The GM 5300 LC9 Oklahoma class action settlement pays roughly $500 to people who bought or leased certain 2011–2014 Chevrolet and GMC trucks or SUVs with the Vortec 5300 LC9 engine in Oklahoma and still had the vehicle on September 26, 2024. General Motors funded the settlement with $24.8 million, the court gave final approval on October 8, 2025, and the settlement administrator began mailing payments on December 23, 2025.
Who Qualifies for a Payment
The settlement class is limited to Oklahoma purchasers and lessees. To be eligible, you must have bought or leased one of the covered vehicles in Oklahoma and still owned or leased it as of September 26, 2024.
The covered vehicles are the 2011–2014 model years of the:
- Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe
- GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL
Each vehicle must be equipped with a Generation IV LC9 5.3-liter V8 Vortec 5300 engine manufactured on or after February 10, 2011. Vehicles that already received upgraded piston rings under warranty at no cost are excluded from the class. Attorneys for the class estimated that around 30,000 Oklahoma vehicles fit these parameters.
How Much You Will Receive
Clay Barnett, one of the attorneys for the class, estimated that each eligible class member would receive approximately $500. That figure comes from a $24.8 million settlement fund after deductions, which included $9.4 million in fees awarded to the law firms DiCello Levitt LLP and Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. GM denied any wrongdoing or liability as part of the deal.
When Payments Are Being Sent
The settlement administrator began distributing payments on December 23, 2025, about 61 days after the court’s October 8, 2025 final approval order. No appeals have been reported, and the docket shows no objections were filed against the settlement.
Do You Need to File a Claim?
Most class members do not have to submit anything. If you bought your vehicle from an authorized GM dealer, GM’s records identified you, and notice went out by mail. You should receive your payment automatically.
If you bought your vehicle from a private seller or a non-GM dealer, the rule was different: you had to submit a class member identification form by July 28, 2025 to be included. That deadline has passed.
What the Lawsuit Alleged
The case, Hampton v. General Motors LLC, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma on August 20, 2021. Named plaintiff Durwin Hampton of Poteau said his 2013 GMC Sierra began consuming heavy amounts of oil at 35,000 miles, requiring him to add two quarts between oil changes, and that the engine developed a low-speed rattle.
The core allegation was that the LC9 engine’s piston rings lacked sufficient tension to keep oil sealed in the crankcase. Owners reported frequent oil top-offs, fouled spark plugs, rough idling, engine knocking, and in some cases outright failure. GM issued technical service bulletins telling dealers that an “accepted rate” of oil consumption for vehicles under warranty was one quart per 2,000 miles, and up to one quart per 500 miles for aggressive driving. Plaintiffs argued those thresholds were unreasonable and that dealer fixes never resolved the underlying problem.
How This Differs From the Larger Multi-State Settlement
If you bought your vehicle outside Oklahoma, the Oklahoma settlement does not cover you. A separate, larger case called Siqueiros v. General Motors LLC covers the same engine defect for people who bought or leased covered vehicles in California, Idaho, or North Carolina as of May 23, 2022.
The two cases were coordinated: the same law firms handled both, and the Siqueiros settlement agreement treats Hampton as a “Related Action,” with each settlement’s effective date tied to the appeal period expiring in both. Payouts differ substantially. The multi-state case produced a $150 million fund with average payments above $3,300 per vehicle, following an October 2022 jury verdict against GM in California federal court. Those payments also began in late December 2025, with a second wave on January 9, 2026 for class members who had not submitted W-9 tax forms.
The multi-state case had a jury verdict behind it, which likely explains the higher per-person recovery. The Oklahoma case settled without going to trial.
Where to Get Help With Your Payment
If you believe you qualify but have not received notice or a check, or if you have questions about a payment you did receive, you can reach the settlement administrator at info@GMEngineLitigation.com or 1-888-307-8239.