Chevy Equinox Lawsuit: The New CVT Case and Three Others
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The Chevy Equinox class action in the news is a transmission case. It was filed against General Motors on September 15, 2026, and covers 2024-and-newer Equinox models with a CVT. Two other pending suits involve brakes on 2018–2022 models and fuel pumps on 2020–2024 models. The only Chevy Equinox settlement was for oil consumption on 2010–2013 models, and it received final approval in 2019. As of October 2026 there is no open settlement, no claim form and no deadline.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuits Say Is Wrong
Transmission (newest). The CVT lawsuit alleges that the continuously variable transmission in the 2024-and-newer Equinox, the 2024-and-newer GMC Terrain, the 2019–2025 Malibu and the 2021–2025 Trailblazer can slip, shudder, hesitate and lose forward drive while the car is moving. It blames the clutch regulator valve, valve body, drive chain, pulleys and bearings. It alleges GM knew about the problem as early as 2021 and told dealers to call it normal operation. The complaint also points to GM's announced switch away from the CVT in 2027.
Brakes. A separate suit alleges that the brake vacuum pump in 2018–2022 Equinox models can fail, leaving a hard pedal and longer stopping distances. It alleges GM knew by March 2017, when it issued a stop-delivery order.
Fuel pumps. A third suit alleges that 2020–2024 Equinox fuel pumps can starve the engine and cause stalling, and that the February 2023 recall neither fixed the problem nor covered every affected vehicle.
GM denies the allegations. None of them has been proven in court.
Case Details
CVT: Williams v. General Motors LLC, No. 1:26-cv-01162, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, filed September 15, 2026. The named plaintiff bought a new 2025 Equinox in October 2024.
Brakes: Thieme v. General Motors LLC, No. 2:26-cv-10570, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, filed February 2026. It also covers the 2018–2022 GMC Terrain and the 2016–2020 Buick Envision.
Fuel pumps: Kerr v. General Motors LLC, No. 1:24-cv-00582, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, filed in 2024.
Oil consumption (closed): Berman v. General Motors LLC, No. 2:18-cv-14371, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Robin L. Rosenberg entered the order granting final approval on November 1, 2019.
Status: Three Open Cases, No Open Settlement
CVT (Williams): filed September 15, 2026. We found no ruling and no answer from GM. No class has been certified.
Brakes (Thieme): GM has moved to dismiss. It argues the plaintiffs drove their vehicles for six years before the pumps failed and that the claims are time-barred. We found no ruling on that motion.
Fuel pumps (Kerr): as of November 2025, the warranty claim had been dismissed, an appeal was underway, and GM was asking the court to dismiss the fraudulent-inducement claim as well.
Oil consumption (Berman): settled and closed since 2019. That is the only Chevy Equinox settlement we found. Nobody can file a new claim under it.
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Which Equinox Owners Each Case Covers
If you are looking for a class action lawsuit Chevy Equinox owners can join, the answer depends on your model year.
2024 and newer Equinox with a CVT: proposed class in the Williams transmission case. The class is limited to vehicles equipped with a CVT, so check your window sticker or build sheet.
2018–2022 Equinox: proposed class in the Thieme brake case.
2020–2024 Equinox: proposed class in the Kerr fuel pump case. A recall already covers some 2021–2022 models; you can check your VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup.
2010–2013 Equinox with the 2.4-liter Ecotec engine: this was the Berman settlement class. Its claim process ended years ago.
You do not need to sign up to be part of a proposed class. If a class is certified or a settlement is reached, notice goes out by mail based on VIN registration records. Meanwhile, keep every repair order, especially any that mention transmission slipping, a hard brake pedal or stalling.
Is There Money, and How Much?
The closed oil case shows what an Equinox settlement has looked like before. It was valued at $40 million to $45 million and took the form of extended repair coverage rather than flat cash. GM paid for piston repairs on cars that burned more than one quart of oil per 2,000 miles. It also reimbursed documented out-of-pocket repairs, which the judge said could reach $6,000 or more. The 2013 coverage alone was valued at $40 million or more across about 270,000 vehicles, with no cap. If any current case settles, receipts will probably matter more than ownership alone.
Chevy Equinox Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
September 10, 2018 — Oil-Consumption Suit Filed
Berman v. General Motors is filed in Florida over piston rings in 2010–2013 Equinox and Terrain models with 2.4-liter engines. Related suits are pending in California and Illinois.
- 2
November 1, 2019 — Oil Settlement Approved
Judge Robin L. Rosenberg grants final approval. The settlement provides extended piston coverage and reimbursement, and it is now closed.
- 3
2024 — Fuel Pump Suit Filed
Kerr v. General Motors (No. 1:24-cv-00582) targets 2020–2024 Equinox and Terrain fuel pumps. By November 2025 the warranty claim had been dismissed and an appeal was underway.
- 4
February 2026 — Brake Vacuum Pump Suit
Thieme v. General Motors (No. 2:26-cv-10570) is filed in Michigan over 2018–2022 Equinox brakes. GM later moves to dismiss.
- 5
September 15, 2026 — CVT Suit Filed
Williams v. General Motors (No. 1:26-cv-01162) is filed in Delaware over CVTs in 2024-and-newer Equinox and Terrain models plus the Malibu and Trailblazer.
- 6
October 2026 — Three Open Cases, No Settlement
We found no class certification and no settlement in any of the three current cases, so there is no fund, claim form or deadline.
Three Things to Watch For
Coverage of the CVT suit plus the memory of a real 2019 payout is a combination imposters use:
“Claim your Chevy Equinox settlement” sites
The only Equinox settlement we found received final approval in 2019, and its claim period has long ended. A site asking for your VIN, driver's license or bank details to “file” a CVT, brake or fuel pump claim is collecting data, because no claim process exists.
Recall calls that are really sales calls
Calls and mailers that cite the Equinox fuel pump recall or the CVT lawsuit to sell an “extended warranty” are not from GM or a court. Check recalls yourself with your VIN at NHTSA.
“Sign up to join the class action”
You do not register for a proposed class. Signing a retainer with a firm is a real legal decision, not a form you need in order to get paid. Read it before you sign.
Chevy Equinox Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
Is there a Chevy Equinox class action lawsuit right now?
Yes, there are three. The newest is a CVT transmission case filed September 15, 2026 (Williams v. General Motors, No. 1:26-cv-01162, D. Delaware). The other two cover brake vacuum pumps on 2018–2022 models (Thieme, E.D. Michigan) and fuel pumps on 2020–2024 models (Kerr, D. Delaware).
Is there a Chevy Equinox settlement I can file a claim for?
No. As of October 2026 there is no open Chevy Equinox settlement, no claim form and no deadline. The only settlement covered oil consumption in 2010–2013 models with the 2.4-liter engine. It received final approval on November 1, 2019 and is closed.
Is my 2024 or 2025 Equinox included in the CVT lawsuit?
The proposed class covers 2024-and-newer Equinox models equipped with a CVT. The named plaintiff drives a 2025 Equinox and says rough shifting started at around 7,000 miles. Your window sticker or a dealer can confirm which transmission your vehicle has.
What problems does the Equinox CVT lawsuit describe?
Slipping, shuddering, hesitation, delayed acceleration and, in the worst case, a complete loss of power while driving. The complaint counts 358 complaints to NHTSA across the four models. These are allegations, and GM has not been found liable.
I have a 2018–2022 Equinox with a hard brake pedal. Is that the brake lawsuit?
That is the symptom the Thieme case describes, a failing brake vacuum pump. GM has asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing the pumps lasted about six years and the claims are too old. Get it repaired now for safety and keep the invoice.
My Equinox stalls. Does the fuel pump recall or lawsuit help?
The February 2023 recall replaces the fuel pump module on certain 2021–2022 Equinox models for free. Check your VIN with NHTSA. The Kerr lawsuit alleges the recall missed vehicles and that replacements cost $1,200 to $2,000, but it has no settlement.
Is this the Equinox gym settlement I read about?
No. Settlements named “Equinox” are often unrelated to Chevrolet. One recent Equinox data breach settlement involves a mental-health nonprofit, not the car or the gym. For other GM vehicles, see the General Motors class action overview.
What should Equinox owners do now?
Run your VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, fix open recalls for free, and keep every repair order. If a settlement comes, documented repairs are what tend to get reimbursed. There is nothing to file today.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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