A federal lawsuit was filed against General Motors on Wednesday, with plaintiffs alleging that the company sold Chevrolet and GMC vehicles from 2011 to 2016 that failed to operate correctly on American diesel fuel, despite promises to the contrary. The plaintiffs claim that the engines in these vehicles could fail prematurely, leading to substantial repair costs for owners. They further assert that this situation endangers "hundreds of thousands" of customers who purchased trucks equipped with the 6.6-liter Duramax engine during that period.
According to a report by The Detroit News, the lawsuit points to a mechanical failure that allows metal shrapnel to invade the engine through a high-pressure fuel pump manufactured by Bosch. The lawsuit argues that because American diesel fuel is thinner than its European counterpart and lacks sufficient lubricants, air pockets are created in the fuel pump, leading to harmful metal-on-metal contact. This results in metal shavings reaching the combustion chamber, thereby causing the Duramax engine to fail well ahead of its expected lifespan, often in catastrophic ways.
The case includes testimonials from Chevrolet and GMC pickup drivers who have experienced serious problems attributed to the alleged defect. One driver of a 2012 GMC Sierra 3500HD recounted a troubling incident in a 2014 complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: “Just two miles after leaving the GM dealer, a message appeared saying to change the fuel filter, and then the engine died. It was towed to a dealer and diagnosed with a high-pressure injector pump failure, leading to metal contamination in the fuel system. I discovered a bulletin from 2009 concerning fuel used in the U.S., which might have helped me avoid this costly repair. I rely on my truck for work."
The lawsuit encompasses the following models:
- 2011–2016 2500HD Silverado 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LML engines
- 2011–2016 3500HD Silverado 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LML engines
- 2011–2016 2500HD Sierra 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LML engines
- 2011–2016 3500HD Sierra 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LML engines
- 2010–2011 Chevrolet Express vans with Duramax LGH engines
- 2010–2011 GMC Savana vans with Duramax LGH engines
- 2010–2011 GMC Sierra trucks with RPO ZW9 (chassis cabs or trucks with pickup box deleted) with Duramax LGH engines
- 2011–2012 Chevrolet 2500HD Silverado 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LGH engines
- 2011–2012 Chevrolet 3500HD Silverado 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LGH engines
- 2011–2012 Chevrolet 2500HD Sierra 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LGH engines
- 2011–2012 Chevrolet 3500HD Sierra 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel trucks with LGH engines.
Currently, eight plaintiffs represent specific instances of engine failure, although the lawsuit suggests that many others may be affected as well.
The plaintiffs further indicate that GM sought Bosch’s assistance— a company that has faced scrutiny in other scandals, like the Volkswagen Dieselgate incident—to enhance its engines’ efficiency, aiming to compete more effectively with rivals Fiat Chrysler and Ford.
“From the beginning, GM was competing with other major auto manufacturers such as Ford and Fiat Chrysler, each striving to capture the expanding American diesel vehicle market,” the lawsuit states. “GM looked to Europe and the expertise of Bosch to enhance the fuel efficiency and performance of its diesel engines.”
General Motors now finds itself among several automakers facing scrutiny over diesel engines in America. Recently, Fiat Chrysler came under fire for using emissions "defeat devices," leading to a $650 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and vehicle owners. Bosch, which provided the diesel emissions system, was also ordered to pay $27.5 million.
When asked for a comment by The Drive, GM stated that it “does not believe the lawsuit has merit.”
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