General Motors Defective Shifters Settlement

Consumers who purchased or leased certain new General Motors vehicles in Ohio or Tennessee and experienced and sought a repair for a shift-to-park issue may qualify to claim up to $875 from a class action settlement.

The vehicles include:

• 2017-2019 GMC Acadia (in Ohio)
• 2019 Chevrolet Blazer (in Ohio)
• 2016-2019 Chevrolet Malibu (in Ohio)
• 2018-2019 Chevrolet Traverse (in Ohio)
• 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt (in Ohio)
• 2017-2018 GMC Acadia (in Tennessee)

General Motors LLC agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the above vehicles displayed a shift-to-park message even when the vehicle was in park, preventing the vehicle from shutting off and causing inconvenience to owners.

Who can file a claim for a GM payout?

The class is divided into two groups:

• Ohio Class (Riley Class):
• Initial purchasers and lessees of certain vehicles who purchased or leased in Ohio, sought a repair from a GM dealer during the warranty period and were not provided with a silicon-free replacement part.
• These vehicles include:
• 2017-2019 GMC Acadia
• 2019 Chevrolet Blazer
• 2016-2019 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2018-2019 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt

• Tennessee Class (Jefferson Class):
• Initial purchasers and lessees of new 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles who purchased or leased in Tennessee, sought a repair from a GM dealer during the warranty period and were not provided with either a silicon-free replacement shifter assembly or silicon-free shifter control wire harness at no charge.

How much is the shift-to-park defect payout?

• $500 Cash Payment: All eligible class members are entitled to a $500 cash payment.
• Out-of-Pocket Reimbursement Payment: Class members who paid out-of-pocket for a repair of the shift-to-park issue may receive an additional payment of up to $375.

If there are multiple co-owners or co-lessees for a vehicle, the payments will be divided equally among them.

How to claim a GM class action rebate

Class members listed in GM’s warranty or customer pay data do not need to take any action to receive either payment.

Those who do not believe they are listed can file a claim online or download the PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement Administrator's mailing address: Jefferson & Riley v. General Motors Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132

Proof and documentation required

Class members who are not listed in GM's warranty or customer pay data and wish to submit a claim for out-of-pocket reimbursement must submit an invoice or other repair documentation showing:

• Vehicle VIN
• Date of repair
• Description of work
• Proof of amount paid
• Facility that performed the repair

Payout options

• Electronic payment
• Paper check mailed to the address on file unless provided on the claim form

GM defective shifters settlement fund breakdown

The settlement fund covers.

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees and expenses: Up to $2,035,000
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $10,000 each ($20,000 total)
• Payments to class members: The remainder of the fund

Important dates

• Claim Deadline: Aug.19, 2025
• Exclusion Deadline: July 21, 2025
• Final Approval Hearing: Aug. 22, 2025

When is the shift-to-park payout date?

Payments will be made after the court grants final approval and all appeals, if any, are resolved.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

This class action settlement alleged certain GM vehicles had a defective shifter, causing the dashboard to display a shift-to-park message even when the vehicle was in park and preventing the vehicle from shutting off. The plaintiffs claimed GM breached warranties and contracts by failing to repair the issue under warranty.

GM denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.

Sources

1. Settlement Website FAQ
2. Settlement Agreement