--- title: "Judge Grants Class-Action for GM 8-Speed Transmission: 800k Chevy, GMC trucks and SUVs" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2023/03/judge-grants-class-action-for-gm-8-speed-transmission-800k-chevy-gmc-trucks-and-suvs/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Tim Esterdahl" published: "2023-03-22T14:00:33+00:00" modified: "2025-07-23T15:12:20+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-Chevrolet-Silverado-LT-254.jpeg" --- # Judge Grants Class-Action for GM 8-Speed Transmission: 800k Chevy, GMC trucks and SUVs By Tim Esterdahl Published: 2023-03-22T14:00:33+00:00 Updated: 2025-07-23T15:12:20+00:00 ![Featured image]() The GM 8-speed transmission saga took another turn with a judge granting class-action status for [lawsuits]() affecting 800,000 Chevy, GMC trucks and SUVs. This news, as first reported by the [Detroit Free Press](), is another step in the legal process on this ongoing issue. ## **GM 8-Speed Transmission shudder, jerking sensation** We have covered the [myriad of issues]() with the GM 8-Speed transmission for many years now and while there have been some bright spots, like [GM replacing select transmissions](), many owners simply have dealt with trucks they describe as “unsafe to drive.” A total of 39 plaintiffs across 26 states have filed lawsuits on the 8L90 or 8L45, the latter being a lighter version and not as heavy or robust as the 90 version. The judge combined all of these lawsuits into one class-action lawsuit making it easier for the legal system to accommodate. The lawyer leading the plaintiffs is Ted Leopold, partner at Cohen Milstein, didn’t mince words when talking about GM’s role in the 8-speed transmission. “General Motors knowingly sold over 800,000 eight-speed transmission vehicles, which they knew to be defective for years, and yet made the business decision not to tell its customers before purchase,” Leopold said in a statement. “Dealers were directed to tell the customers that harsh shifts were ‘normal’ or ‘characteristic.’ Such decision making is both highly irresponsible and emblematic of what GM believes it can get away with.” ## **What GM vehicles are affected?** The 8-speed transmission was used in a variety of vehicles from 2015 to March 1, 2019: 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, CTS, CT6, and CTS-V 2015-2019 [GMC Sierra](), [Yukon](), Yukon XL, and Yukon Denali XL 2017-2019 GMC Canyon The lawsuit claims there have been 13 technical service bulletins, TSBs, to fix this issue with no resolution. Also, there is another lawsuit underway in Battle v. General Motors, LLC, 2:22-cv-108783 according to Cohen Milstein That case features 8L vehicles with harsh shifts made after March 1, 2019 (MY19 to MY22), when GM replaced the automatic transmission fluid that caused the shudder problem. ## **What about new 2023 GM vehicles?** With these many issues and a pending class-action lawsuit, people might assume GM is no longer building vehicles with the troubled 8-speed transmission. That’s just not the case. For example, the new [2023 Chevy Colorado]() and [2023 GMC Canyon]() come with a “second-generation” 8-speed transmission with “refinements designed to offer smoother shifting and quicker downshifts,” according to GM. The [2022 Chevy Silverado 1500]() and [2022 GMC Sierra 1500]() come with the 8-speed when paired to the 2.7-liter turbocharged engine with the same change to improve shifting. Other new 2022 and 2023 GM vehicles are coming with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Here is how you can join the lawsuit: ***If you believe you have a GM transmission-related claim, please contact: 1.561.515.1400 or fill out our contact form:******[https://www.cohenmilstein.com/contact]()*** ## **The bottom line** This shudder and jerking concern is perplexing problem for many owners and GM who hasn’t seemed to find a permanent fix. Imagine buying a new truck and not feeling safe to drive it? Yeah, that’s not going to work. Our advice is to make sure you take any GM vehicles with an 8-speed transmission for an extended test drive before taking it home and to keep an eye out for [car recalls]() pertaining to this issue [Embedded video]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2023/03/judge-grants-class-action-for-gm-8-speed-transmission-800k-chevy-gmc-trucks-and-suvs/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2023/03/judge-grants-class-action-for-gm-8-speed-transmission-800k-chevy-gmc-trucks-and-suvs/" }, "author": { "name": "Tim Esterdahl", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/82b06f99329f69a069a5ab6caed18593" }, "headline": "Judge Grants Class-Action for GM 8-Speed Transmission: 800k Chevy, GMC trucks and SUVs", "datePublished": "2023-03-22T14:00:33+00:00", "dateModified": "2025-07-23T15:12:20+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": 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