GM Engine Settlement: $150M Fund — Where Payments Stand
Owners of certain 2011-2014 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs with the LC9 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 engine sued General Motors over an alleged piston ring defect that caused excessive oil consumption. A jury sided with the class in 2022, and GM later agreed to a $150 million settlement rather than appeal. As of August 2026, checks have been going out since December 2025 — but there's a hard deadline coming up to cash them.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What Happened: A Piston Ring Defect in the 5.3L Vortec V8
Plaintiffs alleged that the LC9 5.3-liter V8 Vortec 5300 engine — a Generation IV small-block used in millions of GM trucks and SUVs — shipped with an inherently defective piston assembly that let oil burn off far faster than normal, forcing owners to add oil between scheduled changes. Symptoms cited in the case included rapid oil loss, fouled spark plugs, rough idling, illuminated check-engine lights, and in some cases engine damage. GM denied any defect or wrongdoing throughout the litigation. The case went to a jury trial in September and October 2022, and the jury found for the class on every claim, awarding $2,700 per class member in damages. Facing the cost and risk of an appeal, GM instead agreed to resolve the case for $150,000,000, covering class members in California, Idaho, and North Carolina.
Case Details
Siqueiros, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 3:16-cv-07244-EMC, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Hon. Edward M. Chen). Class Counsel: Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., and DiCello Levitt LLP. Settlement administrator: Postlethwaite & Netterville — official website gmenginelitigation.com, phone 1-888-307-8239, mail: GM 5300 LC9 Class Action, P.O. Box 5124, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
Current Status: Checks Are Out — But the Clock Is Ticking
Who Is in the Class — and Can You Still Join?
The settlement covers people who owned or leased a model-year 2011-2014 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, or Tahoe, or GMC Sierra, Yukon, or Yukon XL equipped with an LC9 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 engine built on or after February 10, 2011 — as long as the vehicle was purchased or leased in California, Idaho, or North Carolina as of May 23, 2022. Vehicles that already received an upgraded piston ring set under warranty are excluded. No new class members can join at this point — the exclusion and objection windows closed in mid-2025. Most eligible members don't need to file anything; payment is automatic based on GM's own vehicle and ownership records. The one exception was North Carolina class members, who had to submit a Class Member Identification Form by September 15, 2025 (a deadline that has passed) to receive a payment. If you believe you qualify but never received a notice or a check, contact the administrator directly rather than assuming you're excluded.
How Much Is Each Check For?
Timeline: From Complaint to Checks in the Mail
- 1
December 19, 2016 — Lawsuit filed
Raul Siqueiros and other named plaintiffs file suit against General Motors LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging a defective piston design in the LC9 5.3L Vortec V8 causes excessive oil consumption.
- 2
September–October 2022 — Jury trial and verdict
After years of discovery, expert disputes, and class certification fights, the case goes to a jury trial. The jury rules for the class on every claim and awards $2,700 in damages to each class member.
- 3
By June 2025 — Settlement reached, preliminary approval granted
Facing the cost and risk of appealing the verdict, GM agrees to a $150 million settlement covering California, Idaho, and North Carolina class members. The court grants preliminary approval and the notice campaign begins.
- 4
August 8 – September 15, 2025 — Objection and paperwork deadlines close
The deadline to object to the settlement passes on August 8, 2025. North Carolina class members' deadline to submit Identification Forms and W-9s (to avoid 24% tax withholding) passes on September 15, 2025.
- 5
October 6–8, 2025 — Final approval
Judge Edward Chen holds the final fairness hearing on October 6, 2025, and grants final approval of the $150 million settlement, along with the attorneys' fees and service awards, on October 8, 2025.
- 6
December 2025 – August 2026 — Payments distributed
Checks to W-9 filers go out starting December 23, 2025, and to everyone else starting January 9, 2026. The administrator sends reminder notices in May and August 2026 as the September 24, 2026 check-cashing deadline approaches.
Scam Alert: Fake GM Engine Settlement Contacts
Because most class members get paid automatically without filing anything, this settlement is an easy template for scammers to imitate. Three patterns to watch for:
"Pay a fee to verify or release your automatic payment"
You never had to file a claim, and you will never be asked to pay a fee, provide a gift card, or hand over your online banking login to "unlock," "verify," or "release" a payment you're already owed. If you're a class member, GM's settlement administrator already has what it needs from GM's own records.
Lookalike websites and unofficial "claim portals"
The official settlement site itself warns that "other websites may contain incorrect information about this litigation and should not be relied upon." The only legitimate source is gmenginelitigation.com and the administrator's phone line, 1-888-307-8239. Don't enter your Social Security number, bank account, or VIN into any other site claiming to process GM engine settlement payments.
Urgent "your check is about to expire" messages
The September 24, 2026 check-cashing deadline is real — but scammers are likely to exploit that real urgency with fake texts or emails pushing you to click a link or call an unfamiliar number to "reissue" your check for a fee. If your check is lost, uncashed, or never arrived, go directly to gmenginelitigation.com or call the administrator yourself; don't use contact info from an unsolicited message.
GM Engine Settlement FAQ
Is the GM engine settlement still paying out in August 2026?
Yes. Final approval was granted October 8, 2025, and payments have been going out since December 23, 2025 (W-9 filers) and January 9, 2026 (everyone else). The administrator sent reminder notices in May and August 2026, and the hard deadline to cash a settlement check is September 24, 2026.
Do I need to file a claim to get paid?
No, for most class members. This is a self-executing settlement — GM's own vehicle and ownership records were used to identify class members and issue payments automatically. The one exception was North Carolina class members, who had to submit a Class Member Identification Form by September 15, 2025 — that deadline has passed.
How much will I get?
The administrator's published figures are a guaranteed $2,700 per class member before deductions and an estimated $2,149 net after court-approved attorneys' fees and costs. Since payment is a pro rata share of a fixed $150 million fund, the exact number can shift slightly — but any figure you see that isn't on gmenginelitigation.com should be treated as unconfirmed.
What if I never received my check, or it's lost or expired?
Contact the settlement administrator directly at 1-888-307-8239 or info@GMEngineLitigation.com, or use the "Request Payment Reissue" tool at gmenginelitigation.com. Do this well before the September 24, 2026 deadline — checks not cashed by then are voided and the funds are redistributed to other class members.
Which vehicles are covered?
Model-year 2011-2014 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL, equipped with an LC9 5.3-liter V8 Vortec 5300 engine built on or after February 10, 2011, purchased or leased in California, Idaho, or North Carolina as of May 23, 2022. Vehicles that already got a warranty piston ring upgrade are excluded.
Is gmenginelitigation.com legitimate?
Yes. It is the official, court-supervised settlement website operated by administrator Postlethwaite & Netterville on behalf of the parties in Siqueiros v. General Motors LLC. The site itself warns that other websites about this case may contain incorrect information.
Why did GM settle after a jury already ruled against it?
The jury verdict in September/October 2022 awarded each class member $2,700 in damages, and GM was prepared to appeal. Rather than face the cost, delay, and uncertainty of an appeal, GM agreed in 2025 to a $150 million settlement built around that same $2,700 figure, which the court granted final approval on October 8, 2025.
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.
Related Consumer Brand Lawsuits
GM OnStar Data Privacy Lawsuit
The OTHER GM case — driver-data claims, no settlement yet
Open Class Action Settlements
Live directory: every claim window and payout round we track
Walmart Weighted Goods Settlement
$45M overcharge settlement — payout history and status
Verizon Class Action Settlement
$100M admin-charge settlement: what people actually got