Bite-sized content about all the recalls, lawsuits, and investigations surrounding the 1996-2020 Express.
Late last year they said the van's batteries could drain when the positive battery cable accidently came in contact with the fuse block assembly. Now they're saying it's less drain, more flame—as in at least four vans have gone up in smoke due to the batteries short-circuiting.…
keep readingIt's not the first time GM has been sued for oil issues in the Vortec engine. Specifically (and stick with me here) the Generation IV 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engine.
As with previous lawsuits, the plaintiffs say low-tension piston rings, oil spray from the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, and agressive vacuuming from the engine's positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system are to blame.…
keep readingf you crank the heat in certain GM vans, you might get more than you bargained for due to an electrical short.* If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components inside the modules may overheat and catch fire.
Any potential fires will start in the headliner. I like the cabin toasty on a cold winter day, but that’s a bit too much. GM doesn’t know when the recall will begin, so keep the heat down in the meantime.
keep readingGM says liquid can enter the switch and corrode it, leading to high electrical resistance. The resistance can cause the switch to overheat, smoke, melt and cause a fire, although the automaker isn't exactly sure what is causing the corrosion.
Spill a coffee, get a fire. That’s a really bad day.
keep readingAccording to the lawsuit, the Vortec 5300 engines in the vehicles consume extreme levels of oil because of defects in the oil rings that allow oil to invade the combustion chambers … The plaintiffs claim the oil pressure warnings can fail to activate in time to prevent engine damage, something GM has allegedly known is a problem with the Vortec engines.
The judge had previously dismissed the lawsuit and doesn't seem too interested in complaints about fires, oil rings, or inadequate warnings.
The plaintiffs have a small, uphill chance if they can amend their complaints.
keep readingLast year a very reasinable argument was made that the Vortec 5300 engine is designed in a way that creates excessive oil consumption. It's also designed in a way that doesn't warn you when an excessive amount of oil has been used.
However, a federal judge has ruled there isn't enough evidence to support the claims.…
keep readingSome might even say it's excessive. A lawsuit filed in Minnesota says the problem is multi-faceted.
That's a recipe for disaster, but the cherry on top is the somewhat useless oil monitoring system. Instead of measuring the volume of oil left in the crankcase, the system measures environmetal variables to determine the quality of the oil.
Sure, there's only a pint of oil left in the engine but don't worry ... the oil quality is great.
The lawsuit mentions GM has tried to improve the situation by updating the vehicle's crankcase ventilation and active fuel management system, but it never really helped. Eventually GM just updated the Generation IV Vortec 5300 engine and replaced it with a redesigned Generation V Vortec 5300 that stopped using low-tension oil rings and reintriduced an oil level sensor.
keep readingThe best way to find out what's wrong with a vehicle is from the people who drive them. Not only do owner complaints help us rank vehicles by reliability, but they're often used to spark class-action lawsuits and warranty extensions. Plus, they're a great way to vent.