Overview
There is a proposed class action settlement involving the GM vehicles listed in the Notice and FAQs on this website. These vehicles were factory-equipped with Dex-Cool. Dex-Cool is an engine coolant designed to protect vehicles’ engine and cooling systems. A number of lawsuits were filed as class actions against GM in state and federal courts across the United States involving “Dex Cool” extended-life engine coolant. Among other things, the lawsuits allege that (i) Dex-Cool in the vehicles listed in the Notice caused problems with the vehicles’ engines or cooling systems, and (ii) that certain engine components, such as the nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gaskets installed in certain vehicles, were defective. GM denies all allegations of wrongdoing and denies liability under any claim asserted in the lawsuits.
You are included in this proposed settlement if you own or lease or previously owned or leased any of the specified vehicles and made repairs related to the use of Dex-Cool. For more information on whether you may be included in the class, please consult the Notice or FAQs.
Repairs involving intake manifold gasket failures, engine coolant sealing issues, and sludge (a rust-like material) are covered by this proposed settlement. These repairs would likely involve parts like the intake manifold and/or manifold gaskets, throttle body gaskets, radiator cap, heater core, water pump and other parts of the cooling system. See the Notice or FAQs for a complete description of the specific types of repairs covered for each vehicle type.
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to give final approval to the proposed settlement. Valid claims will be paid if the proposed settlement is approved.
Covered Vehicles
There are three groups of vehicles that are covered by the settlement: Group A Vehicles, Group B Vehicles, and Group C Vehicles. Each group of vehicles is listed below, followed by the Covered Repairs for which cash reimbursement is available under the proposed settlement.
| GROUP A VEHICLES Model years 1995-2003 Equipped with 3.1-liter or 3.4-liter V6 engine, manufactured before April 10, 2003 with a nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket. |
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| Buick | Century, Rendezvous, Regal, Skylark |
| Chevrolet | Impala, Lumina, Malibu, Monte Carlo, Venture, Corsica, Beretta, Lumina APV |
| Oldsmobile | Alero, Cutlass (Supreme and Ciera), Silhouette | Pontiac | Aztek, Grand Am, Grand Prix, Montana, Trans Sport |
Note: Some of these vehicles may have been offered for sale with an engine other than a 3.1-liter or 3.4 -liter V6 engine. Any of the above models sold with an engine other than a 3.1-liter or 3.4 -liter V6 engine are not included and are not eligible to make a claim.
Group A Covered Repairs: Replacement of failed nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket.
| GROUP B VEHICLES Model years 1995-2004 Equipped with 3.8-liter V6 engine (internal GM engine designation RPO L36). | |
| Buick | LeSabre, Park Avenue, Regal, Riviera |
| Chevrolet | Camaro, Impala, Lumina, Monte Carlo |
| Oldsmobile | Eighty-Eight, Intrigue, LSS, Ninety-Eight |
| Pontiac | Bonneville, Firebird, Grand Prix |
Note: Some of these vehicles may have been offered for sale with an engine other than a 3.8-liter V6 engine RPO L36. Any of the above models sold with an engine other than a 3.8-liter V6 engine RPO L36 are not included and are not eligible to make a claim.
Group B Covered Repairs: Repairs necessitated by engine coolant sealing issues, including replacement of throttle body gasket, upper intake manifold gasket, lower intake manifold gasket, or intake manifold.
| GROUP C VEHICLES Model years 1995-2000 Equipped with 4.3-liter V6 engine | |
| Chevrolet | Blazer, Chevrolet S-10 |
| GMC | Envoy, Jimmy, S-15 |
| Oldsmobile | Bravada |
Group C Covered Repairs: Repairs necessitated by cooling-system sludge, including cooling-system flush, heater core repairs, water pump repairs, or radiator cap replacement. “Sludge” refers to a rust-like material that can form in the cooling system and whose formation is related to use of Dex-Cool.
If you own one of the models listed above, but (i) with a different engine size than what is listed, or (ii) the vehicle was manufactured using a lower intake manifold gasket other than a nylon/silicone gasket, or (iii) the vehicle is a Group A vehicle manufactured after April 9, 2003, then you are not covered by the settlement and are not eligible to file a claim.
Settlement Benefits
Under the proposed settlement, GM will send cash reimbursements to class members who paid for Covered Repairs performed within seven years or 150,000 miles (whichever is earlier) after the original owner or lessee took delivery of the vehicle, and who submit timely and valid claims.
The amount of reimbursement for which you are eligible depends on (i) when the Covered Repair was performed and (ii) the amount you actually paid, as described below:
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For a Covered Repair made within five years after initial vehicle delivery:
You are eligible to be reimbursed the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $400, if you were not previously fully reimbursed.
However, if you can document that the Covered Repair required you to pay over $1,500 to address an internal coolant leak, your reimbursement level may be different. If so, you can elect to request reimbursement of 40% of the amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $800, if you were not previously fully reimbursed.
(An internal coolant leak means that coolant leaked from one vehicle component into another component. Whereas an external coolant leak means that coolant leaked from inside a vehicle component to the exterior of the vehicle.) -
For a Covered Repair made in the sixth year after initial vehicle delivery:
You are eligible to be reimbursed the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $100, if you were not previously fully reimbursed. - For a Covered Repair made in the seventh year after initial vehicle delivery:
You are eligible to be reimbursed the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $50, if you were not previously fully reimbursed.
If you paid for more than one Covered Repair (whether on the same vehicle or on different vehicles included in the proposed settlement), you may make a separate claim for each repair.
Your Options
MAKE A CLAIM. To make a claim for a reimbursement under the proposed settlement, you must submit each of the following documents and fully complete the claim statement or your claim may be denied:
(a.) Completed Claim Statement; (b.) Proof of repair payment; and (c.) Proof of ownership or lease.
Claims must be postmarked or submitted online no later than October 27, 2008.
For more details on claim submission requirements, please consult the Claim Statement, Notice or FAQs.
REQUEST TO BE EXCLUDED. The deadline to request exclusion from the proposed settlement was August 13, 2008. For more details on exclusion procedures, please consult the Notice or FAQs.
OBJECT OR COMMENT. The deadline to object or comment on the proposed settlement was August 13, 2008. For more details on filing objections, please consult the Notice or FAQs.
Fairness Hearing
On September 5, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., a hearing will be held before the Michael Manners, in Division 2 of the Jackson County Circuit Court at Independence, 308 West Kansas, Independence, Missouri 64050. The purpose of the hearing is for the Court to decide whether the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate and should be approved. The Court will also decide whether a final judgment should be entered dismissing this lawsuit; and the amount of attorneys’ fees and expenses and incentive awards to class representatives. This hearing may be postponed without further notice to the class.
| Date | Case-Related Event |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2008 | Claim Statement Deadline |
| August 13, 2008 [Expired] |
Request for Exclusion Deadline |
| August 13, 2008 [Expired] |
Objection Filing Deadline |
| September 5, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. |
Fairness Hearing |