GM Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Brake Defects in Buick, Chevy, and GMC SUVs

A Familiar Problem, a Different List

GM has seen its share of recalls and lawsuits, but this latest case is tied directly to a defect dating back around 7 years. The new class action, filed just last week, argues that while GM fixed a known brake defect in 2019, it left out a different set of vehicles that may have the same issue under the hood.

Filed in Michigan, the lawsuit names three owners – Kaylee Thieme, Rebecca Gill, and Meghan Morley – who are pushing for a nationwide class action. The vehicles in question: 2016-2020 Buick Envision, 2018-2022 Chevrolet Equinox, and 2018-2022 GMC Terrain, all allegedly dealing with the same brake defect.

What Allegedly Went Wrong

The complaint points out that these SUVs weren’t part of GM’s big 2019 recall, which covered around 3.4 million vehicles with brake assist problems. That recall was all about a vacuum pump that could fail and lose power over time, making the brake pedal harder to press and increasing stopping distances. Now, the plaintiffs say their SUVs use a similar setup and are running into the same trouble.

According to the lawsuit, this can happen out of nowhere – even during normal driving – and gets especially risky if you need to brake hard in an emergency.

Owners have reported warning lights, hard pedals, or brakes that just don’t feel right – sometimes before the failure, sometimes as it happens. The lawsuit points to years of GM technical bulletins about vacuum lines, booster swaps, and fault codes going back to 2017. The plaintiffs say this shows GM knew about the problem early on but never rolled out a complete fix for everyone affected.

Pushing for Class Action Lawsuit

The complaint also brings up owner stories and forum posts about repeat failures, plus claims that debris from the pump can end up in the engine and cause even more problems. The bottom line: the plaintiffs say GM didn’t do enough to warn owners or launch a recall as it did in 2019.

The Thieme et al. v. General Motors LLC case is still in its early stages and is assigned to Judge Robert J. White. GM has not yet filed a public response. If the suit moves forward, plaintiffs will push for class certification, monetary damages, and remedies that could include repairs or vehicle buybacks.