| Kris |
General Motors has settled a class-action lawsuit involving early transmission failures in the more than 90,000 Saturn vehicles carrying its VTi continuously variable transmission.
The settlement, which has preliminary approval from a federal judge, could cost GM more than $100 million, said Rob Schmeider, a plaintiffs' lawyer from the Lakin Law Firm of Wood River, Ill.
The settlement applies to owners of 2002 to 2005 Saturn Vues or 2003 or 2004 Saturn Ions with failed VTi transmissions, which cost around $4,000 to $5,000 to replace, Schmeider said. The percentage of individual plaintiffs' expenses that will be paid depends on the mileage of the vehicle when the transmission failed, and whether owners purchased the vehicle new or used.
If the judge grants approval, all people listed on qualifying vehicle titles will receive claim forms for past and future expenses related to failure of the VTi transmission before vehicles reach 125,000 miles. The settlement applies to VTis that fail within eight years of the model year.
U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb has scheduled a hearing Feb. 17 in Sacramento. Calif., to weigh final approval of the settlement.
GM could not release details or comment on Thursday, a spokeswoman said.
The VTi transmission, which Saturn discontinued after 2005, uses a steel belt and adjustable pulleys to keep the engine running in its most efficient rpm range. GM touted it as 7 percent more fuel efficient than the automatic transmissions Saturn was producing at the time.
The transmission, designed by GM Powertrain, was made in an Adam Opel AG plant in Szentgotthard, Hungary. |
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| Corin |
| ooooo, very interesting. Wonder how Nissan will handle the news? Will they try to preemptively make corrections, or wait for a similar lawsuit against them? |
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| njjoe |
I bet you that right at this moment there are a bunch of senior execs sitting around a table in the NNA legal department trying to determine what their exposure may be.
With any luck we may soon see a change in policy for handling out-of-warranty CVT failures.
Thanks General Motors!!
-njjoe |
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| hfelknor |
I don't think there is much in common with the Saturn Class Action suit.
The suit is not based on the fact that Trannys are being replaced instead of repaired.
The suit is based on an extremely high rate of failure.
There are "potentially" tens of thousands of VTi trannys that have failed.
That is not the case with the Murano IMO.
Again, IMO, the failure rate of the CVT seems to me, to be on the low side.
The fact that Nissan replaces, instead of repairs, may or may not be a valid point for instituting a law suit.......
Just my 3 cents.
Homer |
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| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by hfelknor
Just my 3 cents.
Homer
pppppth! How come Homer's thoughts are always worth 50% more than mine? :p |
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| hfelknor |
quote:
Originally posted by Corin
pppppth! How come Homer's thoughts are always worth 50% more than mine? :p
don't confuse "asking price" with "worth"............. |
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| Kris |
Class action suit rather unlikely as CVT failure rate seems low...
However, Nissan policy with regards to CVT "repairs" wil lhurt them longterm....
And this is my 1c....;) |
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| BikerJohn |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
Class action suit rather unlikely as CVT failure rate seems low...
However, Nissan policy with regards to CVT "repairs" wil lhurt them longterm....
And this is my 1c....;)
I too think that the whole issue with Nissan's CVT related "Non-servicability" will keep Nissan from producing another vehicle with one.
It sure will keep me away from purchasing another vehicle(any make) with a CVT/VTi kind of tranny that is not servicable.
Just my CDN 3/4 c !(exchange rates not so strong) :D |
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| zebelkhan |
quote:
Originally posted by BikerJohn
I too think that the whole issue with Nissan's CVT related "Non-servicability" will keep Nissan from producing another vehicle with one.
Sort of doubt it since Maxiam, Murano, and Altima all have CVTs. But you are right. I tend to shy away from CVT as well until it becomes serviceable. |
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| BikerJohn |
quote:
Originally posted by zebelkhan
Sort of doubt it since Maxiam, Murano, and Altima all have CVTs.
Ahh yes; I forgot about those two....:D |
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| Eric L. |
I think a warranty extension on the CVT will only happen if there are enough complaints for NHTSA to open up an investigation. This is what happened that lead to the alternator recall, as well as the fuel tank shield recall.
So if you've had CVT issues, file a report! |
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| hfelknor |
And in your NHYSA complaint, feature your SAFETY concerns because frankly the NHTSA could care less about your wallet.......
Homer |
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