaving voids. They turned me away at the dealership for the dash and the PCV valve saying dash not covered and only burning a quart between oil changes but I was adding more than that it was BS, now my truck is currently at the dealership with the airbag recall and they cracked the Dash even more and said not covered by recall and want 1400.00 to install new dash what a f#*!ing joke and I brought up the pcv recall again as it now has a rough idle and miss and they said sorry no open recall on this vehicle. I am tired of big company’s like GM that get these government bailouts but the consumers that suffer from piss poor quality control get nothing. The judge and the government must have freebies to drive and don’t
Mind the defects because there must not be any money out of their pocket. This is my last Chevrolet/Gm purchase and after today I will be sure to sway at least 1 person per month away from Chevrolet and I encourage others to do the same and when they ask why you drive one tell the “ I KNOW I AM SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES”
You are one of many pissed off gm customers.
The dashboards are 140 dollars online they just pop in they are cheating you!
To replace the entire dashboard with an OEM part, $1,400 is probably right. The $140 ones you are referring to are just a cover that pops over the existing dashboard (which I guess is fine but it’s a band-aid approach).
Much cheaper to pay off ONE man than settle a suit for thousands of unhappy customers. You know who the ONE man is.
GM has caught up with the 1960’s Import dash cracks after all those years. I hope the Judge’s vehicle falls into a million pieces so he can say it is normal for a gm product..
GM wonder why they’re losing market share. further proof…mary must go.
So going to bring in my 2008 Suburban for the airbag issue recall. Dash cracked about a year ago. My concern is the airbag repair will cause further cracking. Dealer says they are not responsible(if further cracking occurs) as it is already cracked. What recourse do I have with dealer or GM? Any thoughts appreciated.
Sorry to say I think your screwed on that , My 2011 has a crack across the right side ahead of the glovebox , To me it looks like the plastic is to thin in them areas and when its very cold outside they crack across that coner
My 2011 Chevy Tahoe dashboard cracked ! And I’m very careful about my truck. I’ve never even touched the dashboard. They need to recall this .
As usual typical GM and not standing up to their mistakes. It’s bad enough to take extra care of a vehicle and parts still breaking down. Toyota would cover part out of warranty and cares about their products.
I Think If the securing system would allow the dash to move/ shift some with the temperature changes and the rough roads it would not be susceptible to random cracks…as it expands and contracts… And the the dash would not rattle or pop n snap The many places that hold the dash in place are way too many..i’ve seen the disassembly of them on U-Tube…its Being Pulled Apart by being so secure.
I Think If the securing system would allow the dash to move/ shift some with the temperature changes and the rough roads it would not be susceptible to random cracks…as it expands and contracts… And the the dash would not rattle or pop n snap The many places that hold the dash in place are way too many..i’ve seen the disassembly of them on U-Tube…its Being Pulled Apart by being so secure.
I have a 2013 Avalanche where the dash started cracking last year with approximately 70k on the odometer. I too have had my windows tinted since the day I bought it brand new. It is parked in my driveway where it is shady for more than 3/4 of the daylight hours.
The funny part about my story is I reported my dash flexing from my very first service at Diver Chevrolet in Wilmington, DE. My complaints fell on deaf ears. I was finally told by the Service Manager it was a poor dash design by GM, the dash speaker hangs from the dash with no support from below. The hanging weight causes the dash to flex and bounce while driving which puts stress on dash. He said all of this well before my dash cracked or I even knew this was such a widespread issue.
All of our dashboards start to crack in the very same spots, by the passenger side airbag or just to the right of the instrument panel. This further supports poor a poor design and installation by the Chevrolet engineers. That partnered with inferior materials that are not thick enough to withstand standard ambient exposure.
I have a 2005 Chevrolet Astro and a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix that are parked in the very same location as my Avalanche and neither have a single crack. I also owned a 2003 Avalanche, that I traded in for the 2013, and after 10 years of ownership and parked in the very same location did not have a single crack in the dash.
Since the dash design was different in the 2002 – 2006 Avalanches had a different shape and thickness further supports the design change starting in 2007 has direct impact on the failure.
After approaching Chevrolet to assist with the replacement, offsetting the cost, the approached the “stealership” where I purchased the vehicle and had it serviced to for their input. Even after buy multiple vehicles from them and having them all serviced there they denied any assistance, Chevrolet also declined.
After more back and forth with Chevrolet they offered up a $4,500 voucher to apply to a new vehicle. What a joke, they can offer that but can’t offer repair assistance. I declined their offer telling the representative it will be cold day in hell before another GM product is purchased by me.
I was in the automotive collision repair business for 30 years. If I ever tried to pull that stunt on a customer they would have had me in small claims court in a heartbeat! My dash wasn’t cracked or warped and was in excellent condition before they did the recall for the airbags inflator. Now I have a devalued truck with no recourse! Even I insurance companies realize that with car fax a vehicle owner has to be compensated for loss in value! Going back to a Ford, not that they are any better!