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.”
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM legal news, GM recall news, GM safety news, and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.
Extra comfort for rear-seated passengers.
Filings made in 24 countries, so far.
The sweepstakes closes on December 22nd and the drawing will take place on December 28th.
At a time of year when luxury car ATP usually rises.
Sales decreased 5.6 percent to 16,670 units during the first ten months of 2024.
Specifically critical minerals supply chain development.
View Comments
Bought my 2016 silverado 1500 8 months ago with 84.000 miles on it. Now at 90.700 miles transmission went out 5 days ago. Towed to dealership I bought it from. They called yesterday to say it would be $8300 to fix it. I have only had it 8 Months and put 7000 miles on it. Asked the dealership if they were going to help me with this issue because it was a issue GM has with 2015 to 2019 6L80 and 6L90. They said no. I would have to pay for everything or trad it in. They will take the price of the transmission off of the trade in price. GM need to honor these problem transmissions and torque converters that calls the transmission to go bad. I will never buy another GM EVER.
I have a 2019 Silverado with 135,000 miles that has had the same transmission issue. It began with hard downshifting and now I get the vibration when I slowly accelerate. I’ve had it back to the dealer 3 times for this issue before the warranty and extended warranty expired and was told that’s how it operates. Chevy needs to stand by their product.
I have a 2016 gmc sierra with the faulty transmission. I have the tyranny rebuilt and it's starting to jerk in first and second gear again. I wish they would fix the issue.
I just bought a used 2019 Chevy Colorado from Auto Nation here in Houston, Texas with 45,000 miles. Didn't notice the transmission shutter until 2 weeks after purchase and Auto Nation said I would have to contact my Chevy dealer for help. I am working with a local Chevy dealer to resolve this but I thought it was pretty shotty of Auto Nation to sell me a vehicle with known problems, never tell me about the problem during the sale, and then tell me it was my problem after the sale. I hope Chevy does the right thing in resolving these issues or I'll buy a Toyota next time.
When you buy a used vehicle, it is bought AS IS unless stated otherwise. Even if you buy a warranty with the vehicle, the warranty is through the manufacture. I.e. GM. The lawsuit regarding the transmission passed. So now it is a matter of litigation of responsiblity. I know if GM does not fix and honor this issue. Ill file my own lawsuit to that end. To be clear. Changing then transmission fluid to the mobile 1 is not a fix. The torgue converter needs to be balanced and bearing properly.
I had to replace my transmission in my 2015 Chevrolet 1500 crew cab at a cost 3400 at Cottman transmission really upsetting. Started having problems as soon as the warranty ended
Why don’t I see the 2016 Tahoe LT on this list? I replaced my transmission a year ago, at 98k miles! The tranny mechanic said I was slipping in all 8 gears!
I have a 2016 6.2 w/ 8 speed trans. Mine started doing all of the above around 32,000. Fluid was flushed and changed at 33,000. After the fluid swap, it shifted fine for awhile. Now the hard shifting from first to second is starting to show up again. I don’t know if I should call the dealer and demand another flush and change. But at this point my power train warranty has expired. I just wish they would replace it with the new 10 speed and a re flash.
Jim W. with the 6.2L, 8 speed auto trans who had the trans oil changed at 32K. Now at 33K the hard shift returned and is out of warranty.
Join the class action lawsuit. Google it to locate.
The exact same thing happened to me at 15K. Shame on GM. And yes, I am a life long GM customer. The trans oil change is not the correct fix. Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty will suffer if they do not properly resolve the problem.
Hard not to buy another vehicle from them when they are the greatest car company in the world. They just made a BAD decision!
I have a 2106 Silverado and we reported the issue of shuddering, slipping, jerking to our certified dealer. They were "unable to duplicate the problem". I then got stranded on the side of the road at 3am with my two very young children coming back from a trip after the dealership assured me there was nothing wrong. The transmission went out, 200 miles past warranty coverage. I never imagined having to replace the transmission 3 years new. Ended up out the cost of a hotel room, as we were still over an hour from home, the cost of a new transmission, a huge headache, and lost sleep. Absolutely ridiculous this is a known issue and those affected before "the fix" was announced weren't compensated for GM's negligence. I'm not out to sue anyone, not my personality. I just want them to right the wrong.
Why are the 2018 Suburbans not listed. Yet the Yukons and Escalades are listed. Pretty much the same damn thing. GM does not really care to much, they care about is money. They will sit on their asses waiting while people pay out money to fix the factory problems. A lot of people are out a lot of money already.
how does one get on the lawsuit list ?