General Motors, sued over alleged defects – Check if your Holden is affected!

For many, the Holden brand is synonymous with reliability and a legacy of local manufacturing. However, recent developments have cast a shadow over this iconic marque, as allegations of defective transmissions have prompted legal action that could affect thousands of Holden owners nationwide. 

Maurice Blackburn, a leading law firm, has initiated a class action lawsuit against General Motors (GM), Holden’s parent company, over claims that a significant number of vehicles were sold with faulty transmissions. This legal move could result in compensation for those who have been driving these allegedly compromised vehicles.

The class action specifically highlights three types of transmissions – the GM 6L 45, 50, and 80 – which were installed in popular models such as the Australian-made Holden Commodore, as well as the Thailand-sourced Colorado ute and Trailblazer four-wheel-drive.

These vehicles were sold in Australia between January 1, 2011 and December 24, 2024, a period that includes the end of local Commodore production in October 2017 and Holden’s eventual cessation of all vehicle sales in December 2020.

It’s important to note that smaller Holden models, such as the Barina, Cruze, and Captiva, are not implicated in this issue.

The allegations brought forward by Maurice Blackburn in the Holden Transmission Class Action are serious. Kimi Nishimura, a principal lawyer at the firm, claimed that the affected vehicles possess a design fault in the Torque Converter and Torque Converter Clutch.

This alleged defect has reportedly led to a range of problems for car owners, including intermittent transmission shudders, excessive vibrations, harsh gear shifts, and even leakage of automatic transmission fluid. 

The class action goes further to accuse GM of failing to meet the standards of acceptable quality as guaranteed under the Australian Consumer Law and engaging ‘in misleading and deceptive conduct.’

Apparently, GM’s history with transmission issues isn’t limited to Australia. The automotive giant has faced similar legal challenges and mass recalls in the United States, particularly concerning eight-speed automatic transmissions in models like the Chevrolet Camaro and Silverado.

‘For most Australians, cars are one of their biggest investments, and consumers are entitled to expect that the cars they buy are free from defects,’ pointed out Nishimura.

She added that the class action seeks to recover compensation for those who have suffered loss and damage due to the alleged transmission system faults.

Affected Holden vehicles in the class action are as follows:

You are eligible to register for the class action if you acquired one or more of the affected Holden vehicles, including by way of purchase, exchange, lease, or hire-purchase, between January 1, 2011 and December 24, 2024.

Maurice Blackburn also added that you can still register for the class action if you have sold the vehicle, the vehicle has been written off, or you have acquired an affected vehicle but did not experience any problems with it.

If someone you know has a vehicle affected by this class action please send this article to them.

Have you personally experienced any issues with your Holden’s transmission? Share your story in the comments below. Your experience could help inform and support other members of our community facing similar challenges.

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