GM Class Action Lawsuit, $175M LC9 Engine Settlement Payments Began December 2025—Shift To Park & 10-Speed Transmission Cases Active
General Motors faces multiple class action lawsuits over alleged defects, with the largest being a $175 million engine defect settlement that began distributing payments in December 2025 and January 2026 to owners of 2011-2014 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs with defective LC9 engines. Additional active GM lawsuits include a “Shift to Park” settlement offering $500 payments, a decertified 10-speed transmission case, ongoing V8 lifter litigation, and an OnStar data privacy lawsuit progressing through discovery.
What GM Allegedly Did Wrong With Engine and Transmission Defects
The largest GM settlement involves allegations that GM knowingly sold 2011-2014 vehicles equipped with defective Generation IV 5.3L V8 LC9 engines. These engines suffered from premature piston ring failure that led to excessive oil consumption, engine damage, and costly repairs. Product liability—legal responsibility for manufacturing and selling defective products that cause consumer harm—forms the foundation of claims when automakers allegedly knew about problems but continued selling vehicles without disclosure or adequate remedies.
According to the complaint in Siqueiros v. General Motors LLC, the defective piston assembly causes excessive engine wear in every class vehicle. GM’s own internal documents and engineer testimony allegedly showed the company was aware of the defect as early as 2010 but continued selling the affected vehicles. A federal jury in the Northern District of California returned a $102.6 million verdict in 2022, which GM later settled for $175 million in October 2025—a 22% increase over the jury award.
The separate Shift to Park lawsuit alleged certain 2017-2019 GMC Acadia, 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, 2016-2019 Chevrolet Malibu, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt vehicles contain defective shifters that cause the vehicles to not recognize when they are placed in park, display a “Shift to Park” message, and prevent vehicles from shutting off properly.
Which GM Vehicles and Model Years Are Covered
The $175 million LC9 engine settlement covers 2011-2014 Chevrolet Avalanches, 2011-2014 Chevrolet Silverados, 2011-2014 Chevrolet Suburbans, 2011-2014 Chevrolet Tahoes, 2011-2014 GMC Sierras, 2011-2014 GMC Yukons, and 2011-2014 GMC Yukon XLs with LC9 engines manufactured on or after February 10, 2011. The settlement is limited to vehicle owners in California, Idaho, and North Carolina—a significant restriction from the originally nationwide class.
Any vehicle that already received adequate piston replacement (upgraded piston rings) under warranty at no cost is excluded. Anyone who previously requested exclusion from the class after the May 23, 2022 notice is not part of the settlement and cannot receive compensation.
The Shift to Park settlement covers qualifying class members who own or owned 2017-2019 GMC Acadia, 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, 2016-2019 Chevrolet Malibu, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, or 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt vehicles and experienced the Shift to Park issue during their vehicle’s warranty period. The deadline for exclusion and objection was July 21, 2025.
Settlement Payments and Compensation Available
Distribution of settlement payments for the LC9 engine lawsuit to eligible class members who submitted valid W-9 tax forms began on December 23, 2025. Distribution to eligible class members who did not submit valid W-9 forms began on January 9, 2026. Allow up to 14 days for delivery of paper checks.
Average payments exceed $3,300 per vehicle according to law firm announcements. The settlement delivers prompt, direct payments to more than 40,000 vehicle owners across California, Idaho, and North Carolina. Individual compensation varies based on documented repair expenses, out-of-pocket costs, and diminished vehicle value claims submitted during the claims period.
The Shift to Park settlement provides $500 cash payment plus up to $375 in reimbursement for qualifying out-of-pocket repair expenses. Class members who experienced the Shift to Park defect and sought repair from a GM dealership during warranty qualify for these benefits.
Current Status of Active GM Litigation
The LC9 engine settlement received final court approval and is now distributing payments. The case is Siqueiros et al. v. General Motors, LLC, Case No. 3:16-cv-07244-EMC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, overseen by Judge Edward M. Chen.
The Shift to Park settlement website (https://stplawsuit.com/) provides claim forms and class member information. The final approval hearing was scheduled for August 2025.
GM’s 10-speed transmission litigation faces significant setbacks. In June 2025, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed class certification, ruling that differences among owners and claims were too great to maintain a single class. The case was remanded to district court, leaving open the possibility for smaller subclasses or individual claims. This affects owners who experienced transmission shuddering, jerking, slipping, and outright failure in vehicles equipped with 10-speed transmissions.
A separate GM V8 engine lifters lawsuit aims for class action certification. The motion for class certification was initially set for December 1, 2025, but has been extended into 2026. This lawsuit involves newer 6.2L L87 “EcoTec3” V8 engines experiencing lifter and cam failures, with repair costs reaching $3,500 or more.
The GM OnStar data privacy lawsuit progresses with fact discovery anticipated to continue into late 2026. A master consolidated class action complaint was submitted December 13, 2024. GM OnStar lawsuits allege the company collected and sold driving data to third parties without customer consent from vehicles equipped with OnStar Smart Driver technology.
What You Must Know About GM Settlements and Litigation
Whether You Can Still Claim If You Missed the Deadline
For the LC9 engine settlement, the claim deadline was April 12, 2021—well before the final settlement approval. If you did not file a claim during the open claims period, you cannot receive payment even though distributions are occurring now in late 2025 and early 2026. The payments being distributed are to claimants who filed valid claims years ago and have been waiting through appeals and final approval processes.
For the Shift to Park settlement, check the official settlement website at https://stplawsuit.com/ for current claim deadlines and procedures. Settlement terms typically require claim submission within specific timeframes after preliminary approval.
How Consumer Protection Laws Apply to GM Defect Cases
GM settlements invoke multiple legal theories. The LC9 engine case alleged breach of express and implied warranty—GM’s promises about vehicle quality and durability were allegedly false or inadequate given the known piston defect. Violation of state consumer fraud acts prohibits deceptive business practices and requires disclosure of known defects.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act—federal law requiring manufacturers to honor warranties and provide adequate remedies for defects—applies to many automotive defect cases. Class action certification under Federal Rule 23 requires demonstrating common questions of law or fact predominate over individual issues, which explains why the 10-speed transmission certification was reversed due to differences among claims.
What to Do Next If You Own an Affected GM Vehicle
How to Verify Your Vehicle’s Involvement in Lawsuits
For related automotive defect litigation patterns, see the BMW transfer case class action $13,000 defect lawsuit claims xDrive models jerk and shudder company knew since 2020 and the Subaru class action lawsuit 2025 EyeSight settlement gets final approval payments expected May 2026, which demonstrate similar manufacturer knowledge and delayed disclosure patterns.
Check your Vehicle Identification Number against settlement websites. For ongoing litigation like the V8 lifter lawsuit or OnStar data privacy case, contact class action law firms handling the cases to register interest or join potential future settlements.
Where to Find Official Resources and File Complaints
GM Engine Litigation website: https://www.gmenginelitigation.com/ provides information about the LC9 settlement and claim status. Email questions to [email protected].
Shift to Park lawsuit website: https://stplawsuit.com/ contains settlement details and claim forms.
GM Fuel Pump litigation: https://www.gmfuelpumplitigation.com/ tracks ongoing fuel pump defect claims.
NHTSA recall database: www.nhtsa.gov allows you to search recalls by VIN and file safety complaints. Consumer complaints help regulators decide whether to open formal investigations or order recalls. Report transmission shuddering, engine failures, or other defects to create documentation patterns.
State attorneys general consumer protection divisions handle complaints about automotive defects and manufacturer practices. Many states maintain online complaint portals for residents experiencing product defects.
Frequently Asked Questions About GM Class Action Lawsuits
Which GM Vehicles Are Included in Current Class Action Lawsuits?
The finalized LC9 engine settlement covers 2011-2014 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs (Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban, Avalanche) in California, Idaho, and North Carolina only. The Shift to Park settlement covers 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt, Malibu, Traverse, Blazer, and GMC Acadia models. Active litigation involves newer V8 engines, 10-speed transmissions, and OnStar-equipped vehicles.
What Defects Are GM Lawsuits About?
Defects include LC9 engine piston ring failures causing excessive oil consumption and engine damage, Shift to Park recognition failures preventing proper shutdown, 10-speed transmission shuddering and slipping, V8 lifter and camshaft failures in newer EcoTec3 engines, and OnStar data collection without consent.
How Much Money Will I Get From GM Settlements?
The LC9 engine settlement averages over $3,300 per vehicle for California, Idaho, and North Carolina owners who filed timely claims. The Shift to Park settlement provides $500 cash plus up to $375 reimbursement for qualifying repairs. Active litigation amounts remain uncertain until settlements are negotiated.
Can I Still Join GM Class Action Lawsuits?
The LC9 engine and Shift to Park settlements have closed claim periods. For ongoing litigation like the V8 lifter lawsuit, OnStar data privacy case, or individual 10-speed transmission claims, contact class action attorneys handling those specific cases to determine eligibility and registration procedures.
What Documents Do I Need to File GM Defect Claims?
Typical requirements include vehicle identification number proving ownership of covered models, repair invoices from GM dealerships or independent mechanics showing defect-related work, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses like towing or rental cars, and documentation of engine failures or transmission problems. W-9 tax forms are required for payment processing in many settlements.
What Is the Deadline to Join GM Lawsuits?
Deadlines vary by settlement. The LC9 engine claim deadline was April 12, 2021. Shift to Park exclusion and objection deadline was July 21, 2025. For active litigation, statute of limitations typically ranges from 2-4 years from defect discovery depending on state law. Contact settlement administrators or class counsel for specific deadlines.
Can I Still Claim If I Sold My GM Vehicle?
Former owners who owned eligible vehicles during specified periods may qualify for certain settlement benefits if they filed timely claims. The LC9 settlement required ownership during the class period and valid claim submission. Future settlements may have different ownership requirements.
Last Updated: January 16, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about GM class action lawsuits and settlements and is not legal advice. For specific questions about your vehicle or claim eligibility, contact the settlement administrator or consult with a qualified attorney.
Take Action: If you own a 2011-2014 GM truck or SUV with an LC9 engine in California, Idaho, or North Carolina and filed a claim before April 2021, watch for your payment in late 2025 or early 2026. For vehicles affected by other defects, check official settlement websites, file NHTSA complaints, and contact class action attorneys handling active litigation.
Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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