Own a Buick, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle that has displayed a low oil warning during cold temperatures? Have you lost engine oil or had to replace your PCV system or rear engine seal?
A dangerous defect causes rear engine seals to fail in affected GM vehicles, leading to costly repair bills and risk of complete engine failure. You may be entitled to reimbursement. Find out your rights »
WHAT"S THE ISSUE?
In colder temperatures, the PCV system is at risk of freezing, building pressure in the vehicle’s crankcase. Attorneys believe the defect may be present in GM vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine, including the following models. If you own an affected vehicle listed below, please fill out the form for email updates about the case.
WHAT GM VEHICLES AND MODEL YEARS ARE AFFECTED?
- Buick Lacrosse, including Hybrid and eAssist, 2010-2016
- Buick Regal, 2011-2017
- Buick Verano, 2012-2017
- Chevrolet Captiva, 2010-2015
- Chevy Equinox, 2010-2017
- Chevrolet Malibu, including ECO, Hybrid and eAssist, 2013-2014
- GMC Terrain, 2010-2017
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY GM HAS THE PCV SYSTEM FREEZE DEFECT?
According to the firm’s research, the PCV system freeze defect can lead to a range of consequences for vehicle owners, from a seal replacement that may cost over a thousand dollars, to complete engine failure costing several thousands of dollars. Many vehicle owners complain of no warning before the seal fails, leaving them stranded in freezing temperatures and putting them at risk for injury or death.
WHAT GM OWNERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE DEFECT
Owners of affected GM vehicles have taken to online forums and NHTSA (the National Highway Transit Safety Administration) to report complaints pertaining to this dangerous defect:
- “2016 GMC Terrain just blew a rear main seal. Weather is cold 20-30 degrees. 76,000 miles….help!”
- “…those good folks might be dangerously stranded on the side of a road.... they might be late for work, or late for school, and those good folks with be screwed with a more than $2000 bill to fix their GM SUV…”
- “Recently on a below zero night, roughly 70 miles from home, my Equinox completely stalled on the highway - stabilitrac warning, low engine power warning, tried to make it to the nearest town in limp mode and the engine shut down in the middle of nowhere. Found out I had a main seal failure caused by the PCV valve failure…”
- “While driving, the warnings ‘oil pressure low stop engine’ and ‘engine power low stop engine’ suddenly appeared. I turned the vehicle off immediately and had it towed to a mechanic who found that the PCV orifice was clogged and built up pressure in the engine blowing out the rear main seal and drained the engine of all its oil.”
- “I was driving down the highway and I heard a knocking and, before I could do anything, my display said I had low oil pressure and to turn the engine off. The engine cut off just as I got to the shoulder of the road. Needless to say, there was oil everywhere on the engine and the engine was seized. My car is toast.”
GENERAL MOTORS PCV SYSTEM DEFECT EXPLAINED
According to the firm’s research, the defect occurs in cold weather when the vehicle’s PCV system freezes, causing pressure to build up in the vehicle’s crankcase that breaks or pops out the rear main engine seal. This can drain all oil from the vehicle and even cause total engine failure.
WHAT DID GM KNOW?
According to research, GM has known since at least 1985 of the PCV system’s vulnerability to cold weather and clogging, as it has repeatedly advised dealers (but not customers) on how to attempt to address the problem. Despite this track record, GM continues to conceal this defect from consumers at the point of sale, and continues to design, manufacture, distribute and sell hundreds of thousands of vehicles prone to this defect.
HOW CAN A CLASS ACTION HELP?
The class-action lawsuit seeks repayment for vehicle owners and lessees for related losses, including loss of vehicle value due to the defect. Class members may have other claims to repayment as well under the law. The lawsuit also seeks to create a fund paid for by GM to compensate those affected for out-of-pocket costs incurred when trying to fix the effects of the PCV freezing defect.
TOP AUTO LITIGATION FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful auto litigation law firms in the U.S. and is presently leading nationwide cases against major automakers for emissions-cheating, safety defects and negligence, and your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in automotive consumer law.
NO COST TO YOU
There is no cost or fee whatsoever involved in joining this case. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the class’s legal team. In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum.
