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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How do you get in on this. I have 2016 silverado.
Just had the transmission flushed because the oil was getting black
Never flush your transmission. Just drain and refill.
could someone PLEASE comment the recourse for us poor CANADIAN owners or who to contact ....THANKS
My 2017 camaro has had this issue since the start and the comment I got was…. “It’s normal”… I’m sorry when is ever cruising thru traffic at 20 mph and it’s constantly bucking normal… let alone the stop to start jerks. Thank god this has finally come to light.
what ever happened to the 6l80 lawsuit for dieing at 70k
We have a 2019 Silverado with transmition hard shift issues Does Classaction suite include Canadians ??
2017 Yukon- Transmission went out while over 600 miles from home with 3 small kids. Went through a toll and on accelerating it started shaking and jerking. Had to get a tow that was over an hour out and a rental vehicle. Took 3 months (PARTS DELAYED DUE TO HIGH DEMAND) new transmission and a plane ticket back out there to pick it up.
Went to Earheart Cadillac Gilbert Rd. Gilbert Arizona told them my 2016 Cadillac ATS transmission, was shuddering and slipping they confirmed the problem and told me they needed to flush the transmission at a cost to me of $989.00 and told me it was not a defect but a maintenance procedure, I have worked on cars all my life and never ever heard that the transmission needed to be flushed as required maintenance and looking at the owner's manual there is no required maintenance.
I have a 2018 gmc sierra slt the transmission just starts down shifting when I'm going down highway all the way to first gear. Had transmission flushed out 1 month ago worked fine till transmission started down shifting.
This issue seems to be impacting Suburbans as well. 2017 transmission replaced under warranty at 58k miles, then cam shaft and lifters go 14k miles later? Coincidence?? I'm no mechanic, but can't help but think these are related. GM refuses to make it right and I am stuck with the bill. Will never buy another GM product again. Ever.
2019 Silverado. 2 trans and back out of shop and have severe shift issues again 2 days later. What attorney do I connect with. I’m sick of this 💩
Could you Google the issue on your computer? The info is there. I contacted them yesterday. While I will not join the class action, I requested to be kept informed. Again, it is sad GM is not treating their customers properly. When I worked there, "great customer service equated to renowned customer satisfaction, pride, and ultimate brand loyalty". By GM taking this position on their 8 speed transmissions it creates just the opposite. All because of profits and greed. Good luck, Kirt.