GM Again Faces Class Action for 8-Speed Transmission
Did General Motors knowingly sell several hundred thousand cars, SUVs and pickups with faulty transmissions? That’s what a U.S. class action alleges, and it’s just been approved by a federal appeals court.
The lawsuit involves Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac vehicles from the 2015-2019 model years equipped with Hydra-Matic 8L90 or Hydra-Matic 8L45 eight-speed automatic transmissions. It covers approximately 800,000 units, including 514,000 in the certified classes. More specifically, the Chevrolet Camaro, Colorado, Corvette and Silverado, GMC Canyon, Sierra and Yukon, as well as the Cadillac CTS, CT6 and Escalade are part of the list.
- Also: Canadian Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over GM’s 8-Speed Transmission
- Also: GM’s 8-Speed Transmission Blamed in New Class Action Lawsuit
As Reuters reports, drivers complain that the vehicles shudder and shake in higher gears, and hesitate and lurch in lower gears. Repair attempts have apparently been unsuccessful. They also accuse the automaker of telling dealers to provide assurance to customers that harsh shifts are "normal."
In court, GM said most class members have never experienced problems with the transmission and therefore lack standing to sue. However, Judge Karen Nelson Moore said "exactly how, and to what extent, each of the individual plaintiffs experienced a shudder or shift quality issue is irrelevant" to whether GM concealed known defects, and whether drivers would have found that information material.
It’s far from the first time that GM is facing a class action involving its eight-speed transmissions. Similar legal action has already been taken not only in the U.S., but also last year in Canada.
