Now with more than 60 technical service bulletins (TSBs) filed related to GM’s Hydra-Matic 8-speed transmission, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the automaker.
Harper, et al., v. General Motors, LLC. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, according to CarComplaints.com.
We covered this issue last year, but now it seems like this will proceed to some kind of court resolution. GM seemed to acknowledge this issue when it replaced some 8-speed transmissions in some GMC Sierras and Silverados, but that’s as far as the automaker has gone at this point.
Hard shifting at the heart of the complaints
When the words “slip, buck, kick and jerk” appear as it relates to a transmission shifting, that’s never a good thing. The full legal wording related to the GM 8-speed transmission says: ” (the transmission will) slip, buck, kick, jerk, harshly engage, suffer abnormal internal wear, sudden acceleration, delay in downshifts, delayed acceleration, difficulty stopping the vehicle, and eventually require replacement of the transmission or its components.”
The plaintiffs claim the transmissions cause safety hazards and expensive repairs once the 8-speed transmissions fail.
According to the lawsuit, the shuddering, shaking, jerking and hesitation comes from internal problems within the transmission and torque converter. And a judge who refused to dismiss the lawsuit said: “plausible inferences may be drawn that GM had substantial knowledge of this issue.”
What vehicles are impacted in the GM transmission lawsuit?
The 8-speed transmission lawsuit includes these models.
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
- 2015-2019 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS, ATS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS, CTS-V
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2015-2019 GMC Sierra
- 2015-2019 GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and Yukon Denali XL
- 2017-2019 GMC Canyon
The good news is newer vehicles don’t seem to be impacted, but this lawsuit, which has been ongoing for three years, is not going away. Additionally, there hasn’t been a full-fledged recall from GM.
Details from the lawsuit filing alleges “a GM insider said the automaker was aware some transmissions are defective and is working on a kit to fix the fluid starvation problem internally but has done nothing to inform owners of the potential dangers of erratic shifting.”
Further, the filing asks General Motors to “stop selling all the vehicles and replace all the 8-speed transmissions with new non-defective transmissions.”
Additionally, the plaintiffs argue owners should be awarded “actual, compensatory, exemplary, and statutory damages, including interest, including damages for economic loss including loss of the benefit of the bargain, overpayment damages, diminished value and out-of-pocket losses.”
Here are the law firms handling the case: Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Gordon & Partners, P.A., Berger Montague PC, Capstone Law APC, The Miller Law Firm, P.C., Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, LLP, Keller Rohrback L.L.P., and Pitt, McGehee, Palmer & Rivers, P.C.
IF YOU ARE AN AFFECTED OWNER, CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE COHEN WEBSITE TO BE NOTIFIED OF UPDATES.
The bottom line on the GM transmission lawsuit
We wrote about this time last year that the saga continues. And now, 12 months later, the sage still continues. It’s understandable GM is holding its ground on this, as what’s being alleged and asked would prove to be incredibly costly. However, the fact this suit has not been dismissed by a judge shows there is some merit to it. Surely, things will play in court in some regard.
Without a last-minute dismissal, I’d expect some kind of settlement as things like this generally don’t go well if they make it to a trial. GM would be wise to get this entire situation dealt with and put to bed once and for all.
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74 comments
shaun
i bought a 2018 sierra elevation 1500 with a 6 speed transmission and it has done the same thing since i drove it off the lot. i was told it was a normal thing. now today actually driving home it was jerking and missing quite bad. the worst it has ever been. called the dealership and have an appointment booked for tomorrow im sitting at just over 138,000 kms. curious as to why the 6 speed transmissions are not included in this. i know of others having the same issue.
Thomas Taylor
I have a 2017 Silverado 1500 that has had transmission issues since I bought new.
I have had shifting problems. I have had the transmission flushed, was not contacted by GM they were flushing the transmissions,
found out about this on the internet. Now there is a shutter in my truck and the RPM gauge is going up and down at cruising speed.
It is looking like iI am about to pay for a torque converter replacement.
Gloria
My 2016 Chevy Silverado has the same transmission problems as everyone else. It’s at the garage to be fixed . It shudders and vibrates. It’s so bad it shifts hard . I’m on a fixed income and I think GM should be fixing this. I’m not buying anymore GM vehicles. This is and expense I can’t really afford.
Emilio Ostigun
my 2018 Silverado its been tranny problems all the way still tranny Jerks hard enough to cause neck injury
Art
The problem didn’t start with 2015’s. I have a 2014 Chevy Silverado that has been slipping and jerking for several years now. it finally went out and I can’t get a rebuilt transmission for under 4500. The truck only has 145K miles so way too soon to have transmission problems. I talked to a repair shop that does transmissions and he said the problem is the cheap torque converter Chevy used which slowly destroys the otherwise good transmissions. Regardless, my truck is a paperweight until I shell out 5K to put in a new transmission.
Ed
My 2015 6 speed does the same thing . 80000.miles Never had transmission issues my whole life. Went thru several gm with 200000 plus. Gm is slacking and should go good. was told don’t tinker with swap it out. Don’t waste your time with try this try that. Doesn’t fix it. Thinking new truck.
Jeffrey Andre
I have now had three GMC Sierra’s: 2017 SLT, 2017 Denali, and 2018 SLT, all three experienced transmission failure at approximately 50,000 miles. The first SLT I was trading for the 2018 SLT, so I didn’t worry about it and put an extended warranty on the 2018 thinking it was a fluke. When the transmission started going they suggested it might be my tires. or alignment, balance, I had all three done. I couldn’t drive the truck without feeling like it was going to shake apart. They replaced the transmission and converter once they realized I had the warranty. I inherited my dad’s 2017 Denali and gave my 2017 SLT to my son. Dad’s 2017 had 45,000, as soon as it went over 50,000 the transmission started shaking violently. It doesn’t have the warranty?? GM/GMC knows they did something wrong and have issues with this transmission. Beautiful truck, we spend too much money on these trucks to be deceived like this.