General Motors responds to class action lawsuits on intake manifold gaskets

[usmchoss]

To All,
I own a 2006 Chevy Impala with the 3.9 V6 2 weeks ago my wife pulls the car out of the garage and tells me that the display reads "Engine Hot, No A/C". That day it was 3 above at our house. I took it in and they informed me that the Intake Manifold gaskets failed. I have been in the service industry (Heavy Trucks) for 17 years and know all too well of the "intake manifold gasket issue" with GM. When I bought this car for my wife I was told that GM had redesigned this engine and had taken care of this problem. I brought the car in 3 weeks ago with 40,000 miles on it. They 1st were going to charge me $1600.00 for the repairs! Long conversation later I got it covered. (very happy camper right?) Today I brought it back to the dealership for the same issue. Mind you they had the vehicle for a week. the 1st time the dealership told me this was the first time this had ever happened.....yeah right.

USMCHOSS

[BigC]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

Regardless, the people who supplied the gasket should've known better too, don't tell me it isn't their fault. I'm not saying that it isn't GM's fault, but the people who designed and made the gasket should know plastic doesn't mix. GM admits to it, but they should do something about it instead of letting their dealers deal with the costs. On my Grand Prix, I have the Optimum Warranty so I'm going to get them to replace it, even though they don't replace it if it ain't broke because I can't afford to go through all that trouble. Either that or have it in writing that they will fix it no-charge.

What you are saying isn't true. A supplier sometimes doesn't have anything to do with the development of a part that they make. My company has several molds from Toyota, GM and Ford that we did not create. My company was contracted to make parts. The molds were sent to us, the materials were specified by the customer(GM, Toyota, Ford). If that part ends up failing it would be the automakers fault.

That matters little anyway. When a customer buys a car from GM, they are buying a GM car. Not a Delphi car, or not a Bosch car. A GM car. So in the end it is GM's problem, it is there reputation at stake, and had they wanted to fix this problem with there supplier all they would have to do is ask, or find a different supplier it is that simple. This was GM's fault.

[GMCSonoma]

Way to ressurrect a very old thread!!!


I didn't think the 3900 intake had coolant in it???? We've never had one spring yet...I can't believe some shops being tight arsed with goodwilling a repair...however many out there would rather let a warranty job walk away hoping they'd be able to charge for a retail/customer pay job instead. Thankfully for my store...a sale is a sale...warranty or not.


IMO it should have been a recall...bad for GM...good for the dealer service department!!!

[chickenkicker]

The LT1s, especially the 97s, have a similar problem. They used a type of RTV sealant for the back of the intake manifold that didn't seal well and leaks oil either down the back of the block or into the intake. I know my car burns a lot of oil but leaks very little so I'm sure it has this problem.

[mrgto]

My Sisters '98 Malibu 3.4 or 3.1L had to have them replaced 3 times. The engine was maintained with Mobil 1 from new. It isn't a intake gasket issue, it is a design issue with the intake and the heads.

[GMCSonoma]

Originally Posted by mrgto

My Sisters '98 Malibu 3.4 or 3.1L had to have them replaced 3 times. The engine was maintained with Mobil 1 from new. It isn't a intake gasket issue, it is a design issue with the intake and the heads.

Most issues were with RTV failures...and most re-do's were because of the lack of "knowledge" whether @ a dealer or by an independent...

I know of some reseals that have gone over 100K miles untouched, some only 20K miles...

[Neanderthal]

Originally Posted by cfch3399

The original post refers to Canada. Where 60000km=36000miles.
If GM functions under the assumption that it's OK to build cars that suffer major engine damage shortly after 3 years, then they deserve to go broke. I think it's reasonable for a customer to expect engine and manifold gaskets to last longer than 3 years. Moreover, GM knew about this problem all along. They kept producing faulty parts regardless. This wasn't a rare problem, it was common.
Yes you are the sole owner, but it's not in GM's best interest to tell these people that it's their problem now. Since it was a known problem, GM should pay for repairs for 6 years, after that, split the costs with the customer. It's responsible when you as the manufacturer are at fault and it's also good customer service, which is important in a competitive market. You wouldn't take this nonsense with other products.

You saved me the trouble of writing everything you wrote. Thank you.

I really hope Ralph Nader joins in this suit. GM really doesn't get it. While they can keep merrily screwing customers, Nader remembers the 60s and he's not going away.

This is a common problem that GM chose to do nothing about. God knows how many former customers are now driving Tyooters and Honderz because their dealers told them too bad, so sad...

This is what happens when beancounters take over your organization. Not only do they have no design or engineering skills or understanding, they have no business skills and no customer service or common human decency skills either.

The wise business decision--and the considerate human decision--would have been to put in an immediate redesign, and a quick quiet recall.
They didn't, and the snowball rolls down the hill...

Chrysler did a similar negligence act with the 2.7 and its sludge issue. Then they sit around the board room scratching their asses--and adding up their multi-tens-of-millions parachutes and pensions--wondering why half their formerly loyal customers are across the street at the T&H dealers.

[telsacoil]

You know I was checking around because I heard of something being recalled recently from a friend. But I am also quite amazed about how many people are quick to defend GM. I own a 98 bonneville and have had to fix this stupid problem twice and the person before me once. One of the 2 times was after the recall. I want to know how people can defend a company that replaces an integral part of the engine that should be cast iron with plastic. Now I don't have a degree in metal engineering but from real life plastic is not as good as metal. Plus the cost to fix this is quite a bit.
I originally bought this car because previously I owned a park ave that got 300k miles before I was hit on the highway. But unlike my old park ave, this car has an american name and made in canada and mexico. Next time I'm buying an american made car, honda, toyota, nissan. GM knows the problems with leaking coolant and it is not in all engines. My friend just had to replace there manifold on an 3.1 since buying a new car is out of the question. Regular maintenance is not the key, spending extra money for GM dealership to do it also is not the key. The key is luck or maybe GM admitting they F**k up and fix the original problem.
To one person whose dad worked there for 40 years. Congrads but that will never happen again here, heck they don't want to pay the workers salaries they deserve. Unless you are the executives who do nothing except wreck other car companies they buy.

[Octane]

General Motors Dex-Cool Class Action Update



We are pleased to inform you that the California Superior Court for Alameda County has granted preliminary approval to the settlement we reached with General Motors in the Dex-Cool class action lawsuit. This settlement affects people who purchased or leased a “covered vehicle” anywhere in the United States other than Missouri. A separate settlement has been reached for those who purchased or leased their vehicle in Missouri, which will offer the same benefits but will be separately approved by a Missouri court.

You may be eligible to receive between $50 and $800 in cash reimbursement under the settlement if you have paid for a covered repair prior to May 30, 2008, provided you submit a claim by October 27, 2008. If you paid for multiple covered repairs, you may be eligible to receive multiple cash reimbursements provided you submit a separate claim for each repair. We will send out another email shortly with instructions on how to file a claim.



Below is a list of the covered vehicles and covered repairs, along with some answers to frequently asked questions. For further information about the settlement, please visit http://www.GirardGibbs.com. Please do not send any documents to Girard Gibbs, General Motors, or the Court.



We encourage you to tell us what you think of the settlement by responding to this email. Based in part on the feedback received from class members, the Court will decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement on August 29, 2008.



Girard Gibbs llp
601 California Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 981-4800
Fax: (415) 981-4846
www.girardgibbs.com







FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS



Q: What vehicle repairs are covered under the settlement?



A: There are three groups of vehicles that are covered by the settlement: Group A Vehicles, Group B Vehicles, and Group C Vehicles. Each group of vehicles is listed below, followed by the covered repairs for which cash reimbursement is available under the settlement.



Please note, if you own one of the models listed below, but (i) with a different engine size than what is listed, or (ii) the vehicle was manufactured using a lower intake manifold gasket other than a nylon/silicone gasket, or (iii) the vehicle is a Group A vehicle manufactured after April 9, 2003, then you are not covered by the settlement and are not eligible to file a claim.





GROUP A VEHICLES

Model years 1995-2003

Equipped with 3.1-liter or 3.4-liter V6 engine, manufactured before April 10, 2003 with a nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket.

Buick
Century, Rendezvous

Chevrolet
Impala, Lumina, Malibu, Monte Carlo, Venture

Oldsmobile
Alero, Cutlass, Silhouette

Pontiac
Aztek, Grand Am, Grand Prix, Montana, Trans Sport




Note: Some of these vehicles may have been offered for sale with an engine other than a 3.1-liter or 3.4 -liter V6 engine. Any of the above models sold with an engine other than a 3.1-liter or 3.4 -liter V6 engine are not included and are not eligible to make a claim.

Group A Covered Repairs: Replacement of failed nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket.

__________________________________________________ ______________________

GROUP B VEHICLES

Model years 1995-2004

Equipped with 3.8-liter V6 engine (internal GM engine designation RPO L36).

Buick
LeSabre, Park Avenue, Regal, Riviera

Chevrolet
Camaro, Impala, Lumina, Monte Carlo

Oldsmobile
Eighty-Eight, Intrigue, LSS, Ninety-Eight

Pontiac
Bonneville, Firebird, Grand Prix



Note: Some of these vehicles may have been offered for sale with an engine other than a 3.8-liter V6 engine RPO L36. Any of the above models sold with an engine other than a 3.8-liter V6 engine RPO L36 are not included and are not eligible to make a claim.

Group B Covered Repairs: Repairs necessitated by engine coolant sealing issues, including replacement of throttle body gasket, upper intake manifold gasket, lower intake manifold gasket, or intake manifold.

__________________________________________________ ______________________

GROUP C VEHICLES

Model years 1995-2000

Equipped with 4.3-liter V6 engine

Chevrolet
Blazer, Chevrolet S-10

GMC
Envoy, Jimmy, S-15

Oldsmobile
Bravada




Group C Covered Repairs: Repairs necessitated by cooling-system sludge, including cooling-system flush, heater core repairs, water pump repairs, or radiator cap replacement. “Sludge” refers to a rust-like material that can form in the cooling system and whose formation is related to use of Dex-Cool.



Q: What are the available cash reimbursements?



A: Under the proposed settlement, GM will send cash reimbursements to class members who paid for covered repairs performed within seven years or 150,000 miles (whichever is earlier) after original delivery of the vehicle, and who submit timely and valid claims.



The amount of reimbursement for which you are eligible depends on (i) when the covered repair was performed and (ii) the amount you paid for the repair, as described below:



a. For a covered repair made within five years and 150,000 miles:

You may be eligible for reimbursement of the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $400, if you were not previously reimbursed.

However, if you can document that the covered repair cost over $1,500 to address an internal coolant leak, your reimbursement level may be different. If so, you may request reimbursement of 40% of the amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $800, if you were not previously reimbursed.

(An internal coolant leak means that coolant leaked from one vehicle component into another component. Whereas an external coolant leak means that coolant leaked from inside a vehicle component to the exterior of the vehicle.)

b. For a covered repair made in the sixth year and within 150,000 miles:

You may be eligible for reimbursement of the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $100, if you were not previously reimbursed.

c. For a covered repair made in the seventh year and within 150,000 miles:

You may be eligible for reimbursement of the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $50, if you were not previously reimbursed.

If you paid for more than one covered repair (whether on the same vehicle or on different covered vehicles), you may submit a separate claim for each repair.





Q: Do I have to be the original owner in order to file a claim?



A: No, you do not need to be the original owner in order to participate in this settlement.





Q: Am I still eligible to file a claim if I no longer own my vehicle?



A: You may be eligible to participate in this settlement even if you no longer own your vehicle. Anyone who has owned or leased any of the covered vehicles and paid out of pocket for one of the covered repairs listed above is eligible to file a claim.





Q: I have had a Dex-Cool related problem but I have not had it repaired yet. Can I still participate in this settlement?



A: As long as your repair is completed prior to May 30, 2008, and within the earlier of 7 years or 150,000 miles of the original vehicle delivery date, you may be included in the settlement.



For additional information and updates go to www.girardgibbs.com.

[ChevroletTough]

1995 Monte Carlo Z34.

I replaced the intake manifold gasket. (When I bought the car)