This week, a California federal jury ordered General Motors (GM) to pay over $102.6 million to three different classes of GM vehicle owners. Plaintiffs of a suit filed in 2016 accuse the Michigan-based automaker of knowingly selling vehicles with serious engine defects.
GM drivers say that the manufacturer hid a glaring engine defect that causes excessive oil consumption in certain GM vehicle models. The fault mainly lies in the automaker’s Vortex 5.3-liter V8 engine, which has been installed in thousands of GM trucks and SUVs.
The suit alleges that GM was aware of a defect in the piston rings of affected vehicles that could result in irregular oil consumption. Excessive oil consumption is a serious issue that can result in stalling, internal engine damage, or premature engine breakdowns in these vehicles.