Lawsuit Alleging Oil Consumption in General Motors Engines Dismissed by Colorado Judge

A Colorado judge recently dismissed a class action lawsuit claiming excessive oil consumption in General Motors’ Generation IV 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 gasoline engine, according to GM Authority.

Plaintiff Roy White had claimed that defective piston rings in the Vortec V8 engine of his 2011 GMC Sierra truck were leading to it consuming an excessive amount of oil and damaging the engine.

The lawsuit covers 2011 through 2014 model year Chevy Avalanches, Chevy Silverados, Chevy Suburbans, Chevy Tahoes, GMC Sierras, GMC Yukons, and GMC Yukon XLs.

Initially, GM argued that the case should be dismissed due to a three-year statute of limitations in Colorado law, but this was rejected by Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney.

“There is a genuine fact dispute over whether GM fraudulently concealed the alleged Oil Consumption Defect,” said Sweeney.

GM followed with another argument for dismissal—this time, on grounds that expert testimony was needed due to jurors not being familiar with the technical issues the case entails. Sweeney agreed with this stance, and moved to dismiss the case.

This lawsuit is the most recent of several GM has faced that are alleging excessive oil consumption from its vehicles. One lawsuit in Ohio also involved alleged oil consumption in GM’s Vortec engines, and just this past summer, GM reached a settlement related to oil consumption in its 2.4-liter Ecotec engines.