General Motors is back in the spotlight, and once again it’s due to problems with its vehicles. A class action lawsuit accuses the company of having sold vehicles with a defect that causes the engine to suddenly lose power while driving. Yesss, even at high speeds.
The culprit, according to the complaint, is the V8 L87 engine, installed in a good number of Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac models between 2019 and 2024. And the worst part is not just the defect itself, but that the manufacturer allegedly already knew about the problem since 2022… and didn’t warn anyone.
What happened?
Apparently, it all comes down to the V8 L87 engine, which has been used in some of GM’s best-selling models over the last five years. According to the lawsuit, this engine can fail without warning, causing anything from a loss of power to a complete engine seizure, regardless of the speed at which the vehicle is moving. Of course, it’s a very serious issue that could lead to accidents if it happens while on the road.
A very dangerous failure
The lawsuit focuses on the engine bearings. Apparently, they can suddenly fail, and that is what can cause the engine to lock up… or for an internal part to shoot out from within.
Translated into real life: you’re driving like any other day and, out of nowhere, the car loses power, or the engine completely breaks down while you’re in motion. It doesn’t take much imagination to see the risk this implies.
There is already another investigation underway
The NHTSA was already on the case even before the lawsuit was filed. In January, they opened an investigation after receiving several reports from drivers who reported exactly that: sudden loss of power.
What does GM say?
So far, silence. GM has not given specific statements about this lawsuit, but the plaintiff claims that GM already knew about this defect but did not disclose the information.
The only thing they have recently acknowledged is a different issue: a recall of more than 90,000 Cadillac and Chevrolet vehicles due to a transmission failure that can lock the front wheels.
In other words: it’s not a good time to talk about reliability at General Motors.
What is the plaintiff asking for?
The person who took the first legal step is James Powell II. But he’s not doing it alone: his lawsuit seeks to represent all owners or lessees of affected vehicles across the country. And he is asking for:
- Free repair of the defect.
- Financial compensation.
- Acknowledgement of a violation of consumer protection laws, such as in Illinois.
How to know if your car is at risk?
If you drive a Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac manufactured between 2019 and 2024 with a V8 L87 engine, this concerns you. The recommended steps:
- Check your vehicle’s VIN number on the NHTSA website or directly with your dealership.
- Listen for strange metallic noises, vibrations, or any loss of power.
- If you notice anything unusual, avoid driving at high speeds until it is inspected.
And if something already happened to you?
If your car already showed any of these defects, you can join the class action lawsuit. You can also file a formal complaint with the NHTSA. The more cases that are documented, the more pressure there will be on GM to act (and the more chances to receive compensation).