02 Sep General Motor’s Dangerous Transmission Defects
General Motors has a long history of producing unique automobiles. Unfortunately, not all GM vehicles manufactured have a stellar safety record.
According to a class action complaint, Francis et al. v. General Motors, LLC, (2:2019cv11044) thousands of General Motors Vehicles have a common defect. They are all equipped with Hydra-Matic 8L90 and 8L45 transmissions which cause the vehicles to perform erratically and are unsafe and uncomfortable to drive. The complaint filed on or about June 14, 2019, states drivers attempting to accelerate or decelerate their GM vehicles “encounter a hesitation, followed by a significant shake, shudder, jerk, clunk, or ‘hard shift’ when the automatic transmission changes the vehicle’s gears. However, this transmission problem does not merely result in uncomfortable driving conditions but the condition causes vehicles to erode prematurely.
“The shuddering, shaking, jerking and hesitation is related to internal issues within the transmission and/or torque converter causing undue friction upon surfaces, and causing hydraulic systems and gears to not function properly, resulting in metal shavings being circulated throughout the transmission. This damage to the transmission and torque converter imposes escalating repairs to consumers, including flushing the transmission of metal shavings caused by the defective transmission operation.”
In sum, the GM 8L90 and GM 8L45 transmission defect presents a safety risk to GM consumers, as it causes damage to components over time, and makes vehicles equipped with the defective transmissions unsafe and uncomfortable to drive.
The class vehicles in the Francis et al v. GM, LLC consist of consumers who purchased or leased a GM vehicle equipped with its Hydra-Matic 8L90 and 8L45 transmissions. Specifically, the GM vehicles included in this class include:
- 2015 -2019 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V
- 2015-2019 GMC Sierra,
- 2015-2019 GMC Yukon
- 2015-2019 GMC Yukon XL
- 2015-2017 Yukon Denali
- 2015-2017 Yukon Denali XL
- 2017-2019 GMC Canyon
Driving a General Motor vehicle whose automatic transmission occasionally will “slip, buck, kick, jerk and harshly engage” is not what you bargained for. When purchasing a vehicle, a consumer should not only expect a means of transportation but is absolutely entitled to have a safe and reliable car. If you find yourself in this predicament, the Law Office of Alisa Goukasian, APC can help you to evaluate your case and get the compensation you are entitled to.
Opting Out Of a General Motors (GM) Lawsuit
If your GM vehicle is on a list of a class action lawsuit, it would be extremely prudent to contact a lemon law attorney immediately. Why? If you remain a class member in the class action you may be barred from bringing your individual claim and only be compensated a very small fraction of what your case is actually worth. It is in your best interest to bring your own individual case tailored to the facts of your case to get the maximal and best result.
The Law Office Of Alisa Goukasian, APC can help you timely opt out of a binding class action settlement and get you the full compensation you deserve under the California lemon law. Contact us at (818)242-4601 or fill out a contact form to speak to one of our knowledgeable staff regarding your legal rights.