A class-action lawsuit has been filed against General Motors-owned parts brand ACDelco over its allegedly misleading ‘Made in USA’ packaging.
The class action suit, which was filed against ACDelco in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleges ACDelco applied a ‘Made in USA’ logo on the packaging of parts that were actually produced in China in an effort to intentionally mislead customers. The plaintiff says he purchased an ACDelco air filter for his vehicle after noticing that it was made in the United States, choosing it over competing brands that were manufactured abroad. When he opened the packaging and looked at the part, however, he realized a part of it had the words ‘Made in China’ etched into it.
The suit, first reported on by Car Complaints, says ACDelco’s ‘Made in USA’ packaging is unlawful, deceptive and a violation of U.S. warranty laws. It also says that by including a ‘Made in USA’ logo on the packaging of Chinese parts, ACDelco violated the FTC’s established “All or Virtually All” standard it has set for products that purport to be made domestically. This law indicates that in order for a product to be considered an American-made good, all of the “significant parts and processing that go into the product,” must originate from the U.S. The product must also be assembled in the U.S.
Furthermore, the suit alleges that even if the plastic part featuring the “Made in China” etching was the only part of the filter that was not U.S-made, this would still violate the “All or Virtually All” standard, as this would be enough to render it a non-American made good.
“Even if the “Made in China” inscription on the surface of Plaintiff’s transmission filter applied only to the single plastic housing piece that bears the inscription, the ‘Made in USA’ claim still fails the ‘All or Virtually All’ standard and is unlawful, deceptive, and misleading,” the suit alleges.
This class action suit includes “all persons who purchased in the United States an ACDelco product in packaging displaying “Made in USA” for end use and not for resale, where all significant parts and processing that go into the product are not of U.S. origin.”
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Comments
I’d love to know what part # this filter was that the suit is for. He could have got a counterfeit if he bought it from Amazon or eBay rather than from a dealership or a brick and mortar ACDelco Distributor.
The boxes don’t ever seem to have that label you guys posted above either. Its 99.9% a country of origin on a barcode label or on the master bulk pack box if the part comes in a box of 6 or 12 (I work at a Chevrolet dealership in parts).
They should sue GM for it. How much savings you getting for making a $1 part?, at most low wage earners in the US should handle this.
There was issue with this a couple of years ago when product coming from China said Made in the USA. However that is wrong the correct format is Made in the U.S.A.
Why the big deal, well there was a place in china called USA. So it was technically made in USA.
I think that has now stopped maybe. But those parts he got could also been fake too.
That was also said about Japanese items marked “Made in USA”, and an alleged town somewhere in Japan being called that. I don’t know if it is urban myth or not, but, I remember buying batteries at a local variety store. “D” cells for my flashlights and a portable radio. The brand: YUASA. However, they were clearly marked Made in Japan.
My father’s 1967 Datsun had a Yuasa 12V battery.
You are correct! I once ran into a Japanese national here who was from Usa.(pronounced oo-sa)
Recycling.
Back in the 70s I heard there was a city in Japan named USA.
Back in the 70s I heard there was a city city in Japan named USA.
Does this count as recycling?
I hope the plaintiffs prevail. There is way too much of this that happens.
A few years ago I bought a bike from a national sporting goods store that uses a person’s given name. For sake of the story, we’ll call it Rick’s Sporting Goods. The bike was going to be donated to charity so I didn’t so much care about the particular color or design of the bike; I wanted to buy an American-made bike. I found a couple on Rick’s site and ordered one. The description said “Country of Origin: USA”. When the bike arrived it said Made in China. I called Rick’s and asked to return it. They refused and said that was not a valid reason for a return. I said they had fundamentally misrepresented the product and I’d paid a premium to get a USA bike which they failed to provide. They wouldn’t budge. They never agreed to accept a return. I disputed the charges with my credit card. They sided with Rick’s and told me the store’s position was that the bike shipped out from a US warehouse and thus it’s “origin” could be labeled as USA. Needless to say, I strongly disagree. I would never patronize this chain again and if gm is labeling Chinese made air filters as American and misleading consumers, I hope they receive the maximum punitive damages possible. There are some of us that try and support local businesses and it should be criminal for a company to exploit that sentiment by mislabeling products and charging a higher price for a supposedly American product when in reality it’s the same cheap Chinese import.
Ever since Rick’s sporting goods stopped carrying firearms I stopped shopping there. Rick’s can go duck themselves.
I never shopped in one in the first place. It was not for lack of trying. Expressing it poltely, every time I walked into a “Rick’s”, I was treated like royalty. Putting it bluntly, every time I entered a “Rick’s”, they averted their eyes. I did not exist. I was not there.
I got the same at my two local Ford dealers. If one goes by appearances alone, I have “F150 buyer” written all over me, but, no interest in selling me anything.
As another comment-maker noted, it will be interesting to see where the filter was purchased. eBay overflows with counterfeit merchandise. And, as for your credit card company: I hope you switched. I would have in an instant.
Several years ago I replaced all the steering joints ball joints etc. on my 2004 Silverado 2500 Hd. I used all Ac Delco since the original lasted 10 years and 160000 miles and figured the truck was worth it. I ordered everything from Amazon and every part was made in China. I was disappointed but put them on anyway. The truck still has them on it at 248,000 miles. Now it needs a steering box and I am torn on a rebuild or buying a new Gm one that is very expensive.
John! Go with a Redhead steering box. You won’t be sorry. They are expensive also but well worth the money. They are made in Seattle, Washington since 1980. Look it up on You Tube. Only about 1150$ more
I heard mixed reviews on redhead ,some guys had to return them as they weren’t any better than the ones they replaced. And it’s not a fun job replacing. But thanks for the tip.
You CAN’T make anything in America anymore thanks to liberal unions, taxes and regulations. Doesn’t everybody know that yet?
This is not anything new.
I see many auto parts that use Chinese parts and are either assembled of finished here using made in America on the package.
This practice is much wider than may realize.
“Built in America” is the clue. Whirlpool and its sister brands Maytag and KitchenAid all say this. A large percentage of the parts are Chinese. Whirlpool is little more than a shop full of people assembling parts made elsewhere.
We the consumer are at foult because they present the product made in China and they will wait for us to complain about it but to save a dollar nobody complain because they don’t even check the origin the consumer is buying the brand
Who is this “we”? I do my level best to buy American, and my fallback is Made in Not-China. I know quite a few people like that, and they are all across the political spectrum.
I think the point he was making is you are in the minority.
While many complain Walmart and Costco continue to grow.
Everyone complains about Walmart but most continue to shop there. Too many patriotism goes on till they open their wallet.
That is what got us yo this point and will keep us here.
I know many too but we both are in the minority.
That’s Y I didn’t spell the big box Store correctly, Mr.Karen because some of get what I was saying 😡
Thank you you got that right!
I shop at WalMart GLADLY and will explain why. It is a national / international chain that does its best to buy from local suppliers, or to stock local or regional brands. Produce and garden goods, same thing.
As for “ChinaMart”, try to get not-Chinese at ANY store. I’m damned if I will pay Penneys or Nordstrom pricing for Chinese goods.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the ACDelco shocks that I bought a few years ago from Amazon were actually made in China. In any case, they’ve lasted longer than the POS Monroe shocks that a Goodyear shop had installed prior (I went through 2 sets of shocks in 3 years).
If your Amazon purchase was from an Amazon merchant, it is highly likely the parts are counterfeit. For all of how bad Amazon is purported to be, thngs they themselves sell are generally the real thing. I base this on my own experiences.
As for car parts, I try to buy from my local mechants. Or, I will go directly to a REPUTABLE on-line/mail order shop, and I examine the goods I get.
I insisted on not patronizing the China market when I was shopping for a Made in U.S.A. toaster. Searched Google and found one! It was an unopened wedding gift from the 1950s. I like my toaster.
Well I guess Wall Mart is next ?
I just purchased CV axles for my vehicle two front from a ACDelco parts distributor and I hope to God that they weren’t made in China because that’s why I bought them thinking that they were made in United States, now I feel like I purchased some parts that were made in China and I don’t like that
I am in the market for a new SUV and even have a GM card with over $3,000 saved toward the purchase of a GM vehicle, however, I have crossed the Buick Envision off the potential list as it is made in CHINA.
I use my GM card also for buying my new vehicles but you can only use the amount they allow for a particular model on your card if they will let you use the full amount of 3000.00 good for you
As others have said, counterfeits are so prevalent anymore if you don’t buy directly from a reputable store/retailer, you may very well get a fake. Manufacturers that are serious about combatting the chinese fakes have tried everything. Hell, hyundai has holograms on their oil filters because of this, and apparently the chinese still fake them.
Next they’ll just change the phrase. Like WEBER, long a manufacturer of America’s premier line of grills: “Engineered in the U.S.A”. (with parts made in China).
We used to buy all our brake components from GM…the premium Delco line (not the Advantage line that’s all China). Well even the premium stuff started showing up as China….and it was crap. Rotors that used to last 100,000 miles were now shot in just over 50,000. Hardware kits had rust on them right out of the bag. All of it purchased at a dealer BTW. Not anymore. And Amazon should be fined HUGE for the amount of counterfeiting that goes on there.
Good. I hope AC loses.
Brand names mean nothing anymore.
Omg I both lots of ac Delco for my American cars and for customer when do I get a check hmm not koo
Harley parts too made in china. No more bailouts for them!
Yeah not much different for GM.
Just took a 2019 Camaro with 1400 miles on the clock to a Chevy dealer because when cold the transmission (A8) slips and jerks and shudders beyond belief. The dealer’s response is that it is “NORMAL”. A slipping and shuddering and jerking transmission is NOT NORMAL gm so you can bet I’ll be buying other than gm from here forward.
Whoa not normal , Good luck buddy
Dude. 8 speed fluid flush will fix it. Super common on the 8 speeds. Have them do the 8 speed flush with the blue label Mobil HP fluid and the shudder will go away.
I tried that and the dealer response was no fluid change, it is normal for that transmission.
Hi Dan. I am pretty sure GM has a class action lawsuit for the GM 8 speed transmissions. I personally believe the torque converters are bad in them too. Replace the torque converter, fluid and filter. It will be like 2k most likely. Keep the receipt so when the class action lawsuit gets approved you can recover a few dollars back. Good luck!
I don’t usually welcome the change of subject in these posts, but . . . the dealer is giving you crap. I owned a 2016 Camaro SS with the 8-speed Auto for 3 years. It wasn’t until year 2 I was thinking I was imagining things happening with the transmission. There were class-action suits. My dealer knew all about it. GM produced a TSB on the trouble. (So, no—it is NOT normal).
No wonder why the parts don’t last!
I bought a fuel regulator from local dealership parts area. After listening to the man tell me all about how “you don’t want that chinese junk, you want real american made ac delco parts.” Paid the quite higher price, mainly because I needed it now as apposed to in a week online. As I was installing the said high quality US made part I noticed the side of it said Made In China.
I can’t think of any Delco part anyone has purchased recently that wasn’t made in china. I’ll go aftermarket, had three china Delco parts go bad well before their time, obviously no reason to pay a premium for Delco anymore.
New old stock maybe, not Delco branded china junk. To be fair, I’ve gotten USA made balljoints (spicer IIRC, a big name) that had machining chips poking out of the ball/socket joint area, so made in USA is no guarantee of good parts either.
is it safe to buy now AC delo or is it still made in china , even with this suit
AFAIK they are still making stuff in China. The problem is they were labeling stuff made in US when it wasnt. Pretty much everything is coming out of china now that is Delco it seems. It’s not safe to buy ANYTHING name brand that isn’t from a reputable (read: nationally known) retailer, the chinese are selling counterfeits of everything. Oil filters, car wax, fuel pumps, you name it. Their counterfeits have been able to penetrate even the well known retailers, but that is far less a gamble than “Delco” parts sold on ebay or amazon.