Davis Law Group, P.S.

Lawsuit with GM Unveils After Auto Defect Was Only Fixed on Police Cars

A lawsuit involving General Motors Co. alleges that the company treated the police better than citizens while dealing with an auto defect case regarding 2007 and 2008 Chevrolet Impalas. The Impalas allegedly had defective spindle rods, which connect the suspension to the rear wheels. The wheels on the vehicle were misaligned from the defect, causing the tires to wear out quickly.

According to the lawsuit filed, GM fixed the part on police versions of the Impala but did not fix the same problem in hundreds of other Impalas.

A victim of the auto defect problem, Donna Trusky says that she had to replace the tires on her new Impala at 6,000 miles. Tires generally do not need to be replaced until 30,000 miles or more. Trusky’s attorneys are asking the judge to certify her lawsuit as a class action.
Gm sent a letter to car dealers in 2008 regarding the auto defect and explaining that they need to replace the spindle rods and tires on affected police vehicles.

Apparently, GM did not offer the same treatment to non-police owners. There were a total of 423,000 Impalas from model years sold, and just 23,800 of those became police vehicles. The company would not comment further on the case.

Trusky is upset that she was held responsible for replacing her tires when it should be covered under her warranty.

At least 30 other Impala drivers have sent complaints about the auto defect issue to the NHTSA. There have been no reports regarding accidents caused by this auto problem. Many drivers have complained that the rear end of the vehicle swings out, especially while driving on snow or ice.

NHTSA hasn't started an investigation regarding the Impala's suspension system, which is generally the first step in the process that can lead to a safety recall.