GM Dexcool lawsuit may soon gain class-action status
The bright orange Dexcool coolant used in many General Motors vehicles over the past decade promised to bring extended maintenance - 5 years or 150,000 miles - to cooling systems, but many owners instead found themselves with vehicles that required system flushes, gasket replacement, and even new radiators and heater cores just outside of the vehicle's warranty period. The blame for the problem depends on who you talk to, and the causes include the "stop-leak" pellets added at the factory, contamination with air from system leaks (Dexcool can quickly degrade when exposed to excess oxygen), and improper service that involved added non-Dexcool coolant or tap water to the cooling system.
Whatever the cause of the problem, several lawsuits have been filed in state and federal court by owners who, in many cases, are justified in their anger over the lack of performance by this coolant. A ruling may soon be forthcoming from a judge in East St. Louis, IL, that would result in a set of consolidated suits gaining class-action status - a move that would open up the lawsuits to involve potentially millions of GM customers. For its part, the automaker says that the recommend service interval in the owner's manual is exactly that - a recommendation, and not a warranty guarantee.
For what it's worth, the Autoblog staff has found that Dexcool works just fine in a cooling system that is free of contaminants and leaks, but indeed the stuff will turn into a gooey mess if mixed with anything but distilled water or if exposed to air. Also, those drivers who do not get their vehicles up to normal operating temperatures every trip may want to consider an accelerated coolant maintenance schedule.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Rockets 10:02PM (2/10/2008)
Dex-cool victim here too.... replacing today with the good ol green standby....since I already replaced leaking intake and head gaskets, flushed and replaced thermostat.... man just draining the radiator was a chore due to the crap plugging the drain. and at 67k miles with a great servicing record, shame on you DEXCOOL makers... you should be shot.
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foremanm 3:43AM (3/25/2008)
GM has an obligation to its customers to resolve this issue with regards to the gasket failure. True that their claim that Dexcool would decrease maintenance they never really explained or placed decals stating that you could not mix water with your antifreeze I have driven GM products for over forty years and never have the service problems that I am experiences with these cars regarding gaskets. I own two Oldsmobile’s the 99 Silhouette has been in the shop numerous times with complaints of antifreeze related problems. Each time car returned with no problem found. I search the web and found a tech bulletin dated 2003 regarding necessary repairs that should be performed. Not only is GM obligated to repair our cars but the dealers with their untrustworthy service department. Understand there is class action lawsuit how do I get my restitution?
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Sherrie Locke 8:14PM (3/28/2008)
I have a 96 Buick Park Avenue that was a dream to drive. It is now parked in my driveway . It will not run now because the head gasket and intake manifold gasket are leaking coolant. And there is a possibility that the coolant got into motor and fried my bearings because my oil is now a milky brown. I was told Dont use Dexcool it will mess your car up bad, after the fact. Now its going to take hundreds if not thousands of dollars to get my car running again. Everyone I talk to says its a guessing game , replace the gaskets and spend $600.00 to $800.00 and hope for the best and if that doesn't do it I need a new motor which is an additional $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 which doesnt include labor. I don't have that kindof money but I am pretty sure GM does.! And I want to be added to the list for compensation . One way or another I want my car back to running like it was before Dexcool started eating away at it . How do I get information on the class action law suit ? I want to sign up!
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charlie rupp 8:19AM (6/20/2008)
I would also to tell you folks about the problems with my 2002 Monte Carlo, 3.4., 60K-65K miles. I had several repairs in the last year, including intake manifold gasket replacement, system radiator flush (prior to gasket replacement) thermostat replacement, air conditioner not cooling properly, high temp during idle, loss of antifreeze, etc etc. I had the cat converter replaced but not with out a battle i.e getting the service tech bulletin which they would not provide.. It seems the GM normally won't tell the complete truth when asked (we all know they know maintenance history) Plus many electrical problems Thanks god I had purchased an extended warranty. still believe GM should pay for the repairs since they insist on their worthless dex cool antifreeze
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charlie rupp 7:17AM (6/20/2008)
I would also to tell you folks about the problems with my 2002 Monte Carlo, 3.4., 60K-65K miles. I had several repairs in the last year, including intake manifold gasket replacement, system radiator flush (prior to gasket replacement) thermostat replacement, air conditioner not cooling properly, high temp during idle, loss of antifreeze, etc etc. I had the cat converter replaced but not with out a battle i.e getting the service tech bulletin which they would not provide.. It seems the GM normally won't tell the complete truth when asked (we all know they know maintenance history) Plus many electrical problems Thanks god I had purchased an extended warranty. still believe GM should pay for the repairs since they insist on their worthless dex cool antifreeze
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Susan Ford 11:51AM (9/04/2008)
Hi
My 1999 Chevy Lumina only had 65415 miles on it when coolant started leaking at the intake manifold.
The intake manifold gaskets had to be replaced.
Can someone please tell me where I can find out some information about the lawsuit, and where I maight be able to sign up?
thanks
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Michelle 10:20PM (11/01/2008)
Dex Cool has cost me over $3000.00 in repairs, the seam around my head gasket has gone out 2 times and now my engine is shot on at 2001 Chevy Malibu. How can a car manufacturer keep asking customers to use this antifreeze. Totally in debt and have to look for a new car.
I wish someone would have told me sooner that there were major problems rather than just letting it go on.
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Will 12:03PM (11/02/2008)
I have a 2006 Chevy truck with the 4.3? v6. It started leaking from the intake gasket around 30k luckily it was still under warranty and they replaced it with the "upgraded" gasket. Less than two weeks later I noticed coolant all over my intake again and I took it back and they replaced the thermostat and gasket. Since then I have had no problems, now the truck is out of warranty I am wanting to switch to the Prestone Green antifreeze.
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Will 12:08PM (11/02/2008)
I forgot to mention I am a mechanic at Carmax and we see several GM cars mostly with the v6 3.1, 3.4, 3.8 engines come in with intake gaskets leaking. I've seen them with only 17k on them and already leaking. A guy I work with who just graduated from Wyo-tech told me one of his instructors showed him an article about dexcool and how it breaks down the gasket materials and that every GM he has owned he has switched over to the green antifreeze.
Carlton 12:09PM (5/23/2006)
One more reason not to purchase GM automobiles. The mass tort lawyers must be chomping at the bit to get richer from GM, what with the intake manifold gasket fiasco and now the DexCool issue.
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Ryan 12:12PM (5/23/2006)
"For its part, the automaker says that the recommend service interval in the owner's manual is exactly that - a recommendation, and not a warranty guarantee."
-Right before our very eyes is the reason people do not want to buy from these traditional slimebags, and this above-listed comment only helps to confirm this. You go off of what the manual recommends but, nope YOU the customer should have known better, never GM.
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JR 12:23PM (5/23/2006)
I drinc dis stuf regoolary. An its beter dan dat jap or nazi stuf. U kan stik dat stuf up yer bum bum.
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tony belligerent 12:45PM (5/23/2006)
My 96 Cavalier, which was a rebuilt wreck, died after the radiator cracked, having been leaking very slowly for over two years. Dexcool's "stop-leak" pellets certainly didn't help.
So where do I send my angry letter?
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devi8i 1:03PM (5/23/2006)
My 2001 GrandAM GT experienced a intake manifold leak at about 37K miles which resulted in a $1800 repair bill. The mechanic at the dealer said that they see 2 or three a week with the same problem (this was in 2003). When I asked if there was a TSB they said no. Also being right outside my warranty GM would not do anything to help offset the costs. I contended it was a problem between the gasket material and dexcool. They said it was not but yet still replaced the regular gasket with a NEW and improved metal gasket.... hmmmmm. Also of contention was that the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe which run the same engines yet Toyota refused to put dexcool in their engines and opted for the traditional green antifreeze. Hmmm evidently SOMEONE had an idea about how awful this dexcool stuff is. In the end Pontiac would only offer me a "Loyal Customer" coupon good for $1000 towards the purchase of another GM product for my troubles. Needless to say that coupon will never be redeemed. My Grand Am was traded in to a competitor shortly afterwards.
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Bob 1:03PM (5/23/2006)
I haven't hada any problems with this stuff. Hoever, based on the Autoblog comments does this mean you can't flush the system with regular water? You'll probably never get all of it out.
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Brent 1:14PM (5/23/2006)
I just spent a week of evenings wrenching on my 02' Pontiac to replace the failed intake manifold gasket. Pontiac refuses to admit any fault or accept responsibility. I'll be first in line on this suit.
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Bob 1:15PM (5/23/2006)
I once worked as a salesman at a Saturn dealer (short time) Every new owner was told not to swap the orange DexCool with other coolant. The reason we told people is that we had a customer that had a quicky-lube-like place add green coolant, which trashed her engine. She got a new engine paid for by the oil change place.
I wonder if that is part of what is going on here.
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Val 10:15PM (1/14/2009)
Hi, I really need to talk to you since you said you previously worked for Saturn. My son bought a 2008 Saturn Astra in July. He was just in a little fender bender and to make a long story short, our local garage that did the body work said the car had white smoke coming from the tailpipe when he started it. He recommended towing it to Saturn, which we did. They're saying the engine block is cracked and we need a new engine. They're not sure if they'll cover it under warranty because of the fender bender. As it stands right now, they want a list of the work done by the local garage. I'm wondering and so is my local mechanic if this dexcool had something to do with this. Please give me any advice you can.
Thanks,
Val
Corey W. 1:37PM (5/23/2006)
What is the status of the gasket lawsuits in the US? Just wondering if any of the class action suits have been won, if not why?
Own two Pontiac Grand Prix's, 97 and 00, 99 Vette, both GP's over 140k, Vette at 89K, and I've had no issues with coolant leakage.
Note: You'd be amazed how many people don't read their owners manual let alone follow the basic recommendations.
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Ryan 1:59PM (5/23/2006)
#9
"Note: You'd be amazed how many people don't read their owners manual let alone follow the basic recommendations."
-Why should you with a GM car, your still stuck in a catch 22.
From Article:
"For its part, the automaker says that the recommend service interval in the owner's manual is exactly that - a recommendation, and not a warranty guarantee."
Why maintian a GM car? Apparently GM does not know when to maintian there own cars let alone the customer!
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