GM’s appeal successful in 8-speed transmission class-action lawsuit

A recent decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has ruled in favor of General Motors, overturning a lower court ruling that allowed an 8-speed transmission class-action lawsuit to move forward. The 9-7 vote decision highlighted the significant differences among vehicle owners involved in the litigation, leading to the conclusion that individual lawsuits would be more appropriate than a collective action.

The lawsuit, which included 26 statewide subclasses and 59 state law claims, revolved around 800,000 Chevrolet or GMC trucks and SUVs manufactured between 2015 and 2019 and equipped with the 8L45 or 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmissions. Owners of these vehicles have alleged that the transmissions have been experiencing various issues, such as shuddering and shaking in high gears, as well as hesitating and lurching in lower gears, even after attempted repairs. They claim that GM was aware of these problems before selling the vehicles.

While the recent ruling means that owners will now have to pursue legal action individually, there is still a possibility for smaller groups of owners to seek certification for a class-action lawsuit. The case has been sent back to U.S. District Judge David Lawson in Detroit for further review, potentially leading to the certification of smaller subclasses. The case, referred to as Speerly et al v. General Motors LLC, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 23-1940, remains ongoing.

Vehicles affected by the 8-speed transmission issue include models such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Colorado, Corvette, and Camaro, as well as Cadillac Escalade, ATS, CTS, and GMC Sierra, among others. Despite attempts to address the transmission issues through 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs), owners have reported persistent problems without a satisfactory resolution.

The GM 8-speed automatic transmission has been a significant challenge for the company, resulting in numerous complaints, recalls, and service bulletins to address the issues. In response to these challenges, GM has redesigned the transmission entirely and introduced a new 10-speed transmission to move past the problems associated with the earlier models.

In conclusion, the recent appellate decision in the 8-speed transmission class-action lawsuit represents a setback for vehicle owners seeking collective legal action against General Motors. As individual lawsuits become the preferred course of action, the ongoing litigation continues to highlight the challenges faced by owners of affected vehicles and the efforts made by GM to address the transmission issues.