DETROIT – “GM 8L45 8L90 Transmission Problems Face Class Action” highlights that General Motors is facing a class-action lawsuit after a federal appeals court ruled that the automaker knowingly sold hundreds of thousands of cars, trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles with defective transmissions.

The lawsuit alleges that GM violated the laws of 26 U.S. states by selling cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with faulty 8L45 or 8L90 transmissions.

1. The Common 8L45 8L90 Transmission Problems Leading to the Class Action?

A federal appeals court has ruled that GM Motors can be sued in a class-action lawsuit over faulty transmissions in certain Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision, allowing drivers of vehicles equipped with 8L45 or 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmissions from the 2015-2019 model years to sue together.

The drivers allege that their vehicles experience problems like:

  • Severe shaking
  • Shuddering in higher gears
  • Hesitation and lurching in lower gears

even after multiple repair attempts. They further accuse GM of instructing dealerships to assure customers that these harsh shifts were normal.

2. Where Is the GM 8L45 8L90 Class Action Lawsuit Being Heard?

General Motors did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday’s decision by a federal appeals court in Cincinnati. The three-judge panel ruled that a class-action lawsuit against GM could proceed.

Class-action lawsuits can often lead to larger settlements for plaintiffs at a lower cost compared to individual lawsuits.

3. Number of Vehicles Affected by GM Transmission Problem Lawsuit?

The class-action lawsuit against General Motors involves approximately 800,000 vehicles. Of these, 514,000 have been officially certified as part of the lawsuit. The lawsuit covers various GM models, including the

  • Cadillac CTS
  • CT6, and Escalade
  • Chevrolet Camaro
  • Colorado
  • Corvette, and Silverado
  • GMC1 Canyon
  • Sierra, and Yukon

4. GM Response to the Transmission Problems Class Action:

General Motors argued against the class-action certification, claiming that most vehicle owners didn’t actually experience transmission problems and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to sue. GM also contended that the class members were too diverse to be grouped together in a single lawsuit.

5. Court Rule on GM 8L45 8L90 Transmission Class Action:

Judge Karen Nelson Moore of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the drivers had a right to sue GM, even if they didn’t experience every possible transmission problem. She said that simply overpaying for a defective vehicle was enough to establish their standing.

The court also rejected GM’s attempt to force many of the cases into arbitration. Instead, the case was returned to U.S. District Judge David Lawson in Detroit, who certified the class action lawsuit in March 2023.

Ted Leopold, a lawyer representing the drivers, said, “We’re excited to hold GM accountable in a Michigan court.”  The case is now known as Speerly et al v. General Motors LLC and is being heard in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals under case number 23-1940.

Verdict:

GM 8L45 8L90 Transmission Problems Face Big Class Action. The ruling in the GM class-action lawsuit is a significant victory for consumers who purchased vehicles with faulty transmissions. This decision could potentially set a precedent for future cases involving defective products and corporate accountability.

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FAQs:

1. What are the common problems with the GM 8L45 8L90 transmissions?

Drivers have reported issues such as shaking, shuddering, hesitation, and lurching in various gears.

2. Has GM acknowledged the transmission defects?

While GM has not publicly admitted to widespread defects, the lawsuit alleges that the company was aware of the problems and failed to address them.

3. What is the current status of the lawsuit?

The lawsuit has concluded with a victory for the class-action plaintiffs.

4. Who represented the drivers in the lawsuit?

The drivers were represented by the law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll.