The lawsuit filed against GM for allegedly and knowingly selling vehicles with defective transmissions entered a new phase as Eastern District of Michigan judge David Lawson granted it class action certification.
The judge certified the Speerly vs. GM lawsuit on Monday, March 20th, the Detroit Free Press reports. The suit was originally filed over a year ago in January 2022 on behalf of 39 plaintiffs in 26 U.S. states.
The class action lawsuit claims the its 8L45E and 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmissions in thirteen different GM vehicle models produced between 2015 and March 1st, 2019 are defective. The models included in the suit are listed below.
The lawsuit alleges that the affected transmissions are a safety hazard because they can “slip, buck, kick, jerk and harshly engage” from time to time. This, according to the plaintiffs, “causes the vehicle to perform erratically, such as with sudden or delayed acceleration” and sometimes makes it feel as if another car collided with the vehicle when the transmission shifts.
Attorney Ted Leupold of Cohen Milstein claims GM “knowingly sold over 800,000 eight-speed transmission vehicles, which they knew to be defective,” citing the subsequent issuance of more than 60 service bulletins related to the transmissions as proof.
Leupold also alleges “dealers were directed to tell the customers that harsh shifts were ‘normal’ or ‘characteristic'” and described The General’s actions as “highly irresponsible and emblematic of what GM believes it can get away with.”
No injuries or deaths have been connected to the “startling” transmission shifts. The sudden, violent shifts and other problems allegedly result from excess friction in the torque converter caused by internal transmission fluid starvation.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for allegedly excessive payment for defective vehicles or payment for the expenses of transmission replacement. Speerly vs. GM also demands that GM reform its warranties to address these transmission problems and also issue a recall for affected vehicles.
If the torque converter problems result from a design defect and not a manufacturing defect, they are not covered by GM warranties, which currently only provide coverage against manufacturing defects. GM sought to have a similar lawsuit dismissed in August 2021 based on the problem being a design defect.
Maria Raynal, a GM representative, said in response to Monday’s class action certification that “we respectfully decline comment, as is generally our practice with ongoing litigation.”
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I purchased a 2015 High Country Chevy Silverado new with the 8 speed transmission and the first month the dealer called it back in for a transmission adjustment and it has given problems ever sence. It shifts rough and has all the problems listed in this article. Vibrations at and over 50 mph jerks when shifting and once it jumped forward and almost caused me to hit another vehicle. I have had it back to the dealer and just like this article say they told me that's the way it's supposed to do and it's a smart transmission and it will learn your driving habits and get better. It didn't.
Ive had my 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT 5.3 for almost 3 years. I took it in numerous times. Only for the dealership to te me nothing is wrong. The jerking and everything started at about 40k miles. Dealership couldnt help me. Me and my family have always been a chevy family. Grandparents, parents, and me. Ive always backed chevy. But this is embarrasing. I want a REAL chevy truck!
GM should have went bankrupt back in 2008 instead of receiveing a bailout. They would have at least been forced to focus on the consumer vs the politicians...
2017 Silverado with 83000 miles in the shop now waiting for $7000 transmission work to be completed. Getting my ducks in a row before I contact the lawyers in Michigan that are doing the class action lawsuit against GM. I have been a loyal Silverado owner since 2002, but I will never own another GM vehicle.
What lawyers are doing the class action? I think all of us should look into that.
Yes call them!!
How do we notify them if our vehicle is doing the same. 2017 GMV Yukon XL
I have a 2018 Sierra with a burnt up transmission and the Extended warranty is trying to get out of paying for with only 94k miles
2016 #GMCYukonXL with 2 FAILED TRANSMISSIONS in 7 years, 3rd already slipping and jumping into gear.
@GMC refused to offer any solution three times. Do better! Purchased from Enterprise car sales.
We purchased a 2016 #GMCYukonXL in 2017 from Enterprise Car Sales with only 36,000 miles on it.
Since then, it has needed 2 transmissions (1st under warranty had 55K miles, 2nd $8000 had 84K miles), 2 door handles replaced, new air-conditioning system, and 2 broken taillights ($800 each).
I have never heard of a vehicle only 7 YEARS OLD, needing two transmissions. 2nd transmission is already slipping and jumping into gear, 2 months later. When the 2nd transmission broke, it was the end of the day, in a remote area of Arkansas, no cellphone reception, scorching temperatures, family (wife and two little kids) stranded as we traveled across country.
Wow...look at how many people have the same problem. Shame on you GMC
Ok ya all, we all know that GM has tranny problems with the 6 and 8 speed trans. How do you get in the class action lawsuit? Lots of talkers but no suggestions to get included. I have three, a 2015 Caddy CTS with no symptoms yet, a 2015 Suburban LTZ with a 6 speed going to the shop Monday Oct 30 for a complete overhaul repair est $4,200 and a 2018 GMC Sierra Denali Pu with the 8 speed no symptoms yet. So who do you contact to get included?
have a 2017 Silverado and a 2018 GMC Sierra , both have had the transmission problems , the 2017 they replaced the transmission there were metal shavings all in the trans oil, The 2018 they claimed all it needed was a flush and fluid change and it would be fixed , fast forward a year later , doing it all over again and now they claim its 1100 miles out of warranty sorry.