Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick Lemon Law California

Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick lemon law claims in California are filed under the Song-Beverly Act against General Motors LLC. GM uses internal dispute resolution and does not participate in BBB Auto Line, allowing California consumers to proceed to civil litigation faster than with BBB-participating brands. Common qualifying defects include 8L90/8L45 transmission shudder (Silverado, Sierra, Camaro, Corvette), 5.3L and 6.2L V8 lifter failures from active fuel management (AFM/DFM), Bolt EV high-voltage battery fire risk and recall, Chevrolet Cruze coolant issues, Cadillac CUE infotainment failures, and Super Cruise software issues.

 

 

Notable GM Pattern Defects

  • 8L90 / 8L45 8-speed transmission shudder. “Chuggle” at light throttle on Silverado, Sierra, Camaro, Corvette, Escalade; widely documented in TSBs.
  • 5.3L & 6.2L V8 lifter failure (AFM/DFM). Active fuel management lifter collapse causing misfires, knocking, engine damage.
  • Bolt EV HV battery fire risk. Recall for 2017–2022 Bolt EV/EUV; full battery replacements.
  • 2.7L Turbo (Silverado, Colorado). Misfires and turbo failures.
  • Cadillac CUE infotainment. Touchscreen delamination and freeze.
  • Super Cruise. Lane-centering disengagements and mapping issues.
  • Lyriq (Cadillac EV). Software and quality issues on early production.
  • Hummer EV. Software updates, charging issues.
  • Cruze diesel emissions.

 

 

Models Covered

  • Chevrolet: Spark, Sonic, Trax, Trailblazer, Equinox, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Camaro, Corvette, Bolt EV/EUV, Silverado EV, Blazer EV, Equinox EV
  • GMC: Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Sierra, Canyon, Hummer EV
  • Cadillac: CT4, CT5, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, Lyriq, Celestiq, Optiq
  • Buick: Encore, Envision, Enclave

 

 

GM Arbitration

GM operates its own informal dispute resolution program. Participation by California consumers is optional and the resulting decisions are non-binding on the consumer. Because GM’s program is not “qualified” under California’s stringent § 1793.22(d) criteria in the same way as BBB Auto Line, California GM consumers can typically proceed directly to civil litigation without the procedural arbitration step.

 

 

Free GM Lemon Law Case Review

McMillan Law Group will evaluate your Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, or Buick repair history at no cost. No fee unless we win.

Start your free case review →

 

 

About the Author

Julian McMillan is the founder of McMillan Law Group and a California lemon law attorney with over 25 years of legal experience, having represented San Diego consumers since 2000. He has been named a Thomson Reuters Super Lawyer twelve consecutive years (2014–2025), recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyer, and listed in San Diego Magazine’s Top Attorneys in San Diego (2016–2025) and America’s Most Honored Professionals (2018–2025).

Julian holds an L.L.M. from the University of San Diego School of Law, an L.L.M. from Nottingham Law School (England), an L.L.B. with Distinction from the University of Exeter (England), and a B.A. (Honors) from the University of Victoria (Canada). He is admitted to the California Bar, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California, and the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Before founding McMillan Law Group he practiced at DLA Piper (San Diego) and Ashurst Morris Crisp (London).

McMillan Law Group · 4655 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109 · +1 619-795-9430 · Statutory citations on this site link to leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.