The complaint for this class action alleges that certain Chevy and GMC vehicles are “engineered to fail.” The issue, it says, is the Generation IV 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 LC9, which consumes excessive amounts of oil. The problem can lead to engine damage, seizure, and stalling.
The Nationwide Class for this action is all current and former owners and lessees of a Class Vehicle bought or leased in the US. A Florida class has also been defined for those whose Class Vehicles were purchased or leased in Florida. The Class Vehicles are the following, for the 2011-2014 model years, equipped with the Gen IV Vortec 5300 engine:
- Chevrolet Avalanche
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
GM began investigating the problem in 2008, the complaint says, “and concluded the piston rings were prematurely failing and causing excessive oil consumption and internal engine wear.” The piston rings failed to keep the oil in the crankcase. This is the primary cause, but the complaint says a number of factors exacerbate the problem.
One is the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system that changes the engines from eight-cylinder to a four-cylinder operation for light duty. The complaint claims the AFM has “an oil pressure relie[f] valve that sprays oil directly at the piston skirts. This oil spray overloads and foul the defective piston rings, triggering oil migration past the rings. This migrating oil either burns or accumulates as carbon buildup on the combustion chamber’s surfaces.”
The fact that four of the cylinders are not operating also contributes, the complaint says: “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.”
Next, the complaint points to “a flawed PVC system that vacuums atomized oil from the valvetrain into the intake system…”
Then there’s the Oil Life Monitoring System, which unfortunately doesn’t monitor actual oil levels. Instead, the complaint says, “it monitors engine conditions, such as revolutions and temperature, to calculate the expected deterioration in oil quality and thus the time for a recommended oil change.” The complaint alleges it allows drivers to travel too far with inadequate lubricity, wearing out and damaging engine components.
Oil also migrates to foul the spark plugs, which can lead to potential engine misfires and shutdowns.
All these problems, the complaint says, can “damage critical engine components and cause drivability problems” that can place those riding in the vehicle “at an increased risk of injury or death.”
The complaint alleges that over the years GM has only offered “stop-gap fixes” that do not provide a full remedy for the defect. It claims that GM has offered Technical Service Bulletins acknowledging the defect to dealers while providing no information to owners and lessees.
GM offered a redesigned Generation V Vortec 5300 engine in 2015 vehicles, but nothing has been done for the customers who are stuck with the Gen IV engine.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
GM Gen IV Vortec 5300 Engines Use Too Much Oil Complaint
February 22, 2021
The complaint for this class action alleges that certain Chevy and GMC vehicles are “engineered to fail.” The issue, it says, is the Generation IV 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 LC9, which consumes excessive amounts of oil. The problem can lead to engine damage, seizure, and stalling.
GM Gen IV Vortec 5300 Engines Use Too Much Oil ComplaintCase Event History
GM Gen IV Vortec 5300 Engines Use Too Much Oil Complaint
February 22, 2021
The complaint for this class action alleges that certain Chevy and GMC vehicles are “engineered to fail.” The issue, it says, is the Generation IV 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 LC9, which consumes excessive amounts of oil. The problem can lead to engine damage, seizure, and stalling.
GM Gen IV Vortec 5300 Engines Use Too Much Oil Complaint