GM Pays Out for Coolant-Related Repairs

Any chance you bought a GM vehicle between 1995 and 2004? If so, GM might owe you as much as $800 as part of a settlement in one of the largest product-liability lawsuits a U.S. automaker has ever faced.

The problem stems from an engine coolant known as Dex-Cool, which caused engine malfunction in an estimated 35 million vehicles. Even if you bought your car used, you could be entitled to compensation for repairs linked to the faulty coolant.

The details break down like this: If you paid for a repair because of Dex-Cool on any 3.1-, 3.4-, 3.8-, or 4.3-liter V-6 engine in the first seven years or 150,000 miles of the vehicle’s life, then GM owes you some amount of money. If the repair came in the seventh year, you're owed $50, in the sixth year $100, and any repair in the first five years earns you $400. Any damage to the car beyond the engine's cooling system, and you're looking at up to $800. Finally, if you had to pay for multiple repairs, you’re entitled to multiple repayments.

Now you're beginning to see how this could add up for GM.

Claims can be submitted until Oct. 27 of this year. For more information, or if you think you qualify for repayment, go to www.dexcoolsettlement.com. Read the models after the jump.

Model years 1995-2003, equipped with 3.1-liter or 3.4-liter V-6 engine:

Buick: Century, Rendezvous

Chevrolet: Impala, Lumina, Malibu, Monte Carlo, Venture

Oldsmobile: Alero, Cutlass, Silhouette

Pontiac: Aztek, Grand Am, Grand Prix, Montana, Trans Sport

Model years 1995-2004, equipped with 3.8-liter V-6 engine:

Buick: LeSabre, Park Avenue, Regal, Riviera

Chevrolet: Camaro, Impala, Lumina, Monte Carlo

Oldsmobile: Eighty-Eight, Intrigue, LSS, Ninety-Eight

Pontiac: Bonneville, Firebird, Grand Prix

Model years 1995-2000, equipped with 4.3-liter V-6:

Chevrolet: Blazer, Chevrolet S-10

GMC: Envoy, Jimmy, S-15

Oldsmobile: Bravada

GM to Pay in Coolant Repair Cases (Detroit Free Press)

Comments

[Ken L.]

If Dex-Cool is what’s causing the problems, then shouldn’t it affect more than just GM vehicles? I currently have Dex-Cool in my 98 4Runner 3.4ltr V6 and I’m sure Dex-Cool is currently being used in many more engines. Dex Cool was touted as superior due to its higher tolerance.

[Zerf]

Thanks guys for the info. I owned a 99 Grand Am that needed the intake manifold replaced. I am submitting a claim, for some reason I kept the paperwork. I will take the money if I can get it.

Ken L. Yours will probably be up to Toyota as to what they do about it. As I looked into the site they only cover certain parts on certain models. On the Grand Am for example it was just the intake manifold, the one our local garage replaced it with was never a problem again.