The analysis: Reasons for drivers’ compensation
In a massive court surprise, General Motors (GM) has shelled out a whopping ~$150 million class action settlement to resolve allegations that certain Chevrolet and GMC vehicles rolled out of the assembly line with defective LC9 engines. As described, inconsistent oil consumption by the engines created widespread driver frustration, unexpected repair costs, and impaired performance.
The bad news You may be owed as much as $2,149—but only if you hurry. The cutoff for filing a claim or response to the lawsuit is August 8, 2025.
Here’s a speedy rundown of everything you need to know about whether you qualify and how to claim your dough.
What’s the problem with this case
The lawsuit alleges that a few of GM’s cars made between 2011 and 2014 had LC9 engines with an inherent flaw in their design: they consumed too much oil. Consequently, allege the plaintiffs, the following occurred:
- Resale value loss Engine malfunction Excessive repair costs Unsafe driving conditions
- Scandalous, alleges the lawsuit, GM knew and did not tell.
Even though GM has not admitted fault in the terms of the settlement, it is paying ~$150 million to settle the case and compensate affected drivers.
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Can I get my settlement of $2,149
You could be paid if you meet certain conditions based on your vehicle, where you live, and how you bought or leased your vehicle.
Qualified vehicles:
You now own, lease, or previously owned any of the following 2011–2014 GM models with LC9 engines:
Chevrolet Tahoe Chevrolet Avalanche Chevrolet Silverado Chevrolet Suburban GMC Sierra GMC Yukon GMC Yukon XL
Eligible states:
Your car was purchased or leased brand new in one of the listed states by May 23, 2022:
1. California
2. Idaho
3. North Carolina
Following are the state-specific requirements:
California course:
Up to and including May 23, 2022, the vehicle must be owned or leased and have been newly leased or bought in California.
North Carolina course:
The vehicle must have been bought or rented from a licensed GM North Carolina dealer, if you are the previous or current lessee or owner.
Course in Idaho:
The vehicle must have been purchased or rented through an approved GM Idaho dealer
Due dates you need to remember
Due Date to Claim or Object: August 8, 2025
That is the last date on which you can:
Submit a claim if you need to. If you wish to preserve the right to pursue an alternative action, you may object to the terms of the settlement and decline it.
If you don’t have a claim form, there’s no need to worry!
Even better, most class members will be paid out without having to complete a claim form.
But if they’re going to be paid, Residents of North Carolina who received a mailed identification form must return it by August 8.
Final Approval Hearing: October 2, 2025
The settlement is now before the court. Once all of that has been approved, they’ll be paid out.
How much will you get
Every eligible member of your class is owed at least $2,149. But what you actually receive can be more or less, depending upon:
The number of eligible vehicles you have or lease. The number of claimants overall. Any attorney fee deducted from the fund
More Benefits:
If fewer people apply than expected, your check can be more.
For instance, if you have a few qualifying vehicles, you may get a few payments.
Anyway, what is a class action settlement?
If you don’t know much about class action lawsuits, here’s the short version:
- A class action allows many people (the “class”) to sue a business organization for the same issue. One or more people usually sue on behalf of thousands of people who all had the same issue.
- If it’s a win or settlement, all members of the class can receive compensation.
- Once you settle out, you generally no longer have your individual right to sue.
GM chose to settle out of court in this case, trying to save money and not deal with more lawsuits—but not because they admit to any wrongdoing.
The problem with the LC9 engine
Let us see in greater detail why the LC9 engine was so bad:
Because the engines used oil at a much higher rate than expected, drivers had to top up oil more frequently, even after regular oil changes in some instances. In the worst cases, it resulted in engine damage or total engine failure.
According to the lawsuit, GM could have prevented harm or persuaded consumers to get warranty repairs if it warned them about this defect.
How to find out if you qualify
Do you want to know if you qualify to be part of this settlement? Here’s a simple checklist:
- Did you own a Chevy or GMC car in model years 2011 to 2014, or do you currently own one
- Was the car new bought or leased in North Carolina, California, or Idaho
- Were you living in those states as of May 23, 2022
- Are you still the owner or the lessee? (Not always.)
If you answered “yes” to those questions, there is a good possibility that you qualify.
What’s next
If you qualify, please proceed with the following steps promptly:
Please review your mail for the ID form and kindly return it by August 8 if you reside in North Carolina.
2. For a complete view of all the case information, eligibility requirements, and payment procedure, visit the official settlement page. If you Google “GM LC9 engine settlement,” you should be able to locate it.
If you are not in North Carolina and do not have a form, you may refrain from taking any action if you prefer not to receive the cash. If you’d like to sue GM separately in another case, you have to opt out by August 8.
4. wait for court approval of the settlement. If approved in October, payments will be received within a few months.
Don’t miss this opportunity—$2,149 is worth it
We all understand that it’s not exactly the world’s most appealing thing to have to read court documents or go to court hearings. But here, you might be worth it. You might receive up to $2,149 just because you own a vehicle with a defective engine.
If you have to take that weekend off, save more cash, or upgrade your transport mode, don’t let this deadline pass you by.
Please consider adding August 8, 2025, to your calendar.
