GM Faces Big Class Action Suit Over Faulty Transmissions

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HEMIMANN

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The continuing saga of EPA ever more stringent fuel economy regulations - making transmissions (as we've seen with engines) so complicated they're bound to fail. And these are only their 8 speeds! 10 speeds yet to come -

"The GM litigation covers about 800,000 vehicles, including 514,000 in the certified classes.
Vehicles include the Cadillac CTS, CT6 and Escalade; Chevrolet Camaro, Colorado, Corvette and Silverado; and GMC Canyon, Sierra and Yukon, among others."
 

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Yeah, I've seen this before. A few years back, I was actually looking at a few used low-mileage GM 1500's (GMC Denali and Silverado). I was underwhelmed at the overall quality and prone-to-rust of the chassis. Plus I felt the shake of these 8-speed trannies (or torque converters) and all the sales people would deny that anything was wrong. So glad I never bought any......

I still have a '03 Silverado, 142k miles, runs/drives like new, 4.8L with 4L60E transmission. A masterpiece of engineering IMHO. But the rust has eaten her up badly, virtually beyond repair.
 
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HEMIMANN

HEMIMANN

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I'm interested to see when the suit comes out on the co-developed GM/Ford 10 speed.

Yup. That's what I was alluding to, next up. A knowledgeable dude on here said GM's HD 10 speed is bad, and Ford's LD 10 speed is bad.

They both started on the same 10 speed in a partnership, then went their separate ways. What a friggin' mess. So the ZF8 looks pretty good by compare, except for the dumb German service procedure.
 

Wild one

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Yup. That's what I was alluding to, next up. A knowledgeable dude on here said GM's HD 10 speed is bad, and Ford's LD 10 speed is bad.

They both started on the same 10 speed in a partnership, then went their separate ways. What a friggin' mess. So the ZF8 looks pretty good by compare, except for the dumb German service procedure.
After you do a couple ZF services they aren't really any more difficult to do then any other late model transmission.I actually prefer doing the 8 speed over the Nag1 in my 300,which i've done twice in it's 70,000 mile life
 
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HEMIMANN

HEMIMANN

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After you do a couple ZF services they aren't really any more difficult to do then any other late model transmission.I actually prefer doing the 8 speed over the Nag1 in my 300,which i've done twice in it's 70,000 mile life

Well, that's because you're an animal. I'm so old I remember adjusting the planetary shifting bands tightness after wear on the TorqueFlite 727 transmission. So, there!

Nope, not doing no ZF8 on jacks. Fuch that.

Next project is pulling Yanmar injectors for cleaning and replacing glow plugs without snapping off. Hopefully.
 

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I miss the TurboHydraMatic 400
The old Turbo 400 is still around,lol. If you buy a Drag Pack Challenger,thats the transmission Ma Mopar uses in them,as even Ma Mopar knows what transmissions will live in a 1,000 rwhp drag car,lol .Alot of guys running in excess of a 1,000rwhp are switching their 8 speeds out for Turbo 400's
 

Sherman Bird

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The old Turbo 400 is still around,lol. If you buy a Drag Pack Challenger,thats the transmission Ma Mopar uses in them,as even Ma Mopar knows what transmissions will live in a 1,000 rwhp drag car,lol .Alot of guys running in excess of a 1,000rwhp are switching their 8 speeds out for Turbo 400's
!
 

nlambert182

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That's certainly what they claim, and 99% of the time they're referring to the transmissions in the late 2000 model trucks. I used to parrot the same thing until I got one. Changed my mind rather quickly.

Even the "Allisons" in the GM diesels aren't as good as they once were. Yet folks still claim they're the best thing since sliced bread. :)
 

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I'm so old I remember adjusting the planetary shifting bands tightness after wear on the TorqueFlite 727 transmission. So, there!
Do you remember that old TV commercial, where the guy had a full-size Plymouth Fury (440 engine, I think). Anyway, he mashed the gas pedal to the floor, spinning wheels, and went forward then a second later shifted (column shifter) into reverse, then back into forward, repeated a bunch of times, never letting his foot off the gas.

That was just about the most impressive display of transmission/drivetrain durability I ever saw!
 
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HEMIMANN

HEMIMANN

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Do you remember that old TV commercial, where the guy had a full-size Plymouth Fury (440 engine, I think). Anyway, he mashed the gas pedal to the floor, spinning wheels, and went forward then a second later shifted (column shifter) into reverse, then back into forward, repeated a bunch of times, never letting his foot off the gas.

That was just about the most impressive display of transmission/drivetrain durability I ever saw!

Tranny drops!!!
 

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Even the "Allisons" in the GM diesels aren't as good as they once were. Yet folks still claim they're the best thing since sliced bread. :)
I remember reading a while back that Allison does not build the 10-speed transmission found behind the Duramax engine. GM builds it and the Allison name is licensed. I don't recall the details of the licensing agreement, nor do I recall who designed the transmission. I understand that Allison is involved with the transmission testing but to what extent I don't know.

What is troubling, and this isn't only GM, is they squeeze every penny of quality from the part they can and hope for the best. These recalls are expensive, maybe they should have just built them right like the old turbo 400s found in the muscle cars back in the late 60s and 70s. I had a few of them and they were all but indestructible. The only thing I found that hurt them was neutral-to-drive dumps.
 
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HEMIMANN

HEMIMANN

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I remember reading a while back that Allison does not build the 10-speed transmission found behind the Duramax engine. GM builds it and the Allison name is licensed. I don't recall the details of the licensing agreement, nor do I recall who designed the transmission. I understand that Allison is involved with the transmission testing but to what extent I don't know.

What is troubling, and this isn't only GM, is they squeeze every penny of quality from the part they can and hope for the best. These recalls are expensive, maybe they should have just built them right like the old turbo 400s found in the muscle cars back in the late 60s and 70s. I had a few of them and they were all but indestructible. The only thing I found that hurt them was neutral-to-drive dumps.

Yeah, Allison was reportedy "consulted" in the design of the 10 speed transmission, and allowed use of the name because Allison is not part of GM anymore.

I had a real Allison World Transmission 1000 series. What a rock! Never a problem for 17 years.
 

nlambert182

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Allison did some of the design work and engineering review on the 10spd, but it was built by GM. GM sold Allison back in (I think) 2009 but part of the agreement was to retain rights to use/sell the Allison 1000 transmission.

However, in 2012 Allison also started building the 1000 series in India. Not sure how many came back stateside (if any) or if they only sold GM trucks with the 1000s from Indiana.

I've seen my fair share of issues with the 1000 series over the years, but not as consistently as some of the other offerings.
 

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Do you remember that old TV commercial, where the guy had a full-size Plymouth Fury (440 engine, I think). Anyway, he mashed the gas pedal to the floor, spinning wheels, and went forward then a second later shifted (column shifter) into reverse, then back into forward, repeated a bunch of times, never letting his foot off the gas.

That was just about the most impressive display of transmission/drivetrain durability I ever saw!
Fords old heavy duty C6 was good for making fish hooks on the pavement,lol. Basically back up as fast as you could,drop it into drive and floor it ,that'll give you the best fish hook blackies you'll see.I used to do it all the time with my dads old F150 Ford. Transmission was still working good in it when the body finally fell off the truck with a little over 200,000 miles on it,lol. Dad parted the truck out,and sold the transmission to a local young guy who put a shift kit in it,and beat the hell out of the transmission some more,lol.
 

tjfdesmo

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The 10 speed faux Allison doesn't take Allison fluid, doesn't have an external filter, doesn't have a drain plug, and is not built by Allison. Total crock.

As to the 1000, I lemon-lawed an '04 that started acting up with under 2K miles, and they could never make it right. Not impressed in the least.
 
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