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’m having the same problem with my 2019 Chevy Silverado custom trail boss !! The transmission bucks and kicks and then today in went into gear delayed while accelerating. How do I get in on this class action lawsuit
Looking at buying a 2021 1500LT 5.3 8 speed. It shuddered on the test drive a couple times. Is it included in this lawsuit deal?
83000- miles. VIN #1GCUYDED3MZ215760
No lawsuit yet I have the same problem dealership avoids it and wants you to leave the vehicle there for at least a month or more with no loaner
I have a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3 liter v8. That has been giving me alot of problems with the transmission, ESC light, and brake service light. I am still have alot of problems. Seems Like i have problems with the truck everyday
2016 gmc Yukon xl Denali 4×4
Had the vibration at low rpm acceleration and a hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear. Vibration could be felt throughout the vehicle. Took it to gm shop. They replaced the trans fluid with the new mobile1 and replaced the transmission temp sensor wiring harness. Tho oil replacement was for the vibration and the wiring harness was for the hard shift. Said the temp sensor wiring harness also has wires for the transmission valve body. Fixed all the issues. It now shifts so smooth you can’t even feel it. Just see the rpms move on the tach. Cost me about $1000. Vehicle now has 150k miles and no issues. The 6.2 engine has never had anything except an oil change done to it.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado transmission is going out at 85,000 miles Chevrolet should do something about this they should help !
Transmission is being replaced at a cost to meet a $5000
I bought a 2022 Canyon last Sep…7 months later and 14 trips to the dealer, GM agreed to replace transmission with remanufactured transmission…now 2nd transmission is doing same problems as first transmission and Dealer says 2nd transmission is working fine. Now i get to play the back and forth game for the next 7 months and see what happens. I WILL NEVER BUY GM EVER AGAIN. THIS WAS MY FIRST GM AND IT WILL BE MY LAST!
2016 Chevrolet Silverado
Apenas compre èste vehiculo hace 2 semanas y ahora estoy leyendo sobre el problema de vibration.
Buscando informaciòn, ahora se que compre un problema.
Mi camioneta vibra
2016 Chevrolet Silverado
Apenas compre èste vehiculo hace 2 semanas y ahora estoy leyendo sobre el problema de vibraciòn.
Buscando informaciòn, ahora se que compre un problema.
Mi camioneta vibra
How do you get in on the lawsuit?
This is ridiculous. How can they sell trucks and cars with faulty transmissions and expect to not be held reliable especially when some of us has spent over $50,000 for a Dinali truck and then put $15,000 worth of aftermarket parts on it, and told that there’s no recall or warranty!
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.