How to Determine What Speed Transmission You Have and Why It Matters for the GM 10-Speed Lawsuit

If you own a vehicle equipped with a 10-speed transmission and are curious whether it might qualify for the GM 10-Speed Transmission lawsuit, one of the first steps is understanding exactly how to identify your transmission, particularly how many speeds it has. 

This article will walk you through the practical steps to determine your transmission type and speed, why this matters in the context of the lawsuit, and what to do next.

Why You Should Know Your Transmission Speed

Not all vehicle transmissions are the same. From classic 3-speed manuals to modern 10-speed automatics, transmissions vary widely in design, complexity, performance, and most importantly for potential claimants reliability.

In the context of the GM 10-Speed Transmission lawsuit, only vehicles with 10-speed transmissions are being considered to pursue compensation. This means if your vehicle has an 8-speed transmission or fewer, it will not qualify for representation under this particular case.

Before we dive into how to determine your transmission speed, let’s look at what a transmission does and how speed count plays a role.

Transmission Basics: What Is a Transmission?

A vehicle’s transmission is a mechanical system that transfers power from the engine to the wheels, and its primary job is to allow the engine to operate efficiently across a range of speeds.

Transmissions contain a series of gears, each gear representing a “speed.” Lower gears (like 1st or 2nd) help with acceleration from a stop, while higher gears (like 9th or 10th) optimize highway cruising and fuel efficiency. Modern automatic transmissions often have more gears to balance power delivery and fuel economy.

How to Determine What Transmission You Have

Here are the most reliable methods for identifying your transmission type and how many speeds it has:

1. Check Your Owner’s Manual

Your vehicle’s owner’s manual is the simplest and most direct source of information.
 It usually lists transmission specifications, including:

• Transmission model (e.g., 10R80),
• Number of forward speeds,
• Transmission type (automatic, manual, CVT, etc.).

Look under sections such as Vehicle Specifications or Technical Data.
 If you don’t have a physical copy, most manufacturers provide downloadable manuals online.

2. Look at the Door Jamb Sticker

Many vehicles have a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb with codes that identify key features.

On this sticker, locate the “TR” code or a transmission code. Write down this code and either look it up online with your vehicle make/model or provide it to a dealership or transmission specialist.

This code can typically be decoded to reveal:

• The transmission model,
• Its number of speeds,
• Engine/transmission pairing information.
  
   

3. Decode Your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

The VIN is the 17-character identifier unique to your vehicle and holds information about engine, trim, and sometimes transmission specifications.

You can decode your VIN in a few ways:

• VIN Decoding Tools: There are numerous free and paid VIN decoders online (e.g., manufacturer sites, Carfax, AutoCheck) that will list transmission specs when you input your VIN.
• Dealership Assistance: Dealerships and many mechanics have access to OEM databases and can decode a VIN to give you full specification details, often including transmission model and speed count.

4. Check the Transmission Dipstick or Under the Hood

Some vehicles, typically older models, have a transmission dipstick that will sometimes list the transmission model and sometimes even the gear count.

Additionally, there may be a sticker under the hood with details like transmission type. Note that on many modern vehicles, dipsticks are no longer provided for transmissions, and some information may be available only through digital vehicle data.

5. Dashboard Gear Indicator (Modern Vehicles)

Many newer vehicles, especially automatics, display the current gear and total speeds on the instrument cluster.

For example, some vehicles show “1–10” when in Drive (D) with manual shift mode, and pressing “+” or “–” on the shifter or steering controls often cycles through these gear indicators.

This can give a direct indication of how many forward gears (speeds) your transmission has, which is important if you’re looking to confirm whether it’s a 10-speed.

6. Dealer or Mechanic Inspection

If the previous steps are not clear, you can always visit a mechanic, call your dealership service department, or ask a transmission specialist.

These professionals can visually inspect your transmission or use diagnostic equipment to confirm the model and number of speeds with certainty.

Spotting a 10-Speed Transmission

In the context of the GM lawsuit, you’re looking specifically for 10-speed automatic transmissions, typically designated in GM vehicles by codes like:

• 10L80 or
• 10L90 (common GM 10-speed automatics found in trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles).

These transmissions are part of a collaboration between GM and Ford and are engineered to enhance performance and efficiency across a range of applications, from daily commuting to towing.

Some legacy GM transmissions might be 8-speed, such as the 8L90 or 8L45, and those do not qualify for this lawsuit.

Common Signs or Indicators That You Have a 10-Speed

Here are a few practical ways owners often confirm they have a 10-speed:

• Dashboard Indicator: When in Drive (D), your display shows gears up to 10 when toggling the gear selection or manual mode.
• VIN/Dealership Lookup: A VIN decode showing a GM 10-speed transmission code (e.g., 10L80).
• Documentation: Owner’s manual, window sticker, or build sheet indicating a 10-speed transmission.

Why Some Cars Have 8 Speeds and Why That Matters

Not all modern vehicles are equipped with 10 speeds. Many GM cars and SUVs, especially models built before the widespread rollout of the 10-speed, used 8-speed automatics. These transmissions tend to have different performance and reliability profiles and do not qualify for the current GM lawsuit in question.

Because of this, accurate identification of your transmission’s number of speeds is extremely important for determining whether your vehicle is eligible for representation under the claims process.

Quick Steps to Confirm Your Transmission

As a review, here’s a fast checklist you can follow:

1. Check the owner’s manual for transmission specs.
2. Look for a transmission code on the door jamb sticker.
3. Decode your VIN using an online tool or through your dealership.
4. Look at your dashboard gear indicator in Drive.
5. Ask a mechanic or transmission specialist for confirmation.
    

Once you confirm you have a 10-speed transmission, you can be confident in moving forward with assessing eligibility for the GM 10-Speed Transmission lawsuit and discussing your case with an attorney at Morgan & Morgan.

As the nation’s largest personal injury law firm, Morgan & Morgan has fought For the People for over 35 years and has recovered over $30 billion in the process. When corporations put profit over people and innocent consumers are placed in harm’s way as a result, we take action.

To learn more about your legal options, contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.