Filed under: Maintenance, Government/Legal, GM
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)
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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Ryan 2:04PM (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 read it??? Or even care to try to maintain your GM vehicle?
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."
Ya gotta love GM, they say don't worry go ahead and wait and change your coolant at 100,000mi.
But will we back our engineering to what we claim. HAH that's a funny one. Of course not.
I love it:
"For its part, the automaker says that the recommend service interval in the owner's manual is exactly that - a recommendation"
-Silly me for following the recommendation of the people who made the car, what was I thinking?
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Richard Warren 2:32PM (5/23/2006)
#1 Using that logic I guess we should not purchase any Texaco product, for that is what Dexcool is a rebranded Texaco product that GM used, as well as Cummins and others.
A few things that cause problems with this coolant:
Low level in overflow tank,allowing air into the coolant,or a poor seal at the radiator cap.
Mixing any "green" antifreeze in with Dexcool
Improper mix of Dexcool, less than 50%
In a number of test vehicles, Dexcool was found NOT to be the problem, but the root of the problems were contamination, as described above. Also the majority of study shows that Dexcool virtually never broke down it's self unless contaminated.
And it's not just GM:
DEX-COOL® is recommended for use in the
cooling systems of all types of automotive engines. This product meets ASTM D 3306 for
automotive service and ASTM D 4985 for heavy duty diesel service. It meets GM 6277M, Ford
WSS-M97B44-D, Volkswagen/Audi G-12, and most other European OEM specifications.
Havoline Extended Life Prediluted 50/50 Anti-Freeze/Coolant DEX-COOL® meets ASTM D
4656 for automotive pre-blend and ASTM D 5345 for heavy duty pre-blend.
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Will Haworth 11:09PM (12/04/2008)
Leaking head gasket on a 2001 Chevy Venture with Dex-cool coolant.
Is there help to repair that?
Glenn A. 2:35PM (5/23/2006)
Just more proof, if any more were needed, that GM is so outside the loop that nothing will save them.
Every time I look, GM shoots itself with something else. The corporate culture of that organization must be absolutely incredible (and not in a good way) for so much bad stuff to come out of it.
The sooner GM does an "MG Rover" and declares Chapter 7 bankruptcy (i.e. closes it doors never to trouble innocent car buyers with their absolute crap) the better the average car buyer will be.
GM is just beyond a joke at this point.
Don't forget about the infamous "V8 piston slap" issue that GM has also had. The dang things sound like a diesel, yet aren't. Awful. GM refuse to fix them, too.
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Ryan 2:46PM (5/23/2006)
#12
"A few things that cause problems with this coolant:"
-Yeah, it was invented.
C'mon, did GM think that this would not happen at service stations? GM made this to get back at their customers who go to service stations and not the dealer. I know, dramatic, but it's funny to look at it this way.
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rw 2:55PM (5/23/2006)
Dex Cool was brought out for the environment. Less coolant changes is better for the environment. Just like dexron extented life auto trans fluid. If you take a car to a hack mechanic who does not know the basics of this coolant you are getting what you paid for lousy service.
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Ryan 3:09PM (5/23/2006)
"15. Dex Cool was brought out for the environment."
-Apparently that is not working out very well, when you factor in all of the repairs that have to be made.
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Ryan 3:11PM (5/23/2006)
"If you take a car to a hack mechanic who does not know the basics of this coolant you are getting what you paid for lousy service."
-Insert GM owners manual here. The 100,000mi coolant*
*Please change at 50,000mi. LOL
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devi8i 3:11PM (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."
Also of note is in the owners manual it explicitly says:
"Damage caused by failure to follow
the recommended Maintenance
Schedule intervals and/or failure to use
or maintain fluids, fuel, lubricants, or
refrigerants recommended in the
owner’s manual is not covered."
AND
"Considering the investment you have made in your
Pontiac, we know you will want to operate and maintain
it properly. We urge you to follow the maintenance
instructions contained in your owner’s manual or
maintenance publication."
So lets sum it up....
We urge you to follow the maintenance instructions contained in your owner’s manual....failure to follow
the recommended Maintenance Schedule intervals...will void your warranty....even if you follow the maintenance schedule we do not guaruntee anything..
Did I sum it up correctly????
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