— GM air conditioning problems are caused by condensers and discharge lines, at least according to a proposed class-action lawsuit that includes the following long list of Cadillac, Chevy and GMC trucks and SUVs.
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Base
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Luxury
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Platinum
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Premium
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade RWD Base
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade RWD Luxury
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade RWD Platinum
- 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade RWD Premium
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD Base
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD Luxury
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD Platinum
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD Premium
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV RWD Base
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV RWD Luxury
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV RWD Platinum
- 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV RWD Premium
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD Custom Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD Custom Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD High Country Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LS Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LS Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LS Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LT Standard Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LTZ Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD LTZ Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD SSV Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD WT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD WT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 4WD WT Standard Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD Custom Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD Custom Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD High Country Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LS Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LS Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LS Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LT Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LTZ Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD LTZ Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD SSV Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD WT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD WT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD WT Standard Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD Custom Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD Custom Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD High Country Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LS Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LS Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LS Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LT Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LTZ Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD LTZ Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD SSV Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD WT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD WT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD WT Standard Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD Custom Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD Custom Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD High Country Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LS Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LS Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LS Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LT Standard Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LTZ Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD LTZ Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD SSV Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD WT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD WT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L V8 RWD WT Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 4WD High Country Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 4WD LTZ Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 4WD LTZ Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 RWD High Country Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 RWD LTZ Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 RWD LTZ Extended Cab
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD LS
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD LT
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD LTZ
- 2017 Chevrolet Suburban 4WD Premier
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban RWD LS
- 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban RWD LT
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Suburban RWD LTZ
- 2017 Chevrolet Suburban RWD Premier
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD LS
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD LT
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD LTZ
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD PPV
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD SSV
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe RWD LS
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe RWD LT
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe RWD LTZ
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe RWD PPV
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD Base Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD Base Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD Base Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD Denali Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD SLE Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD SLE Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD SLE Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD SLT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 4WD SLT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD Base Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD Base Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD Base Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD Denali Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD SLE Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD SLE Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD SLE Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD SLT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX 4WD SLT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD Base Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD Base Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD Base Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD Denali Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD SLE Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD SLE Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD SLE Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD SLT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 FLEX RWD SLT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD Base Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD Base Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD Base Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD Denali Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD SLE Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD SLE Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD SLE Standard Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD SLT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L V8 RWD SLT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 6.2L V8 4WD Denali Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 6.2L V8 4WD SLT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 6.2L V8 4WD SLT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 6.2L V8 RWD Denali Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 6.2L V8 RWD SLT Crew Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 6.2L V8 RWD SLT Extended Cab
- 2015-2016 GMC Yukon 5.3L 4WD SLE
- 2015-2016 GMC Yukon 5.3L 4WD SLT
- 2015-2016 GMC Yukon 5.3L RWD SLE
- 2015-2016 GMC Yukon 5.3L RWD SLT
- 2015-2016 GMC Yukon 6.2L 4WD DENALI
- 2015-2016 GMC Yukon 6.2L RWD DENALI
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL 5.3L 4WD SLE
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL 5.3L 4WD SLT
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL 5.3L RWD SLE
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL 5.3L RWD SLT
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL 6.2L 4WD Denali
- 2015-2017 GMC Yukon XL 6.2L RWD Denali
Plaintiff Jones Won says he purchased five vehicles from General Motors: a 2016 Cadillac Escalade and four model year 2015 Chevy Suburbans. The plaintiff says he experienced air conditioning problems in every one of those vehicles that caused the systems to fail and be replaced. Won says with two of the Suburbans, the air conditioning systems failed twice.
According to the lawsuit, the air conditioning problems are caused by two allegedly defective parts: the discharge lines and the condensers, both that are too weak to handle the pressure the coolant is under.
Won says either the discharge line or condenser breaks from this pressure and causes coolant to leak out and air to leak in.
"First, as air leaks into the system, water vapor in the air freezes into ice, blocking the circulation of coolant within the air conditioning system. As ice blocks the flow of coolant within the system, the fluid is forced out through the leak. Second, as coolant leaks out, the air conditioning system becomes less and less effective. When the evaporator no longer has enough coolant to absorb heat from the surrounding air, ice forms on and within the system, damaging it directly." - GM lawsuit
The plaintiff alleges GM knows the parts fail because of too much pressure and has issued technical service bulletin (TSB) PIE0340 to dealerships that relates to the air conditioner problems.
According to the lawsuit, the automaker discontinued the defective condenser and sells replacement condensers, and part manufacturer ACDelco has discontinued making those condensers for GM's vehicles. However, the plaintiff says all this was done without compensating consumers who purchased vehicles with the defective condensers.
As for the discharge lines, those are made of long aluminum pipes connected by a rubber hose, but the excess pressure allegedly causes the rubber to become disconnected from the aluminum, or the aluminum to break open.
The lawsuit claims GM has discontinued the original model of the discharge hose and replaced it with one that has a reinforced connection, but the new discharge hose has an aluminum part of the hose that bursts from the excessive pressure in the system due to its poor design.
As the vehicle vibrates in the course of normal driving, the weight of the aluminum pipe part of the discharge line allegedly causes the pipe to flex up and down like a diving board. The problem is worse on any model that has a bulky muffler near the end of one of the aluminum pipes.
General Motors has allegedly issued a service bulletin instructing mechanics to reinforce the discharge lines with reinforcing brackets that prevent the lines from vibrating.
The plaintiff says owners of the affected trucks and SUVs expected that when they purchased a vehicle advertised as having an air conditioning system it would function for more than a few months, but that doesn't happen.
The General Motors air conditioning lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York - Jones Won, et. al, v. General Motors Company et. al.
The plaintiff is represented by Lee Litigation Group, PLLC.
