So far, General Motors hasn’t issued a lifter recall, but owners say the automaker should. Nine plaintiffs have filed a class-action lawsuit against GM. They claim the active fuel management lifters, dynamic file management lifters, and valve train systems are defective. They believe GM should do the right thing and issue a recall. 

The lawsuit alleges the lifters prematurely fail and malfunction for various reasons. They claim the lifters and locking pins are installed incorrectly, don’t adhere to standard design specs, and are made of subpar materials. The problem isn’t considered a safety issue, but it can cause numerous problems, including engine ticking, stalling, and surging. 

Which GM vehicles have the alleged problems?

The issue spans the General Motors family: GMC, Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet vehicles with a 5.3-liter, 6.0-liter, or 6.2-liter V8 engine. GMC vehicles affected are the 2014 to present Sierra, 2014 to present Sierra 1500, 2014 to present Yukon, and 2014 to present Yukon XL. Cadillac vehicles are the 2014 to present Escalade and 2016 to 2019 CTS-V.

Chevrolet has the most models allegedly affected, CarComplaints.com reports. They include the 2014 to present Silverado 1500, 2014 to 2016 Avalanche, 2014 to present Suburban, 2014 to present Tahoe, 2016 to present Camaro, 2014 to present Camaro SS, and 2014 to 2019 Corvette.

Why should GM recall these vehicles?

The plaintiffs argue that these vehicles should be recalled due to their faulty lifters. What exactly are lifters? Lifters open the intake and exhaust valves that open at different times inside the engine, J.D. Power explains. It’s a cylinder that sits between the cylinder valves and the camshaft. As the camshaft comes over the lifter, it temporarily opens the valve. Each valve has its own lifter, either active fuel management lifters or dynamic fuel management lifters. 

Lifters are part of the valve train system in variable-displacement engines. The technology works by using the engine’s cylinders only when needed, which conserves fuel. The system keeps the valves closed when they’re not in use. 

Recently, GM has taken some steps to correct the problem. On some 2021 full-size truck and SUV models, General Motors has issued a service recall, GM Authority reports. Vehicles with a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter L87 V8 or a 5.3-liter L84 V8 gasoline engine might experience issues with the valve lifter lock pin spring. These repairs should be done by a dealership technician before they’re sold to the public. 

How to join the class-action lawsuit

The class-action lawsuit against GM claims that because of the lifter issue, more valve train maintenance is required than is standard. It also says the vehicles require more engine flushing and cleaning, replacing the valve lifter oil manifold, more frequent oil changes, and more frequent filter changes. The owners also say that GM uses equally defective parts as replacements. The problem can cause the vehicles to hesitate, misfire, stutter, and lose power. 

Although there is “component coverage” on these vehicles, owners claim it kicks in only when they have had two or more repairs already done. The warranty covers any internally lubricated parts, control modules, and electrical components for defects. 

If your GM vehicle is one of the above-listed models and exhibits these issues, you might want to join the class-action lawsuit. To do so, contact one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs. These law firms are Berger Montague, Capstone Law APC, the Miller Law Firm, and Gordon & Partners P.A.