GM Repurchase Lemon Law

If you’ve recently purchased or leased a General Motors (GM) vehicle only to discover it’s suffering from persistent defects, you might wonder, does GM have a buyback program? Yes, they do, and you may be eligible for the GM Lemon Law Buyback Program, which is designed to assist customers facing severe issues with their vehicles. While this program exists to deal with such situations, enlisting a lemon law attorney to pursue your claim can increase your chances of receiving the resolution you deserve.

Despite GM’s impressive reputation for quality, some owners have encountered significant issues. These problems can sometimes lead to GMC lemon law buyback claims. These are some of the most serious defects that have been reported affecting GM vehicles, across cars and trucks:

Engine Bearing Defect

The L87 6.2-liter V8 engine can suffer from defective bearings. These can fail without warning, causing a complete engine shutdown. These faults are dangerous issues, reported in vehicles with minimal mileage, like 1,200 miles, and risk stranding drivers or causing accidents due to engine seizure. Full engine replacement may be necessary, leaving owners wary of their vehicle’s reliability.

Affected Models: Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS.

Transmission Defects

GM’s eight-speed automatic transmissions (8L45E and 8L90) may exhibit hesitation, stalling, and power loss. These persistent issues have produced multiple lawsuits, as repairs often fail to fix the problem. This is a big concern because drivers face increased accident risks, and additional frustration as repair attempts often don’t work on these malfunctioning systems.

Affected Models: Chevrolet Malibu, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS.

Power Steering System Failure

Some GM cars have power steering systems that can fail without warning. This defect was the focus of an extensive recall, due to the possibility of increased crash risks. Drivers pointed out that sudden failure caught them off guard, turning routine drives into unsafe situations.

Affected Models: Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS.

Brake System Defect

A critical brake defect may cause the pedal to loosen or detach. This can be dangerous because it weakens stopping ability. An extensive recall followed, as this issue posed a significant safety threat. This has been one of the most alarming defects for GM owners.

Affected Models: Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe.

Lifter Failures

Faulty lifters in GM engines can result in misfires, rough idling, and potential engine breakdowns. Owners report ongoing issues even after repairs, facing high repair costs and unreliable performance. This widespread defect frustrates drivers, as it points to obvious dependability problems and requires extensive fixes.

Affected Models: GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban.

Airbag Defects

Defective airbag inflators pose a terrifying safety risk because they can burst during deployment, sending metal pieces flying into the cabin. This issue is tied to recalls and puts drivers at risk of serious injury or even death.

Affected Models: Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia.

Fuel Pump Failure

A malfunctioning fuel pump can cause sudden engine stalls, cutting power unexpectedly while driving. This defect, prevalent in certain GM models, can contribute to increased crash risks, particularly in high-traffic scenarios. Often repairs are unable to completely eliminate the problem.

Affected Models: Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL.

Front Wheel Hub Bolt Defect

Overtightened front wheel hub bolts may loosen or snap, jeopardizing vehicle control and raising crash potential. Addressed in a recall, these faults demand immediate attention, as the issue can get worse while driving.

Affected Models: GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado.

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If you’ve been asking will GM buy back your car or truck, the answer is yes, per the rules of its buyback program and your state’s lemon laws. The GMC Lemon Law Buyback Program is a company-initiated policy. It allows people who have purchased or leased a GM vehicle to seek a refund or replacement if the vehicle qualifies as a lemon. The manufacturer runs its GM Buyback Program to comply with state lemon laws and maintain customer satisfaction.

Defining a Lemon

Key point: In most cases, a car must fulfill the particular requirements of the state’s lemon law in order to be eligible for the GM Buyback Program.

Every state’s lemon law is different, but all states’ laws are based on a general defining principle: the vehicle must exhibit a substantial defect that impairs its use, value, or safety. These issues persist despite a reasonable number of repair attempts. Where the variables occur are how many repair attempts each state allows, and differences in reporting timeframes. GM-authorized dealerships or service centers are allowed multiple repair attempts (check your state for how many). If it’s a safety-related problem, sometimes only one repair attempt is required.

How to File a Claim with the GM Buyback Program

• Written notice is given to GM or an authorized dealership about the defect(s), often within a specific timeframe, such as the first year of ownership or within certain mileage limits (depending on your state’s lemon law). GM then receives a reasonable opportunity to repair the problem.
• If the defects persist, the customer can file a claim under the GM Buyback Program. The path forward can lead to GM providing a refund (often adjusted for usage) or a replacement vehicle.

While the GM Lemon Law Buyback Program provides an organized strategy for addressing lemon vehicles, relying only on this program without legal assistance can leave you at a disadvantage. These reasons summarize why GM lemon law lawyers can benefit you when pursuing a lemon law claim:

1. Determining if Your Vehicle Qualifies as a Lemon
   As we’ve mentioned, the main criteria used to determine if a vehicle is a lemon is if it exhibits a substantial defect that severely impacts its use, safety or value. Your state’s law prescribes how many repair attempts without success GM gets before the car can be designated as a lemon. But, in some cases, GM might interpret these criteria differently than you do, potentially rejecting your claim. A GMC lemon law buyback attorney cuts through these uncertainties, ensuring your case aligns with GM’s policies and applicable state laws, increasing the likelihood of a successful claim.
2. Understanding Your Legal Rights
   For example, some states allow you to recover attorney fees or rental car costs, but you might not know these rights exist without a lawyer to guide you. GM lemon law lawyers ensure you’re fully informed of your state-specific entitlements and use them to your advantage.
3. Expert Documentation and Case Presentation
   Incomplete presentation of repair orders and other evidence could weaken your case or lead to it being denied. An attorney knows which documents are needed, and how to organize and present them. These, along with expert testimony and other evidence, will form the foundation of your case.
4. Fighting for Additional Damages
   If GM acknowledges your claim, they may provide a buyback or replacement, but the settlement might not fully reflect your losses. GMC lemon law attorneys can secure a better outcome than you might achieve alone. They may also be able to negotiate for additional damages (beyond a new vehicle or refund) allowed under state law.

Hiring a lemon law attorney provides the best opportunity to recover compensation vs. navigating the GM Lemon Law Buyback Program on your own. The attorney will follow this general process to pursue your GM buyback claim:

• Negotiating a settlement: Most lemon law claims settle out of court. An experienced attorney is vital to a positive outcome for you because a knowledgeable GM lemon law lawyer can counter manufacturers’ tactics when they try to minimize or deny your claim.
• Pursuing arbitration: The specifics of GM’s buyback program could influence the process, and sometimes a state will require that you go through arbitration before taking any other steps with your claim. In other instances, it is not required, but can be an option, should there be a need to escalate the claim beyond the general buyback program conditions. Since arbitration can move more quickly than a court case (but the outcome is not guaranteed to be more or less positive for you), some people opt to try it. Your attorney can represent you in your arbitration hearing, presenting a solid case proving your vehicle’s defect qualifies it as a lemon. You are not bound by the arbiter’s decision, but the manufacturer is. If you aren’t happy with the outcome, you can still sue GM.
• Lawsuit against the manufacturer: Sometimes a settlement or arbitration doesn’t occur, and the next step is to sue the manufacturer. Your GMC lemon law attorney will organize your documentation and additional evidence to give you the best opportunity to win your case.

As you can see, the skill and knowledge provided by your lemon law attorney can help position you to have the best opportunity to win your case and succeed with a GM buyback.

For more information on arbitration and other frequently asked lemon law questions, click here

Everything seemed fine when you first purchased your new GM vehicle. Sometimes, GM vehicles exhibit substantial defects that make the car unusable, devalued, or even unsafe. Allen Stewart, P.C. provides years of experience representing clients against every car manufacturer, including GM. Our GM lemon law lawyers will expertly handle your claim so you have the best opportunity to win your case and get the buyback or replacement vehicle you want. We will hold the manufacturer accountable and fight for you.

Affording an attorney is one thing you won’t need to worry about as you deal with your GMC lemon law buyback. Since most state laws require the manufacturer to pay the consumer’s legal fees when they win their case, you won’t be responsible for that. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also includes this provision.

Allen Stewart, P.C. can help you get a refund for your defective GM car or truck, or a replacement vehicle. Thanks to federal law, our clients pay nothing out of pocket, so contact us now (866-440-2460) for your free consultation or contact us online.