GM Class Action Lawsuit Says 2020-2024 Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain SUVs Sold With Fuel Pump Defect

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A new class action lawsuit against General Motors alleges 2020-2024 model year Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs are equipped with defective fuel pumps or fuel pump power control modules, and falsely advertised as safe, durable and reliable vehicles. 

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The 76-page Chevy Equinox GMC Terrain fuel pump lawsuit summarizes that the alleged fuel pump defect causes the flow of gasoline from a vehicle’s fuel tank to the engine to be interrupted. Without enough fuel, an affected Equinox or Terrain model can fail while being driven, increasing the risk of an accident, the filing states. 

When the fuel pump defect manifests, an Equinox or Terrain driver may experience audible ticking noises from the rear of the vehicle, a loss of power, inability to start the engine, and decreased engine performance, and a warning light on the dashboard may illuminate, the suit notes. 

The case alleges General Motors has known of the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain fuel pump defect since at least 2019, yet failed to disclose the issue, and instead “touted the quality, durability, reliability, and performance” of the vehicles. According to the suit, the fuel pumps at issue, located inside a vehicle’s fuel tank, are manufactured by AC Delco, a subsidiary of GM. 

“The Defect causes unsafe driving conditions as the Class Vehicles have a significant chance of failing while being driven because fuel cannot reach the engine,” the lawsuit stresses, noting that even the “lesser symptoms” of the fuel pump problem can hamper vehicle performance and safety should the car lose power, hesitate, sputter or misfire. 

Moreover, the alleged fuel pump defect can harm a vehicle’s engine, which can become damaged should there be an insufficient amount of fuel. As the lawsuit tells it, GM has no fix for the fuel pump issue and “merely replaces defective parts with equally defective parts.” As a result, Equinox and Terrain drivers often must undergo repeated repairs, with partial or “band-aid type” fixes leaving damage to other engine components unaddressed, the suit claims. 

“GM knows there is no permanent repair for the Defect, yet GM continues to direct its authorized dealerships merely to replace certain components with equally defective replacement components while informing consumers that their vehicles are fixed, whether or not those repairs are made under warranty,” the class action lawsuit alleges. “GM has purposefully concealed the existence and extent of the Defect to transfer the costs of repairs from GM to unsuspecting consumers.”

Per the complaint, replacing an Equinox or Terrain fuel pump and/or fuel pump control module can cost up to $2,000, and the issue itself not only reduces the value of proposed class members’ vehicles but endangers drivers and passengers. 

“Had GM disclosed the Defect, Plaintiffs and the Class members would not have purchased their vehicles or would have paid less for them,” the lawsuit contends. 

The suit looks to cover all persons or entities in the United States, including its territories and the District of Columbia, who bought or leased a 2020-2024 Chevy Equinox or GMC Terrain.

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