GM Transmission Lawsuit: Eligibility and How to Join

Over the past several years, many GM owners have raised alarms over transmission shuddering, jerking, slipping, and outright failure. Those complaints have culminated in at least one significant class action lawsuit against General Motors.

If you experienced any of these symptoms while driving, you may be wondering, “Am I eligible to join the GM transmission lawsuit?” and “How can joining the GM class action help me recover repair costs or lost value?”

Below, we’ll break down the details of which symptoms or defect claims qualify for a lawsuit, the latest status of the GM, Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac transmission litigation, and how Morgan & Morgan can assist you with taking action.

Who Is Eligible to Pursue a GM Transmission Claim?

The GM 8-speed transmission class action litigation (under Shelton v. General Motors LLC and related claims) has generally required:

• Ownership or lease of a GM vehicle from specific manufacturers and model years equipped with the Hydra-Matic 8L45 or 8L90 eight-speed transmissions.
• The vehicle must have been sold or leased in the U.S. (or in some cases, certain states covered by the subclass)
• The vehicle must have experienced one or more of the qualifying transmission issues (described in the next section)
• The owner typically must document service or repairs reflecting those symptoms
• In some class actions, there is a deadline by which you must register or file a claim to participate (if such deadlines apply)

It’s also important to recognize recent legal developments: In mid-2025, an appeals court decertified the broad 8-speed class action suit, meaning plaintiffs may now need to pursue individual claims rather than relying solely on a group class action structure.

Your attorney will need to determine whether your vehicle’s facts still align with the narrowed scope of the litigation or whether you’ll need to pursue an individual lawsuit.

What Qualifying Issues or Symptoms Are Covered?

To join the suit, you generally must show that your vehicle has experienced one or more of the defective transmission behaviors alleged in the complaint. Common qualifying symptoms include:

• Shuddering, vibration, or shaking during cruising or light throttle
• Jerking, lurching, or harsh gear shifts (both upshifts and downshifts)
• Slipping between gears: the engine revs, but the vehicle doesn’t respond proportionally
• Delayed engagement or hesitation when shifting from Park to Drive or between gears
• Sudden or confusing downshifts or upshifts without driver input
• Premature internal wear or failure of transmission components resulting in rebuilds or replacement

The class action complaint alleges that GM concealed defects that led to slipping, bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, abnormal internal wear, delayed downshifts, and eventual transmission failure.

If your vehicle exhibits one or more of these symptoms and has repair or service records backing it up, you likely satisfy the core defect criteria.

How Joining the Class (or Filing a Claim) Helps Owners

Recovering Out-of-Pocket Repair Costs

If you’ve already paid for transmission repairs, whether torque converter replacement, valve body work, module reprogramming, or even full transmission replacement, being part of the class (or pursuing a claim) may entitle you to reimbursement.

Compensation for Diminished Value

Because a defective transmission reduces a vehicle’s reliability and resale value, plaintiffs may seek damages tied to diminished value: essentially, the difference between what your vehicle would be worth if it worked properly versus its market value as a known-defect vehicle.

Legal Leverage & Efficiency

By combining many individual claims, the class action structure can reduce litigation cost and administrative burden for individual owners. Collective representation can also allow for broader negotiation power against GM.

However, since the 2025 appeals court decertified the broader 8-speed class action, many owners may now need to pursue individualized claims or join smaller subclass actions.

 

Possible Settlement or Judgment Awards

If the class or individual claims succeed, owners may receive payments or remedies such as:

• Reimbursement of repair costs
• Warranty extensions
• Cash damages for lost value
• (In rare cases) replacement of the vehicle or refund

Because each case will differ, depending on model, mileage, repairs already done, and state law, the actual award can vary widely.

Status Updates: GM, Chevy, GMC & Cadillac Transmission Lawsuits

Here are the latest developments.

The original 8-speed class action (2015–2019 vehicles with 8L45/8L90 transmissions) was certified in a lower court.

In June 2025, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the certification, ruling that the differences among owners and claims were too great to maintain a single class.

The case was remanded back to the district court, leaving open the possibility for smaller subclasses or individual claims to move forward.

Other complaint-based litigation has also been filed by groups of plaintiffs in multiple states over transmission defects. As for Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC models in the recall zone of the 10-speed transmission control valve issue (2020–2022 trucks/SUVs), those recall actions may provide relief for certain repairs, but may not substitute for class action compensation in all cases.

Because of the decertification, time is of the essence: owners with strong claims or imminent statute-of-limitations deadlines should act quickly to preserve their rights.

How Morgan & Morgan Can Help You

At Morgan & Morgan, we specialize in auto defect litigation, especially high-stakes cases involving major manufacturers like GM. 

It all starts with a free case evaluation. We’ll analyze your VIN, ownership or lease documents, repair history, and current symptoms to determine whether you qualify under the existing class action or whether an individual claim is more strategic.

If you are eligible and we can work together, we’ll help you gather the necessary documentation—invoices, repair orders, communication records, and evidence of symptoms—and file the proper claim or lawsuit on your behalf.

Whether it’s reimbursement of repair costs, diminished-value damages, warranty extensions, or replacement, we’ll seek all possible compensation under the law.

Transmission defects are not supposed to disable your vehicle or drain your resources. If GM sold vehicles with known, repairable defects and concealed them, owners should be held accountable, not stuck paying for the damage.

If you drive a Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac with one of the affected transmissions and you’ve experienced symptoms like shuddering, jerking, slipping, or had repair work done, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation of your legal options.