General Motors remains neck-and-neck with Ford in the battle for truck sales supremacy. Depending on how you count (GMC and Chevy half-ton trucks, HD trucks, midsize trucks, all of them combined?), GM could have a claim to be top-selling truck manufacturer in the world. Unfortunately, selling hundreds of thousands of units a year puts pressure on GM to cut corners and costs, meaning some truck buyers find themselves with vehicles so defective they simply cannot be fixed. These Chevrolet or GMC trucks could qualify as lemons.
Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys is a Southern California-based law firm that focused exclusively on helping car and truck buyers who were stuck with lemons. Our attorneys know how to use California’s lemon law to help you get the compensation you deserve if you bought a Chevrolet or GMC truck that turned out to be a lemon. Call us at 866-761-2317 to speak with a lawyer in our Ventura office today.
Beware of GM Truck Engines with Cylinder Deactivation
At least four popular GM truck engines feature Active Fuel Management (AFM), also known as cylinder deactivation. This system shuts off half the cylinders under certain driving conditions to help save fuel. The system uses oil pressure to allow lifters to turn themselves off. Unfortunately, AFM is riddled with problems such as failing lifters, which then destroy the camshaft, crack the cylinder bore and eventually destroy the engine.
Affected engines include the Vortec 5.3L V8, Vortec MAX 6.0L V8, the regular 5.3 small block V8, and the 3.6L V6. To repair the AFM system, particularly on Vortec engines, the cylinder head must come off to remove the camshaft. This is essentially a total engine teardown and costs thousands of dollars.
These engines are found in some of the country’s most popular trucks, such as the Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra, Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL, and Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon. The 6.0 Vortec was also used in the Silverado/Sierra HD trucks prior to model year 2020. The 3.6L V6 has been used in the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado and many of GM’s other, smaller vehicles.
These vehicles could qualify as a lemon under California law, so if you are having engine problems that can’t seem to be fixed after multiple tries, don’t hesitate to contact our law firm.
8-Speed Transmissions, Aluminum Driveshafts and the “Chevy Shake”
Many Chevrolet and GMC trucks in model years 2015 and newer have what’s become known as the “Chevy Shake.” It is a violent shaking at speeds of 35mph and higher or under other conditions like coming to a stop or trying to accelerate on an incline. After several lawsuits, the cause was determined to be the faulty 8-speed transmission and aluminum driveshaft.
The affected transmissions are the 8L45 and 8L90 found in the following vehicles:
- 2015–2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra
- 2017–2019 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon
- 2015–2017 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali
- 2015–2019 Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL
The defective aluminum driveshaft is found in:
- 2014–2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra
- 2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL
- 2015–2020 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon
If your Chevrolet or GM truck has the shakes, it could be a lemon. Reach out to Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys to discuss your legal options.
Additional GM Truck Problems that Could Lead to Lemon Law Claims
Gm trucks suffer from various other recurring issues that, if they cannot be properly repaired, could render your truck a lemon under California law:
- Vibrations: Drivetrain vibrations in 2013 and newer Chevy Silverados, GMC Sierras, Chevy Suburbans, GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs.
- Various electrical issues: Faulty modules, wiring relays and other electrical components afflict the Silverado/Sierra and the Canyon/Colorado.
- Other transmission issues: It’s not just the 8-speed discussed above that has issues. The newer 10-speed transmissions are often plagued with slippage and harsh shifts.
These are just a handful of the problems experienced by GM truck owners in recent years. If your Chevrolet or GMC truck has an issue that isn’t on the list but it can’t seem to be fixed, your truck could be a lemon and you could be entitled to legal remedies, such as cash or having the truck bought back by the manufacturer.
Think Your Chevy or GMC Truck Is a Lemon? Call Our Attorneys.
If your Chevrolet or GMC truck just can’t seem to be fixed properly, you could have a lemon on your hands. Call Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys to discuss the situation with an experienced attorney. The number for our Ventura office is 866-761-2317, or you can complete this this online form instead.
