GM 8-Speed Automatic Transmission Lawsuit Granted Class Action Status
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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.
- 2015-2019 Cadillac Escalade/Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2017-2019 GMC Canyon
- 2015-2019 GMC Sierra
- 2015-2019 GMC Yukon/Yukon XL
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 have a 2017 GMC Sierra with less than 50k miles on it and am experiencing the same issue. Hard shifts especially into second gear and it’s a pain especially in stop and go traffic. Also, the transmission will shudder during acceleration and when pulling a trailer. I too am being told that this is normal. Well, it is not! I’ve owned several GMC Trucks, Yukon’s and Tahoe’s and none of them have had this issue. GM should take care of their customers and replace every one of the eight speeds as it seems to be the one with the problem. I’ve trusted GM for a long time but if they don’t fix this, I’ll look at other brands next time I purchase. I know GM is to big to care but they won’t get any more of my money.
I have a 2016 Chevy Silverado LT that had its fluids flushed at 60,000 miles and now at 110,000 its giving me transmission issues, $5K to fix – overhaul. The dealer flushed the fluids and replaced, now I am being told it had a loose Line that caused the transmission computer to fried and cause the violent shifts and other problems allegedly result from excess friction in the torque converter caused by internal transmission fluid starvation. Who should be held responsible GMC in this situation or Dealer that flushed the fluids, and did not replace the pressure hose back in tight.
My transmission on my 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 has been slipping real bad for the past 2 months. I took it to the dealership today to get it checked on and they say they found metal shavings within my transmission fluid. I’ve come upon this article because I’ve known other Chevrolet owners have had the same issue as well as the paint lawsuit for the same truck.
How do we join this lawsuit? I have a 2018 Camaro 8 speed auto transmission
I just replaced my transmission at 103,000 miles while still under extended warranty and the engine. Engine was 3rd time same problem and extended warranty covered it but transmission they wouldn’t even look at it bc of my lift even tho it is in spec of everything they say except I didn’t pay them for lift kit option and they told me they won’t cover transmission axles drive shaft gears nothing and sent a letter stating that even tho I have it for a few more months. They told me they don’t need to prove what I did to truck caused anything! Needless to say I just spent 6600 bucks on new transmission and I have the Chevy shake! Truck just got paid off is only reason I didn’t trade it in and it’s got a lot of money into it! 2015 gmc Sierra 4×4 z71 8 speed 5.3L
Horrible, gm needs to pay big time
I currently have a 2018 Silverado bought brand new. I had the rear end replaced before my factory warranty was up. I just had the transmission rebuilt and paid for it out of pocket $6000 later and about 20,000 miles it is slipping once again. These bandaids have to stop! How do you get in on this lawsuit?
Goggle it, i should come come
I have a 2020 chevy Silverado ltz 5.3L with 95k miles. I have the 8 speed transmission and it does everything described in the article. The transmission light stays on. I will be contacting the dealer on Monday to see if I can have this problem resolved
I contacted the dealership. I have to pay 5600 for the new transmission to be installed. I have an appointment July 13 to have it replaced. I thought it would cost more so I can live with the cost.
I hope they are replacing it with a better transmission and not the defective one they been using for years
My 2020 currently has 44k on it and runs fine. I bought it and purchased the extended warranty, so the powertrain will definitely be covered if this happens at 95k miles. Thing is, you have 95k on a 2020? Wow
I have read many of these posts on 8 speed trans – But a lot of the posters have over 150,000 miles on their transmission. Common sense GM not going to listen to you with high mileage, and to be honest, I would not either.
Get real man. How about a 2017, 50th Anniversary, 2SS with 6100 miles? In the dealership twice for trans shutters in many gears and once for excessively harsh shifts out of first gear. And no, my foot was not in it Just not right!
I really feel for you, i know how aggravating it is, I only have the work truck edition, gm should refund everyone 10,000
Mine started at 35K. Took it in, got it “fixed”. it didn’t fixed it. Took it in again and they told me its working as intended lol.
They can’t fix it’s garbage, they would have to replace it and you know that not going to happen,besides if they replaced it, it would be the same piece of junk
And how many times the transmission get the fluid changed?
I have a 2016 Tahoe LT. Replaced its transmission at 98k miles. I’ve now have the rough shift into 1st from reverse!
I will never never understand why gm would knowingly and willingly sell these defective transmission to their customers, they had to know these transmissions would fail, did they think people would not notice, you cannot wrong your customers, it beyond comprehension, I’ll never understand it.
“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.”
So if this is what they are going to hide behind, it would explain both why they are not doing anything about it and why they kept selling the cars with this known issue. But then the real questions should be, how can a company not be liable for design defects in their cars?
Gm should be responsible no matter what, if they are using it it should be safe and reliable, gm will always try to blame someone else for a bad decision
I had to trade my 2016 Silverado in 2021 because the replacement transmission had the same issues. I went from a almost paid off to a 72 month bill.
Beck and masten north has been giving me the run around about my transmission shudder no loaner but wants to keep my vehicle for over a month to check it. Every time I go in for any kind of maintenance or oil change I complain about it they have actually not documented several of my complaints and lied to me
I had the the same issue at Lee Johnson, in Bellevue, WA.
We have a 2016 GMC Acadia with only 30,000 miles. We use mostly in summer with 6 grandkids.
This week the vehicle started having these transmission issues. In shop now awaiting estimates. Why is this vehicle not on the list?
Just got hit with a trany repair quote for my 2016 Silverado, 109k miles, and a 5-7k repair. This is BS and should be covered by GM, it always seems to fall on the back of the consumer who unknowingly purchases what they believe to be a great vehicle. Time to start looking at other manufacturers products if GM decides it’s not worth their time to do the right thing.
My 2018 Chevrolet Silverado with 80,000 miles transmission has gone out. It should be included in the recall.
I have a 2016 Tahoe LT, my tranny went out at 98,000 miles, the mechanic at the GMC dealership in Birmingham, AL, said I was slipping in every gear! That cost me $6,600 to replace the tranny! And the new one almost immediately started popping into first gear from reverse!
GM is going to have to expand their recall else they’re going to lose a huge customer base! A loyal customer base too from the comments I’ve been reading!
There may be a legitimate problem with GM 8-speed trans, BUT when these trucks owners with 150,000 to 250,000 miles jump on the band wagon complaints, this weakens their case. It improves GM defensive arguments that the trans is good. I just find it hard to articulate a truck owner swiveling that his trans is having problems after he has put 150,000 miles on it. Hell it is time to start having issues with your automobile after 150,000 miles. I drive an average 15,000 a year, so after 10 years , I start to have shakes in my trans, I should tell the manufacturer that the trans in my auto is a bad manufactured trans. I guess I should tell my tire, my muffler, my alternator, my starter, my battery, my air conditioner, etc. etc. that this is a bad manufactured product because I can not get 250,000 and 15 years of service without maintenance.
You might be a lucky one, but if you read all the comments you will maybe understand, mine started to slip after a few days 2018 gmc canyon brand new, dealer says it’s a characteristic. BS, than it started to do the shutter like you were driving over a washboard Road, dealership said the factory put in the wrong transmission fluid, that seems OK for now but the slipping continues it gets worse and worse, why some of them do it and some don’t it’s still a problem. I’m glad you’re one of the lucky ones. my friend bought a 2019 Colorado he was making fun of me says I’m real picky then his his started to the same thing the shattering and slipping,
Bruce re-read my comment. My comment says there may be a legimate problem with the trans, BUT when all these truck owners with over 150,000 miles on their trucks jump on the complaints list this weaken the case, and strengthen GM case. GM can now say LOOK over 10 million truck owners has gotten 200,000 miles out of the Trans and now want a new tranmission.
Yes driving 150k miles in a1970’s vehicle was excellent results!! But these aren’t your typical 1970’s style vehicles either! They are built to withstand mileage far exceeding >750k miles!
So, experiencing transmission failures at 98k miles is both disturbing & confusing! Then, learning that GM exec’s knew before selling these vehicles of this transmission issue is something I can’t agree with! And they should make it right!
I am interested in people with the 8spd and how many miles they have . I I have the 22 Colorado and have had some shifting issues from the first few miles but would like to hear some positive experiences with this transmission because I like almost everything about my my truck and really don’t want to buy a new one when the warranty is up.