The popular company General Motors is the center of a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. Two people stated the company sold vehicles with a serious issue on the brakes that could cause a total or partial loss of the cars’ ability to stop. This class action lawsuit was filed on October 2 in a federal court in the state of Pennsylvania, and pleads that General Motors broke state and federal consumer protection laws by selling unsafe vehicles. So, let’s learn more about this case.
General Motors affected models
According to the lawsuit, the vehicles with the brakes issue are 2025 models and onward:
- Chevrolet Traverse
- GMC Acadia
- Buick Enclave
- Chevrolet Colorado
- GMC Canyon
The plaintiffs stated that these vehicles have a defect on an essential piece called master brake cylinder assemblies. This part is in charge of generating pressure to allow the brakes to properly function. When this piece fails, the driver can lose control over the brake system without any warning and lead to a dangerous risk for road safety.
What happens when the failure starts?
The owners of the affected vehicles who suffered this issue explain that, suddenly, some warning lights started to flash on the dashboard:
- A red light with the word ‘Brake’.
- The ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) warning light.
- A message reading “Service Brake System”.
When this happens, the brake pedal is stiff and difficult to press, which complicates the use of the brakes in a normal way. Some drivers reported they had to react immediately and improvise by doing things like turning the car off and restarting it or pumping the brake pedal repeatedly, just to try the brakes worked again.
Against General Motors
The plaintiffs, Eric Barron and Chelsey Thompson, confirmed General Motors knew about this issue before selling the vehicles. According to the lawsuit:
- GM did not repair the defect under its New Vehicle Limited Warranty within a reasonable time.
- The company did not issue a safety recall to alert owners about the brake issue.
- GM was aware of the problem because earlier models had the same issue.
- The company learned about the defect from pre-sale testing, consumer complaints, and reports from dealerships.
Despite this information, the company kept selling vehicles without warning customers about the possible risk. Unbelievable, right?
The goal of the class action lawsuit
The plaintiffs want to represent all the people who bought or rented affected models in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. Among the charges against General Motors we can find:
- Fraudulent concealment — hiding the defect from customers.
- Breach of warranty — failing to repair or replace the defective parts.
- Violations of state consumer protection and lemon laws — laws that protect buyers from faulty cars.
- Unjust enrichment — making money from selling defective vehicles.
The affected owners of the cars who filed the lawsuit want the court to officially certify the case as a class action, and they also ask for: economic compensations for the affected customers, legal fees, costs, and a jury trial.
More lawsuits against General Motors?
This case is not the only legal issue the company is facing because General Motors is already dealing with another lawsuit, in which the company is accused of selling vehicles with a defect on their engine. In this lawsuit, the car owners stated General Motors didn’t offer them any proper or lasting repairs, even though the vehicles were under warranty.
These repeated allegations could seriously affect the company’s image and consumer trust.
So…
The class action lawsuit against General Motors could have a major impact on the company’s reputation, as it involves several of its most popular 2025 models. Drivers of Chevrolet, GMC, and Buick vehicles should pay attention to any possible safety recalls or updates from GM.
For now, the case is still moving through federal court, and thousands of car owners are waiting for answers about a defect that affects something critical — the ability to stop safely.