- The issue reportedly impacts certain Chevrolet Traverse, Trailblazer, Malibu, and Buick Encore models.
- GM allegedly sold vehicles knowing they had a shifter control assembly fault.
- The automaker asks for the case to be dismissed on a variety of grounds.
General Motors is facing off against eight plaintiffs in Michigan after it was hit with a class-action lawsuit that claims certain Buick and Chevrolet vehicles have defective transmission control assemblies.
The lawsuit contends that when certain vehicles are shifted into Park, the car enters an accessory mode, and a ‘Shift to Park’ message appears on the screen, even if the vehicle is already in Park. While that may not sound like a big issue, the plaintiffs say the car can’t be turned off or locked once this message appears and that the battery will eventually drain.
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To resolve the fault, owners claim they have to move the shifter back and forth and then shift into Park again. Included in the lawsuit is everyone who purchased or leased a 2021-2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse, 2020-2023 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2020-2023 Buick Encore in the United States.
It’s claimed that GM knew about the fault before selling the subject vehicles and that even if dealers replace the shifter control assembly, the problem will persist.
GM wants to see the lawsuit dismissed. It states that two of the plaintiffs, Glenda Brown and Maria Garza, purchased 2022 Chevrolet Traverse and Trailblazer models under arbitration agreements and, as such, should not be plaintiffs. The automaker also says the two agreed to arbitrate their Shift to Park claims, and the Federal Arbitration Act requires these vehicle owners to honor their arbitration agreements.
Car Complaints adds that GM also wants claims dismissed against certain vehicles in the lawsuit, noting the plaintiffs only own 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, 2022 Trailblazer, and 2021 Malibu models, meaning 2020-2021 Traverse, 2021 and 2023 Trailblazers, 2020-2023 Buick Encores, and 2020, 2022, 2023 Malibus should not be involved. It adds certain other claims should be dismissed as owners don’t allege GM refused to repair vehicles, and wants to see warranty claims from at least four customers tossed out, too.
