The GM shift-to-park settlement pays a flat $500 to eligible owners and lessees, plus up to $375 in reimbursement for out-of-pocket repair costs, but only for people who bought or leased certain GM vehicles new in Ohio or Tennessee. Claims are due August 19, 2025. GM denied all allegations in agreeing to settle.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility turns on three things: where you bought the car, which model you have, and whether you sought a warranty repair for the shift-to-park problem.
You must have been the original purchaser or first lessee of the vehicle when it was new. Used-car buyers are not covered.1GM Authority. GM Shift to Park Lawsuit Settlement Gets Final Approval
For the Ohio class, covered vehicles are:2STP Lawsuit. Jefferson and Riley v. General Motors Settlement
- 2017–2019 GMC Acadia
- 2019 Chevrolet Blazer
- 2016–2019 Chevrolet Malibu
- 2018–2019 Chevrolet Traverse
- 2016–2019 Chevrolet Volt
For the Tennessee class, only the 2017–2018 GMC Acadia qualifies.2STP Lawsuit. Jefferson and Riley v. General Motors Settlement
You also must have sought a repair for the shift-to-park issue while the vehicle was under warranty and either received no repair or received a repair that did not include a silicon-free replacement shifter assembly or wire harness.3ClassAction.org. General Motors Settlement Resolves Lawsuits Over Alleged Shift to Park Defect
What the Defect Looks Like
The problem lies in the transmission shifter assembly. A park switch inside the assembly is supposed to signal the vehicle’s Body Control Module that the car is in park, and in affected vehicles that signal fails.4NHTSA. GM Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-206
Drivers see a persistent “Shift to Park” warning even though the shifter is already in park. The car may drop into accessory mode instead of shutting off, so the engine keeps running, the headlights stay on, and the doors won’t lock. Some owners reported being stuck for up to 20 minutes, having to jiggle the shifter or drive back and forth to get the system to register.5ClassAction.org. GM Shift to Park Lawsuit Says Newer Models Equipped With Faulty Shift Assemblies Over time, the defect can drain the battery. GM addressed the issue in Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-206, which directed dealers to replace the shifter harness and install an in-line jumper harness.4NHTSA. GM Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-206 Plaintiffs alleged that fix did not resolve the problem and that many owners were denied warranty coverage.6GM Authority. Lawsuit Filed Against GM Over Shift to Park Issue
How Much You Can Get
Every eligible class member receives a flat $500 cash payment. The amount is the same regardless of vehicle age or number of claimants. If a vehicle has co-owners or co-lessees, the $500 is split equally among them.7STP Lawsuit. Frequently Asked Questions
Class members whose vehicle identification number appears in GM’s internal warranty database (roughly 5,515 VINs) receive the $500 automatically, with no paperwork.8ClassAction.org. Jefferson et al. v. General Motors LLC Settlement Agreement
If you paid out of pocket to fix the shift-to-park problem, you can also receive up to $375 in reimbursement per vehicle. Owners who appear in GM’s “customer pay data” get this automatically; everyone else must submit a claim with documentation.7STP Lawsuit. Frequently Asked Questions The maximum any single class member can receive is $875.
How to File a Claim
If you don’t appear in GM’s warranty or customer pay databases, you need to submit a claim form. There are two ways:7STP Lawsuit. Frequently Asked Questions
- Online through the settlement portal at veritaconnect.com/STPlawsuit/Claimant. The site also lets you check whether you already appear in GM’s databases and may not need to file.
- By mail to the Jefferson & Riley v. General Motors Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132.
The claim deadline is August 19, 2025.7STP Lawsuit. Frequently Asked Questions
To claim the $375 repair reimbursement, you need supporting documentation: an invoice or service record showing the vehicle identification number, the date of repair, a description of the work performed, proof of the total amount paid for parts and labor, and the name of the facility that performed the repair.3ClassAction.org. General Motors Settlement Resolves Lawsuits Over Alleged Shift to Park Defect
If You’re Not Covered
Owners in the other 48 states get nothing from this settlement, even if they drive an identical vehicle with the same defect. Used-car buyers are also excluded.1GM Authority. GM Shift to Park Lawsuit Settlement Gets Final Approval
Other litigation over the same defect is ongoing. Emmrich v. General Motors LLC was filed in Illinois in November 2021, alleging the same problem in 2016–2019 Chevrolet vehicles under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Illinois consumer protection law.3ClassAction.org. General Motors Settlement Resolves Lawsuits Over Alleged Shift to Park Defect A separate class action filed in 2021 in the Eastern District of Michigan targets newer models, including the 2021–2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2020–2022 Traverse, 2020–2023 Malibu, and 2020–2023 Buick Encore, alleging GM kept using the same flawed shifter assemblies.5ClassAction.org. GM Shift to Park Lawsuit Says Newer Models Equipped With Faulty Shift Assemblies
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received numerous complaints but has not issued a formal recall.6GM Authority. Lawsuit Filed Against GM Over Shift to Park Issue If you own an affected vehicle outside Ohio or Tennessee, you may still have remedies under your state’s lemon law or consumer protection statutes.