Chevrolet Equinox Engine Problem and Oil Consumption Class Action
Many people have had problems with the Chevy Equinox Ecotec engine. Complaints have made about the piston rings, spray jets and PCV systems that contribute to oil consumption and engine damage. Class actions have been filed regarding the 2010-2017 Chevrolet Equinox SUVs equipped with 2.4-liter Ecotec engines.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING OR HANDLING CLAIMS INVOLVING 2010-2018 EQUINOXES, AND ARE NOT CLASS COUNSEL IN ANY PENDING CLASS ACTION. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NO CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT THAT CURRENTLY (AS OF APRIL 6, 2024) PROVIDES FOR REPAIR OR COMPENSATION THOUGH THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IN PENDING LAWSUITS THAT OTHER LAWYERS (NOT OUR FIRM) ARE HANDLING.
1. Problems Identified
One lawsuit claims the Ecotec engine burns too much oil and causes low oil pressure, knocking, fouled spark plugs, damage to the timing chains and complete engine failure. They claim the Ecotec engines frequently a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. However, GM recommends that Equinox owners “Check engine oil level and oil life percentage every 7,500 miles. The lawsuit alleges the oil consumption problems arise from faulty compression and oil piston rings that cannot withstand high compression ratios of the Ecotec engines. According to the plaintiffs, the coating fails and the rings are too thin, causing premature wear to the piston rings.
Additionally, GM allegedly installed low-tension oil rings in the 2.4-liter engines that do not maintain sufficient tension to keep oil in the crankcase as designed, causing the piston rings to fail to maintain a seal in the crankcase. Further jets can spray oil onto the piston skirt and cylinder wall and overloads the piston rings, allowing oil to pass the rings and go into other places in the engine. An Equinox class action also alleges the engines have faulty positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) systems that vacuum oil from the valve trains into the intake systems where it is burned in the combustion chambers.
2. Problems with Claims
There are two basic problems with claims. First, there is typically an express warranty, say 3 year/50 miles. Some courts restrict claims asserted outside the warranty, though decisions vary from state to state.
"Courts in this District have “rejected the argument that, even though a defect does not manifest until after the expiration of a warranty agreement, a plaintiff can nonetheless maintain breach of warranty claims by alleging that the manufacturer knew about the defect at the time of the purchase.” Alban v. BMW of N. Am., No. 09-5398, 2011 WL 900114, at *8-9 (D.N.J. Mar. 15, 2011) (dismissing breach of warranty claims where plaintiff alleged that defendant “knew of the defect . . . knew that the defect would not become apparent until after” the warranty term expired, that defendant “concealed material information that prevented [plaintiff] from bargaining for a warranty that would cover the known defect,” and that there was “a gross disparity in bargaining power”); see also [In re Caterpillar, Inc. C13 & C15 Prods. Liab. Litig., No. 14-3722, 2015 WL 4591236, at *19-22 (D.N.J. July 29, 2015)] (finding that the “recent trend” in the District of New Jersey, which is “consistent with the prevailing approach elsewhere” is that a motion to dismiss should be granted “where plaintiffs allege[] a manufacturer's knowledge of a latent defect that would manifest outside the warranty period”). Because Plaintiffs similarly only plead knowledge of a defect that would (or could) become apparent outside of the warranty periods, they have not stated a claim for breach of express warranty. Bullard v. Jaguar Land Rover Auto. PLC, Civil action 20-14464, at *13 (D.N.J. July 28, 2023).
Other Court may apply a 4 year statute of limitations from date of sale. Lawyers may seek to challenge the defenses by arguing GM or its dealer were aware of problems but failed to disclose relevant information.
3. Prior knowledge of problems and GM Documents
According to the Ecotec engine lawsuit, GM published an article in its GM TechLink about the 2.4-liter engines in July 2012 regarding oil consumption issues. Titled “Excessive Oil Consumption,” the article allegedly says: “Excessive oil consumption may be noticed on some 2010 Equinox and Terrain models equipped with the 2.4 L engines. [This condition will] not be evident until the vehicle has accumulated 20,000 miles or more. Upon inspection, excessive oil in the fresh air side of the PCV system due to excessive crankcase pressure and blow-by may be noted. In addition, all four spark plugs will have obvious/excessive oil deposits on them.”
The GM TechLink article also indicates that excessive oil consumption can be verified either by oil deposits on all four spark plugs or by an oil consumption test.
The article also allegedly says in cases where the cylinder walls show “zebra stripe” wear patterns associated with excessive oil consumption, the technician is to “replace the engine . since this engine does not have serviceable cylinder liners like some of the other Ecotec engines.
4. Our office's role
We are not handling 2011-2017 Equinox claims. We will consider claims for other years depending upon the age and mileage.
5. Current Class Action Status
A class action was filed and settled for the 2010-12 Equinox vehicles. Unfortunately, the date to submit claims has passed. A consumer might try to argue that problems should still be covered because of the existence of a defect. However, most lawyers are unlikely to take the claim.
Two other class actions dealing with 2015-17 Equinox and other vehicles have been filed. However, those have not been settled, though settlement conference are scheduled in April. It is possible that some type of settlement will occur.
6. Extended Warranty
Some consumers may have extended warranties and they may be the best chance for coverage. Many of these companies are happy to receive payments but try to wriggle out of their responsibility to cover repairs by putting forth misleading explanations, false or exaggerated claims of abuse or accident or other defenses. Be assertive with warranty companies and consider attorney review of claims.
Further Information on Chevrolet Equinox Problems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4aguNTmNBg
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chevrolet/equinox/owners
(Common complaints related to the Chevy Equinox engine include the smell of gasoline and smoke, fuel pump failure, and excessive oil consumption.)
Our office is not class action counsel. You can reference the prior settlement which did have a time limit for claims. Class action settlement document