GM was recently hit with a new class action lawsuit that alleges the automaker knowingly sold a variety of full-size SUVs with defective paint. Plaintiffs state that the paint on affected vehicles is prone to defects, which could result in rather steep repair bills. The law firm representing the plaintiffs is now seeking to represent anyone who leased or purchased an impacted SUV in the state of California.
The new class action lawsuit was brought forward by four vehicle owners and was filed in a California federal court on July 9th. The class action lawsuit lists a variety of GM full-sized SUVs as potentially affected by the defective paint issue, including the 2015 through 2020 Chevy Tahoe, the 2015 through 2020 Chevy Suburban, the 2015 through 2020 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the 2015 through 2020 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. The lawsuit alleges that the exterior paint on these vehicles is prone to cracking, clouding, and delaminating over time.
“Although the defect manifested over time, [General Motors] knew or should have known of those issues prior to sale of the [vehicles]; yet GM continued to put the latently defective class vehicles on the market,” the lawsuit claims.
One of the plaintiffs says that they purchased a used 2017 Chevy Tahoe LT in 2019 and that by 2022, the vehicle’s paint was showing visible defects. The owner attempted to polish the paint, but the problem persisted, leading the owner to talk to a professional detailer who stated that the problem was with the clear coat. The owner states that the cost to repair and repaint the vehicle would be upwards of $10,000 and would require sanding the exterior down to bare metal, which would affect the car’s resale value.
The plaintiffs are represented by Steven W. Ritcheson, Taylor C. Bartlett, and Jeanie Sleadd of Heninger Garrison Davis LLC. The lawsuit is filed under case number 2:24-cv-05786 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
In related news, GM was hit with a separate lawsuit in April that alleges that the automaker’s key fobs were easily hackable, specifically those for the Chevy Camaro, enabling thieves to steal the vehicle without triggering the alarm.
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Comments
Don’t they use the same paint on all their vehicles? I am pretty sure the touchup codes are the same across vehicles and even across brands. Sounds like a money grab by an ambulance chaser class action lawyer.
Thank goodness you don’t own any of these affected vehicles, good luck plaintiffs.
it affects some not others. some tahoes do have premature failure on the hood but not on the roof. some all over but its quite common on the hood which would point towards application issues or batch paint issue (since they paint same parts in batches)
people dont garage their stuff which on dark colors, 5 years is plenty time in the right conditions to bake a clearcoat..
It is about time someone was able to file a lawsuit. I have been fighting with GM for 6 years to fix my paint. I have a 2015 Tahoe that was well-maintained and garaged and kept for part of its life. It looks like someone sanded the top of the doors’ hood and roof. GM knew about the issues but had not done anything to resolve the paint issues.
I bought a new 2015 GMC Sierra, within 2 years hood and roof paint bubbled and then peeled off down to the primer. I went to the dealer, who took pictures of it, then I never heard from them again, except to sell me a new vehicle. I ended up going to a body shop and had the roof and hoop refinished and paid for it myself, otherwise it would have rusted. Still the rear quarter panels and side panels of the truck are cloudy and dull. The finish is terrible. GM should do the right thing and refinish all the defective paint and also reimburse customers who, like me, had it refinished. $2300 later.
“Don’t they use the same paint on all their vehicles?”
Don’t a lot of manufacturers use the same supplier as well? Remember the 90’s with both GM and Ford paint falling off.
Anyway this area uses liquid road chemicals, and “cracking, clouding, and delaminating” are the least of your worries. You WILL have rust holes starting somewhere after the body warranty expires.
I thought so too. PPG I think is the big one. I thought BASF as well.
I don’t know I’ve owed seven GM vehicles and I’ve never had trouble with the paint. Speaking of the 90s I believe it was Honda who also had peeling paint issues streaks would go up the hood and roof down to the bare metal. I live in the northeast so I try to wash the salt off my car in the winter time it’s not easy but it helps a little bit… bottom line is unless your vehicle is garage kept and professionally waxed daily then your going to have trouble with a 8, or even 4 year old car. It’s funny and fishy how this comes to light now on 2015 through 2020 vehicle that nobody has any idea how well it was taken care of I can see if it where a 2 or 3 year old car then fine it shouldn’t have anything wrong with the paint.
GM repainted the whole top from stem to stern on my ’92 Olds Achieva at 90k miles. And they did a dam good job.
It SHOULD also include ALL the Chevy and GM express and Savana vans as well! I consistently see white vans on the road whose hood is almost down to the bare metal.
They should also include the 2019-2024 Silverados as they too have defective applications, I’ve had the 2022 and 2023 models and both have had poor or chipped paint.
But in GMs defence they went good on all the paint defects.
But not without pulling a few teeth!
Have a 2018 Chevy suburban. It literally looks like someone took sandpaper to my hood and roof. GM would not cover the repair. Tell me they’ll give me a great deal repainting it. Screw you it’s ridiculous to pay $60,000 for a vehicle, and three years later it’s falling apart. I’ve been a GM girl since I was 16 now 50. I will never buy another GM product. My 2023 Corvette had paint issues that were covered under warranty. The paint was literally chipping away. Absolutely ridiculous. They know there’s a problem and they don’t contact people just tell them that there’s a problem .
We have a GM pickup at work and the white paint is peeling off the tailgate. Under the paint there is no primer just shiny steel.
This lawsuit should extended to all 50 states
I live in FL and I have the same issue with my 2023 Yukon. Could you believe it?
Wow I have a 2016 chevy malibu LS. Roof, hood and trunk all look like crap. It’s actually what you call spidering. I don’t know which way to turn. The clear coat is bad.
Anybody have any ideas for help?
gm has had off/on problems with their paint for many years. Used to be certain silver & light blue paints that would show up regular, but usually after the warranty had expired of course. 1990s didn’t see as much. Our 2002 Pontiac had problems with a roof panel & it was explained that it was due to the paint/metal prep. We even tried having a very good paint/body shop fix it, but turns out that due to gm’s poor prep, only fix would be replacing the sheet metal.
There’s issues with Malibus too. I have a 2016 and the paint has is cracking on the roof. I have a friend with a 2018 Malibu with the same issues. Its pathetic!
Same! I have a 2016 Chevy Malibu LS. It’s silver any my hood, roof and trunk all appear to have scratches. Clearcoat is bad. Where can we get help?
Happened on my 2015 Suburban and currently happening on my 2021 Suburban
Happening now on my 2015 Silverado an our 2016 Tahoe hope something happens
My 16 gmc yukon xl Denali has this issue on the hood and right above the windshield. It started in 2020 only 4 years old but since the warranty had run out i was told there was nothing gm could do. Keep in mind I live in Va., not a state that’s known for too much summer heat. This vehicle was $97,000 brand new and had a $100 paint job, just ridiculous.
I am very upset about my Yukon Denali 2017. Mint condition but the paint on hood and roof is turning grey , very disappointed in this 80,000 dollar vehicles clear coat.
I have a 2016 Tahoe, and the paint on the hood and roof are fading bad. Wish GM would resolve this.
2018 Malibu hood, roof, & trunk…. All “spidering” cracked, cloudy, down to metal in one spot. No one will help, called & they treat you like a computer number not a loyal customer for years.
I have a 2016 Suburban. My chevy has this issue on the hood. It’s a very horrible look.
When I even drove 100,000 miles, the engine broke down and I had to replace it for as much as $10,000.
I live in NY and have a 2017 Cadillac Escalade, I take care of my truck. Over the past 6 months I started noticing the changing of the paint on the hood and roof of my truck to a cloudy look, it started off small now it has spread covering almost my entire hood. It looks horrible, I am so angry because overall the truck is so beautiful, but when I look at the hood it makes me want to cry. These vehicles are not cheap. So Us owners should not be responsible for something the manufacturer should be responsible for. This is clearly a lack of clear coat. My trucks diagnosis is Lack of clear coat by the manufacturer. I love Cadillac, but they need to stand behind there brand and loyal customers.
I purchased a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ and the roof and hood of my SUV looks horrible. The paint has fadded so bad.
2021 Tahoe paint coming off on roofline…. U can feel rust bubbling up …..and can see bare metal. Horrible GM says too bad so sad ….40 month old vehicle 60k miles so you’re screwed,,,, after 10 GM vehicles I had enough. Guess I go to a import