A group of seven drivers has filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleging that the company sold defective 6.2-liter V-8 engines that have led to significant fuel economy losses for consumers following a recall. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for the increased fuel costs associated with the recall and claim that General Motors’ remedy to address the defect has left them with “two bad options.”
The lawsuit, which represents a proposed nationwide class, asserts that General Motors issued a recall of approximately 600,000 vehicles after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified the engine defect. As part of the recall, GM instructed drivers to use higher-viscosity motor oil in an attempt to mitigate engine failure. However, the plaintiffs contend that this solution comes at a significant cost: worsened fuel economy. According to the lawsuit, the use of thicker oil could increase fuel consumption and force vehicle owners to spend hundreds of extra dollars on gasoline over the lifespan of their vehicles.
“Thicker oil may (or may not) help mitigate the engine defect, but it will also materially decrease fuel economy, resulting in drivers having to purchase hundreds of extra gallons of gasoline,” the complaint states. “This recall remedy leaves drivers with the difficult choice of either risking catastrophic engine failure or enduring worsened fuel economy.”
The defect identified by the NHTSA is reported to include rod-bearing damage caused by sediment in the engine’s connecting rods and crankshaft-oil galleries, and crankshaft dimensions that do not meet normal specifications. Both issues are attributed to manufacturing and quality problems from GM’s suppliers.
The plaintiffs—Thomas McNamara, Raymond Ross, Andrew Schultz, Josh Smotherman, David Hamilton, Donald Shaw, and Laurence White—assert that General Motors is responsible for covering the additional fuel costs incurred due to the defect and its recall solution. They are also raising several consumer protection claims, including breach of warranty, unfair trade practices, and false advertising, under federal and state laws from Pennsylvania, California, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Texas.
In their lawsuit, the drivers are calling for injunctive relief, a comprehensive reimbursement program for all affected consumers, as well as damages, class certification, and attorney fees. The case has drawn attention as the plaintiffs seek to hold General Motors accountable for what they argue is an inadequate and temporary solution to a widespread defect.
Christopher Seeger, counsel for the plaintiffs, commented: “GM’s own investigation confirmed serious defects, yet instead of providing a permanent fix, the company’s remedy sacrifices fuel economy and devalues vehicles. This case is about ensuring that GM takes responsibility and fairly compensates the 600,000 affected consumers.”
The case, McNamara et al. v. General Motors LLC (Case No. 2:25-cv-02410), remains ongoing. General Motors has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
