GM CVT Lawsuit: Chevy Malibu, Trailblazer, Equinox & GMC Terrain Problems
A newly filed class action lawsuit alleges that certain Chevrolet and GMC vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions, or CVTs, may suffer from serious transmission defects that can cause slipping, hesitation, loss of acceleration, and even a complete loss of power while driving.
The lawsuit targets several popular General Motors vehicles, including certain Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain models. According to the allegations, defects within the CVT can develop without adequate warning and potentially leave a driver unable to accelerate or move the vehicle.
For California owners who have repeatedly brought one of these vehicles to a Chevrolet or GMC dealership for transmission complaints, the allegations may sound familiar.
The Problem
The proposed class action, Williams v. General Motors LLC, alleges that certain GM continuously variable transmissions contain defective internal components capable of causing premature transmission failure.
The vehicles identified in the lawsuit include:
2019–2025 Chevrolet Malibu models,
2021–2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer models,
2024 and newer Chevrolet Equinox models,
2024 and newer GMC Terrain models equipped with the allegedly affected CVT.
Unlike a traditional automatic transmission that shifts between a fixed number of gears, a CVT generally uses a chain or belt operating between variable-diameter pulleys. The system continuously adjusts the transmission ratio based on vehicle speed, engine load, and acceleration demands.
According to the lawsuit, proper CVT operation depends heavily on maintaining precise hydraulic pressure and proper operation of components within the transmission valve body.
The plaintiffs allege that problems involving the clutch regulator valve, valve body, drive chain, pulleys, bearings, and related transmission components can interfere with the CVT's ability to properly transmit engine power to the wheels.
That becomes particularly concerning when the alleged defect does more than cause an uncomfortable shift or vibration. The lawsuit claims the transmission can ultimately stop delivering power altogether.
The Allegations
The lawsuit alleges that affected vehicles can experience slipping, shuddering, juddering, hesitation, delayed acceleration, loss of forward gear, and partial or complete loss of propulsion.
In some reported situations, the driver allegedly receives a "Reduced Engine Power" warning before the vehicle begins hesitating or slipping. The condition can then progress to the point where the vehicle loses forward movement entirely.
The complaint further alleges that a malfunction indicator light may not necessarily appear before the transmission failure occurs.
That distinction is significant.
A transmission problem that gradually develops and produces a check-engine light gives a driver at least some opportunity to have the vehicle inspected. A vehicle that suddenly hesitates or loses propulsion while entering an intersection, merging onto a freeway, or traveling at highway speed presents a very different concern.
The plaintiffs contend that GM has known of the alleged CVT problems since at least 2021 but continued selling affected vehicles without adequately informing consumers about the potential defect.
The lawsuit also claims that some owners have been told that their transmission behavior is normal, that technicians cannot duplicate the concern, or that diagnostic and repair procedures have failed to permanently resolve the transmission problem.
These allegations remain allegations. The filing of a class action does not establish that GM violated the law or that every vehicle identified in the lawsuit contains a defective transmission.
Recall and Technical Service Bulletin History
At this time, the lawsuit is particularly notable because it points to GM's own technical service and preliminary information bulletins concerning CVT performance.
According to the complaint, GM has issued multiple communications to dealerships addressing CVT slipping, shuddering, loss of forward gear, and related transmission concerns. The plaintiffs rely on those documents in support of their allegation that GM was aware of recurring transmission problems before the lawsuit was filed.
A technical service bulletin is different from a safety recall.
A recall generally requires the manufacturer to provide a remedy for a particular safety-related defect or noncompliance covered by the recall. A technical service bulletin instead provides dealership technicians with information concerning known symptoms, diagnostic procedures, repair instructions, or updated parts.
For a California lemon law claim, however, the absence of a recall does not necessarily determine whether a vehicle qualifies.
A history of dealership visits for transmission slipping, shuddering, hesitation, delayed acceleration, warning messages, valve-body repairs, transmission replacements, or an inability to duplicate a complaint may still be important when evaluating a vehicle's repair history.
GM has also reportedly decided to move away from the CVT in front-wheel-drive versions of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain beginning with the 2027 model year, replacing it with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Symptoms Owners Should Watch For
The symptoms alleged in the GM CVT lawsuit may initially appear intermittent.
An owner may notice the engine revving without a corresponding increase in vehicle speed. The vehicle may hesitate when pulling away from a stop or take longer than expected to respond when the accelerator is pressed.
Other drivers may experience shuddering or vibration during acceleration.
As the condition progresses, the transmission may slip more noticeably or the vehicle may display a Reduced Engine Power message. In more serious cases alleged in the lawsuit, the transmission can lose forward gear entirely and leave the vehicle unable to move under its own power.
The lawsuit specifically identifies slipping, shuddering, juddering, hesitation, delayed acceleration, loss of forward gear, partial loss of power, and complete loss of power as symptoms associated with the alleged defect.
Owners should also pay attention to repeated dealership statements that a condition is "normal" or that technicians were "unable to duplicate" the problem.
An intermittent condition does not necessarily mean there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. Transmission defects can sometimes appear only under particular temperatures, speeds, loads, or driving conditions.
For that reason, documenting each occurrence and each dealership visit can be important.
How to Proceed
California owners experiencing repeated CVT problems with a Chevrolet Malibu, Trailblazer, Equinox, or GMC Terrain should consider taking several steps:
Bring the vehicle to an authorized Chevrolet or GMC dealership while it remains under warranty and clearly describe every transmission symptom.
Make sure the repair order accurately states complaints such as hesitation, slipping, shuddering, delayed acceleration, Reduced Engine Power warnings, loss of forward gear, or loss of propulsion.
Keep copies of every repair order, even when the dealership states that it could not duplicate the condition or no repair was performed.
Record videos or photographs of warning messages when it is safe to do so.
Keep records of towing expenses, rental vehicles, and other costs caused by the transmission problem.
Avoid relying solely on verbal statements from a dealership. The written repair history may become important when evaluating a California lemon law claim.
If the same transmission problem continues after repeated repair attempts, consider speaking with a California lemon law attorney before accepting a trade-in, cash settlement, or other resolution from the manufacturer.
California's lemon law may provide remedies when a manufacturer is unable to repair a substantial warranty-covered defect after a reasonable number of opportunities.
Depending on the individual circumstances, those remedies can include replacement or repurchase of the vehicle. Whether a particular Malibu, Trailblazer, Equinox, or Terrain qualifies depends on its warranty coverage, repair history, mileage, dates of repair, and the nature of the transmission problem.
A class action and an individual California lemon law claim are also different legal proceedings. An owner does not necessarily need to wait for the GM CVT class action to be resolved before evaluating rights arising from that owner's individual repair history.
Call Valero Law
If your Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet Equinox, or GMC Terrain has experienced repeated transmission slipping, hesitation, shuddering, delayed acceleration, Reduced Engine Power warnings, loss of forward gear, or other CVT problems, your vehicle's repair history should be reviewed.
A transmission that repeatedly fails to respond properly—or that unexpectedly loses propulsion—can substantially affect a vehicle's use, value, and safety.
Valero Law represents California consumers dealing with defective vehicles and repeated warranty repairs. We can review your dealership repair orders and determine whether your vehicle may qualify for relief under California's lemon law.
Contact Valero Law to discuss your Chevrolet or GMC transmission problems and learn more about your rights.