A class action lawsuit has been filed against General Motors Australia and New Zealand over allegedly faulty Holden vehicle transmissions. Law firm Maurice Blackburn claims the defect affects several Holden models produced over a 13-year period.
Allegations of Faulty Transmissions
Maurice Blackburn alleges that certain Holden vehicles sold between January 1, 2011, and December 24, 2024, have defective automatic transmissions. The affected models include the Commodore VE, Commodore VF, and Colorado.
The defective transmissions include the GM 6L45, GM 6L50, and GM 6L80 units. Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Kimi Nishimura explained the issue in a statement:
“Our class action alleges that the transmission systems in the affected vehicles are defective due to a design fault in the torque converter and torque converter clutch.”
Reported Issues with the Vehicles
Nishimura outlined the problems owners have experienced with the allegedly faulty transmissions.
Vehicle owners also reported additional concerns with their vehicles. Nishimura added:
“Owners of the affected vehicles have also reported leakage of automatic transmission fluid, accelerated degradation of transmission system components, and greater servicing requirements.”
Consumer Rights and Compensation Claims
The Holden transmission class action lawsuit claims General Motors failed to meet consumer law standards. Nishimura stated:
“The class action alleges that General Motors failed to comply with the guarantee of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law and engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.”
Maurice Blackburn is seeking compensation for affected consumers. The law firm encourages vehicle owners to register for updates on the case’s progress.
Eligibility for Compensation
The class action covers Holden vehicles with the specified transmission models sold between January 2011 and December 2024. Affected owners include those who:
- Still own the vehicle
- Have sold the vehicle
- Have had the vehicle written off
- Own an affected vehicle but have not yet experienced transmission issues
Models Included in the Class Action
The transmission class action lawsuit affects multiple models with the GM 6L45, 6L50, and 6L80 transmissions. These include:
Holden Commodore Models:
- Commodore VE (MY11-MY12.5)
- Commodore VF (MY13-MY17)
Colorado Models:
- Colorado 7 (MY12-MY16)
- Colorado (MY17-MY20)
- Trailblazer (MY17-MY20)
Luxury and Performance Models:
- Berlina VE (MY11-MY12.5)
- Calais VE (MY11-MY12.5)
- Calais VF (MY13-MY17)
- Holden Ute VE (MY11-MY13)
- Holden Ute VF (MY13-MY17)
- Caprice WM Series II (MY11-MY12)
- Caprice WN (MY13-MY15)
- Caprice WN Series II (MY15-MY17)
General Motors Responds
General Motors Australia and New Zealand has not commented on the ongoing litigation. A spokesperson for the company stated:
“GM does not comment on ongoing litigation. GM stands by its commitment to achieving the best outcomes for Holden customers.”
Previous Automotive Class Actions
This Holden transmission class action lawsuit is not the first against a major car manufacturer in Australia.
In 2016, Ford Australia faced a similar lawsuit over its Powershift dual-clutch automatic transmissions. The Federal Court ruled the transmission was “not of acceptable quality” and awarded $17,248 in compensation to the lead applicant.
In 2019, Toyota Australia faced legal action over defective Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) in HiLux, Fortuner, and Prado models. Affected owners received payouts reflecting 17.5% of the vehicle’s average retail value.
Next Steps for Holden Owners
Maurice Blackburn advises affected Holden owners to register for updates on the class action progress. Owners can still join the class action if they have sold the vehicle, had it written off, or not yet experienced any transmission issues.
The Holden transmission class action lawsuit aims to hold General Motors accountable while seeking compensation for affected consumers.
