A proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in a Minnesota district court alleging numerous General Motors trucks and SUVs suffer from flaws that allow oil to penetrate the combustion chambers of engines.
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According to the suit, the defect is caused by defective piston rings, PVC systems and active fuel management systems that cause the spark plugs to wear out prematurely, leading to engine malfunctions.
Vehicles in the suit are 2010-2013 models that have a 5.3-Liter V8 Vortec 5300 engine and include Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Express 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Savana 1500 and GMC Canyon.
Problems with the engine in the affected models can start without warning and can eventually destroy the engine, according to the plaintiff, who also alleges the defects were present when the vehicles were manufactured.
“Drivers may experience a loss of power during acceleration, smoke from the exhaust and the vehicle may enter safe mode. In that mode an engine may suddenly shut off or run badly until the problems can be fixed,” according to CarComplaints.com about the lawsuit.
According to the complaint, the automaker knew about the problems because on Sept. 28, 2010, the company issued a technical service bulletin addressing engine oil consumption in its 2007-2008 models. On Jan. 3, 2013, GM issued another bulletin concerning oil consumption problems in 2007-2011 models.
From 2010-2013, GM issued seven bulletins addressing excessive oil consumption but without an official recall, GM wasn’t required to contact owners and let them know about the service bulletins.
The plaintiff claims using an “oil life monitoring system” lulls the vehicle owners into driving thousands of miles without knowing “how low the engine oil levels really are.”
“The system is used solely as a warning to let drivers know when to change the oil but allegedly does nothing to accurately let drivers know their engines are being ruined,” according to the suit.
In 2014, GM fixed oil consumption issues with the 2014 models.
GM is accused of violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Minnesota Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and committing fraud by concealment, negligence and breached express warranties.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.