General Motors was hit with a certified class action lawsuit earlier this year. The lawsuit was originally dismissed in 2017 before the plaintiffs amended their complaint, which now alleges that the Gen IV Vortec 5300 engines, used in 2010-2014 vehicles, have defects that cause excessive oil consumption and damage the entire engine.

Safety Concerns and Fraudulent Omissions

The Vortec 5300 engine is allegedly equipped with piston rings that “do not maintain sufficient tension to keep oil in the crankcase” which allows oil to “burn or accumulate as carbon buildup on the combustion chamber’s surfaces.”

Essentially, this means that the engine is built in such a way that uses oil quickly and requires the vehicle user to top off the oil reservoir in between recommended oil changes, resulting in low oil levels, lack of proper lubrication, and internal engine damage.

Excessive oil consumptions are not normal and can cause serious safety concerns when the engine is starved of oil and oil pressure is lost. Additionally, the oil buildup on the combustion chamber surfaces can damage the spark plugs and may cause the vehicle to break down.

The judge who approved the lawsuit said there is enough evidence to show that the defect is a safety concern and the company fraudulently omitted the defect, which is within the scope of implied warranty.

Who Is Eligible to File Suit

The class action certification only applies to General Motors customers in California, North Carolina, and Texas. It includes the following car models and years that were modified from the original lawsuit:

• 2011-2014 Chevrolet Avalanche
• 2011-2014 Chevrolet Silverado
• 2011-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2011-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2011-2014 GMC Sierra
• 2011-2014 GMC Yukon
• 2011-2014 GMC Yukon XL

Those with vehicles who have already received adequate piston replacements are excluded from the class action.

Speak With a Lemon Law Attorney for Free

If you believe your vehicle is one of the affected vehicles listed in this lawsuit, you should not hesitate to contact an attorney who can review your case for free and determine what your legal options are moving forward. While you may be eligible to take part in the class action lawsuit, it may be in your best interest to file a lemon law claim as a single affected customer.

At Norman Taylor & Associates, we understand that the legal processes can be confusing, especially if you have never gone through them before. Our head attorney, Norman Taylor, wrote the book on lemon law and can guide you through the process seamlessly from start to finish.

Contact Norman Taylor & Associates at (888) 449-7639 to learn more about your legal options.