Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax Coolant Control Valve Issue: What You Should Know
What’s Going On
GM has identified a problem affecting certain 2023 Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks with Duramax diesel engines. The issue involves the engine coolant control valve (sometimes called the coolant flow control valve). Owners are being offered a free replacement of this part to address the problem.
Common complaints include:
Engine overheating or running hotter than expected.
A check-engine light, often associated with diagnostic trouble codes like P1098, which points to failure of the coolant control valve.
Cooling fans running at high speed continuously.
Delays in getting parts; some owners report long wait times for the replacement valve.
California Lemon Law Protections
California’s Lemon Law (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) provides some of the strongest protections for vehicle owners in the country:
Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts: Generally, if the same defect is repaired four or more times without resolution, the vehicle may qualify as a lemon. In safety-related cases, even two attempts may be enough.
30-Day Rule: If your truck spends more than 30 days cumulatively in the shop during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, it may qualify as a lemon.
Manufacturer’s Duty: GM must repair warranty defects within a reasonable time. If they cannot, the law may require them to repurchase or replace the vehicle.
Repurchase Formula: In California, a buyback includes refund of your down payment, monthly payments, registration, taxes, and payoff of your loan or lease balance, minus a mileage offset for your use before the defect first appeared.
These protections apply whether the vehicle was financed, leased, or purchased outright, so long as it was bought new in California.
What Owners Should Do
If you own a Silverado 1500 Duramax in California and believe your vehicle has this defect, take the following steps:
Document Repairs: Keep every service order showing your complaints and the dealership’s diagnosis.
Track Time in Service: If your truck is in the shop for weeks waiting on parts, note the total downtime.
Report Repeat Issues: If the same warning lights or overheating returns after repair, make sure each event is recorded.
Know Your Rights: California law does not require you to accept endless repairs. If your truck qualifies as a lemon, you may be entitled to a refund or replacement.
Get Legal Advice Before Accepting Settlements: Do not agree to “goodwill” payments or limited warranty fixes that might waive your Lemon Law rights without first consulting an attorney.
Contact Us Now
If your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax diesel is experiencing overheating, warning lights (especially P1098), or continuous cooling fan issues—and if you’ve been waiting for a coolant control valve replacement—Valero Law, APC can help.
We provide:
Free case evaluations
Representation under the California Lemon Law (and other states’ Lemon Laws if applicable)
Help ensuring you get your repair, replacement, or refund that you may be entitled to
Call Valero Law, APC at (424) 299-4447. You pay nothing unless we win.