Up to $6,700 could be waiting for you if you’re one of those General Motors owners affected by the defective fuel pump. The American parent company has signed a preliminary $50 million settlement agreeing to compensate drivers of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models with Duramax engines manufactured between 2011 and 2016.
After years of class action litigation, the judge has determined that General Motors was fully aware it was selling vehicles with components incompatible with the diesel sold at gas stations in at least seven U.S. states, causing costly failures that vehicle owners had to pay for. Here’s everything that’s happened in this class action and how to proceed if you’re involved.
What happened?
A class action lawsuit is about to be settled, with approximately $6,000 for each affected user, after it was discovered that the diesel pump included in these vehicles was not compatible with the diesel sold in certain regions: California, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The pump used in these vehicles was the CP4, and it wasn’t compatible with the diesel distributed in those regions. This incompatibility caused metal debris to accumulate in the engine, leading to internal failures and eventually rendering the engine unusable, forcing many owners to pay for repairs.
Which vehicles are affected?
Primarily Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models with Duramax LML and LGH engines manufactured between 2011 and 2016.
What does the class action say?
The judge states that General Motors knew this issue could occur since the vehicles were in production but still sold them, forcing drivers to spend thousands of dollars on repairs.
The same court ruling is what obliges General Motors to pay $50 million to reimburse and compensate the affected owners.
How much can drivers receive?
The amount each person can receive will mainly depend on the documented expenses they had to pay for fixing their vehicles and how many people join the lawsuit. On average, each user is expected to receive around $6,300.
Additionally, the settlement includes not just money but also a 12-month extended warranty for affected users (in case more fuel pump issues arise).
What do I need to do to receive this money?
First, confirm that your vehicle meets the requirements to be part of this class action. If you’re unsure, you can verify it using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the website linked here.
If you qualify, gather all the documentation you can to prove you had to make repairs due to fuel pump issues.
What is a class action lawsuit?
A class action is a legal process that allows several people to complain about the same common issue. It’s done this way because, individually, they don’t have much power, but together, they do.
In this case, the vehicle owners are represented as the “affected group” against General Motors.
Almost as a general rule, especially with big companies, they agree to million-dollar settlements to avoid lengthy trials that could end up costing even more money. But that doesn’t mean the companies admit legal guilt. As in the case of General Motors, they haven’t accepted that the production error was their fault, they’ve only agreed to compensate buyers to maintain their reputation for reliability around the world.
Why won’t General Motors accept responsibility?
Very simple: they need to maintain a reputation for reliability that allows them to continue their legacy in the automotive world. If they admitted they knowingly produced defective vehicles, it could seriously hurt their sales, and no company wants that. That’s why they’re agreeing to pay, but not to take the blame. Still, it’s better than nothing.
What now?
The final hearing doesn’t yet have a date, but drivers should stay alert to send the necessary documentation and learn the next steps.
Time to get organized and check our vehicles, maybe $6,000 and a repair are waiting for us.