GM May Owe You $500 If Your Vehicle Became Stuck in Park | Carscoops

      Drivers in Ohio and Tennessee may receive some compensation following a class action settlement regarding vehicles that became stuck in Park due to defective gear selectors.

      General Motors has settled a class action lawsuit concerning a reported issue with gear selectors in multiple models. This agreement, applicable only to owners or lessees in Ohio and Tennessee, may provide payments of up to $500, along with reimbursements for specific repair costs.

      To be eligible, owners must have experienced the "Shift to Park" problem and sought repairs at a GM dealership while the vehicle was still covered by warranty.

      A Shared Frustration

      Recently approved by a federal judge, the settlement consolidates lawsuits from Ohio and Tennessee. Plaintiffs alleged that some GM vehicles did not recognize when the transmission was shifted into Park, resulting in a persistent "Shift to Park" warning. This issue reportedly prevented drivers from shutting off the vehicle and securing it properly.

      Instead of proceeding to trial, GM chose to settle the lawsuit, a common tactic in similar cases, and did so without admitting any wrongdoing.

      As part of the settlement, individuals who purchased or leased a 2017-2019 GMC Acadia, 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, 2016-2019 Chevrolet Malibu, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, or 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt in Ohio will be eligible for a $500 cash payment. Similarly, those who bought or leased these models in Tennessee are also eligible under the same conditions for a $500 payment.

      Payments and Reimbursements

      In addition to the $500 cash payment, class members who personally covered repair expenses can receive reimbursements of up to $375. GM has records of some owners who paid for these repairs at dealerships or service centers.

      The $500 payment will be distributed equally among individuals who jointly owned or leased a qualifying vehicle, meaning co-owners and co-lessees will share the payout rather than each receiving the full sum.

      Furthermore, the two lead plaintiffs, Rilla Jefferson and Mark Riley, will each receive $10,000 for their involvement in the case. Additionally, the attorneys representing affected owners will receive a substantial payment of $2.035 million for their services.