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GM Piston Slap Case May Become A Class Action

August 15, 2005
Federal Judge Joseph Heaton is expected to decide in the next 30 days whether to grant class action status to lawsuits filed a year ago alleging that General Motors sold defective engines in 800,000 1999-2002 pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.

The plaintiffs complain of piston slap, a loud noise caused when a piston knocks against the side of the engine cylinder because the clearance between the piston and cylinder is too wide.

The case involves seven V-8 engines installed in pickup trucks and SUVs between 1999 and 2002 with displacements ranging from 3.1 liters to 8.1 liters.

Owners also complain the vehicles use an excessive amount of fuel, and that resale value is adversely affected. In addition to damages, they are asking GM to replace the engines or buy back the vehicles, claiming the automaker knew about the problem before the vehicles were sold and did not inform consumers.

As many consumers are discovering, piston slap can lower the trade-in value of a vehicle by $4,000 to $6,000.

While Judge Heaton ponders whether or not to grant class action status to the piston slap case, complaints from consumers stuck with the GM trucks continue to arrive at ConsummerAffairs.Com.

"I asked the service representative about my truck making the so-called piston slap. He smiled and said that it was a normal sound on some trucks," said Robert of Birney, Minnesota. "He went on to say that he had heard that if you switch to the synthetic oil that it will take care of the problem."

"On the next oil change I switched to synthetic oil. The noise is getting louder."

"I have one of these noisy trucks ... and I get the same answer: 'it is normal for a truck to sound like that,'" said Cherrell of New Iberia, Louisiana.

Lawrence of Hartsdale, New York has a 2000 GMC Yukon with 115,000 miles on it making the piston slapping noise.

"I am told the engine has to be replaced. This noise has gone on for some time. GM denied knowledge of any such problem," he said.

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