Quick Hits
- GM to Face Major Class Action Lawsuit: A federal appeals court rules that General Motors must face a class action lawsuit involving faulty transmissions affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles.
- Class Action Impact: The lawsuit covers approximately 800,000 GM vehicles, potentially impacting owners across 26 U.S. states.
- Court Rejects GM’s Defense: The court dismissed GM’s arguments that most class members never experienced problems and that many claims should go to arbitration
By Samuel Lopez
When you buy a car, you expect reliability. You want to turn the key and feel assured that you’re in for a smooth ride. However, for hundreds of thousands of General Motors (GM) customers, the experience has been anything but. GM now faces a massive class action lawsuit over faulty transmissions in vehicles manufactured between 2015 and 2019.
According to the recent ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, GM must confront allegations that it knowingly sold vehicles with defective eight-speed automatic transmissions. Affected models include Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles equipped with 8L45 or 8L90 transmissions, such as the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Camaro, and GMC Sierra.
These drivers claim their vehicles shudder and shake when shifting into higher gears, and lurch and hesitate at lower speeds. Despite multiple repair attempts, these issues persist. GM allegedly instructed dealers to reassure customers that these “harsh shifts” were normal.
In a significant legal development, the court found that GM’s argument—suggesting most class members hadn’t experienced any problems and thus had no standing—didn’t hold water. Circuit Judge Karen Nelson Moore emphasized that simply overpaying for vehicles with known defects was enough to establish standing. She further noted that “exactly how, and to what extent, each of the individual plaintiffs experienced a shudder or shift quality issue is irrelevant” in determining whether GM concealed known defects.
These arguments effectively pave the way for a class action, making it easier and more cost-effective for affected drivers to seek compensation. This ruling represents a crucial victory for the plaintiffs, allowing them to proceed with their claims against one of the automotive industry’s biggest names.
Class Action Implications
Class actions are powerful tools for holding large corporations accountable. They allow consumers to band together and confront companies that might otherwise evade responsibility. In this case, the class action covers roughly 800,000 vehicles, with 514,000 in certified classes. This legal battle could potentially lead to significant financial recoveries for those affected.
Ted Leopold, a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll representing the drivers, voiced optimism about the lawsuit, saying, “We look forward to holding GM accountable before a Michigan jury.” The case, Speerly et al. v. General Motors LLC, will now return to U.S. District Judge David Lawson in Detroit, who certified the classes earlier this year.
GM’s Defense
GM’s defense centered on two main arguments: First, the automaker contended that the majority of the class members never experienced any issues with their transmissions. Second, GM claimed that too many differences existed among the class members to justify group lawsuits, arguing that some claims should be settled through arbitration instead. However, these defenses fell flat in the eyes of the court. The ruling stressed that the crux of the issue was whether GM had concealed information about these defects from consumers, regardless of how many drivers experienced specific issues.
Looking Forward
As the case progresses, the automotive giant will likely face mounting pressure to either settle or defend its practices in court. The impact of this case could be far-reaching, potentially prompting changes in how GM addresses consumer complaints and quality control.
As this class action unfolds, it serves as a reminder that even industry giants must answer for their actions.
Closing Thoughts
This legal battle will undoubtedly continue to unfold in the coming months. I will provide ongoing coverage, ensuring our readers stay informed about the latest developments in this high-stakes showdown between consumers and a major automaker.
The case is titled Speerly et al v. General Motors LLC, heard in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, docket number 23-1940.
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