Chevrolets, GMCs with Defective Gen IV Vortec Engine Alabama Class Action

General Motors, LLC offered the Generation IV 5.3 Liter V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engine as an option in certain 2011-2014 model year Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. This class action alleges that the engine was defective and “engineered to fail.” The engine consumers far too much oil, the complaint alleges, a condition that results in “low oil levels, insufficient lubricity levels, and corresponding internal engine component damage.”

The class for this action is all current and former owners and lessees of a class vehicle that they bought or leased in Alabama. The class vehicles include the 2011-2014 years of the following vehicles equipped with the Generation IV Vortec 5300 engine:

• Chevrolet Avalanche
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Chevrolet Suburban
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• GMC Sierra
• GMC Yukon
• GMC Yukon XL

  According to the complaint, the main cause of engine defect “is that the piston rings … fail to keep oil in the crankcase.”

The Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, which changes the engine from eight- to four-cylinder operation for light use, also adds to the problem. It has an oil pressure relief valve that creates an oil spray at the piston skirts that overloads the piston rings and lets the oil move past them.

The complaint describes the progress of the problem: “The migrating oil either burns or accumulates as carbon buildup on the combustion chamber’s surfaces. Separately, when in four-cylinder mode, the lack of combustion in the four inactive cylinders invites excessive oil migration into the combustion chambers. Combustion controls upward oil migration by providing an opposing force and by assisting piston ring sealing, and when it’s absent the oil consumption accelerates.”

As another part of the excessive oil consumption problem, the complaint cites “a flawed PVC system that vacuums atomized oil from the valvetrain into the intake system, where it is ultimately burned in the combustion chambers.”

Additionally, the complaint calls the Oil Life Monitoring System defective as well, because it does not monitor the actual level of the oil; instead, it looks at engine conditions, like revolutions and temperature, calculates the probable deterioration of the oil, and recommends a time for oil change based on that. It allows driver to drive far past the point at which more oil is needed, “wearing out and damaging moving internal engine components…”

The complaint alleges that neither the oil pressure gauge nor the illuminating oil can symbol indicates when the vehicle actually needs oil.

The excessive oil consumption also dirties the spark plugs, so that they product a weak spark, or no spark, which can cause engine misfiring and may lead to engine shutdowns. Finally, the lack of oil can damage engine components, which may lead to engine seizure.

The complaint alleges that GM knew about the problems with the engine early on but kept selling the vehicles without warning potential purchasers. GM has never informed vehicle owners of the problem, the complaint contends, simply allowing them to drive the vehicles and take their chances with the defective engines.

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Automobile
Tags: Defective Automobile, Engine, Oil Use or Consumption