GM radiator hose lawsuit: Colorado, Canyon, Traverse, Acadia and Enclave coolant leaks

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes.

Key facts

What happened: A Georgia truck owner filed a proposed class action against General Motors on June 26, 2026. He claims a radiator hose connection in several GM turbocharged four-cylinder vehicles leaks coolant and that GM knew about it.
Vehicles named: 2023 to 2026 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon with the 2.7-liter turbo engine (L3B), 2024 to 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, and 2025 to 2026 Buick Enclave with the 2.5-liter turbo engine (LK0).
Who the case covers: The proposed class is limited to people who bought or leased one of those vehicles in Georgia.
New since the filing: On July 14, 2026, GM expanded a special coverage program for radiator inlet hose leaks to add the Colorado and Canyon. It covers the condition for 5 years or 60,000 miles and offers reimbursement to owners who already paid for the repair.
Nothing to join: There is no settlement or claim form in the lawsuit. The special coverage program is separate and runs through GM dealers.
The case: Dixon v. General Motors LLC, No. 2:26-cv-00217, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Allegations only: No court has ruled on the claims.

What the lawsuit claims

The 85-page complaint focuses on the quick-connect fittings that attach radiator hoses to the radiator in certain GM engines. A quick-connect fitting is a push-on connector with an internal seal, used in place of a traditional hose clamp. The complaint says the seal inside these fittings wears out early and lets coolant escape from what should be a closed, pressurized cooling system.

According to the complaint, losing coolant can lead to engine overheating, reduced power, the vehicle shutting down while driving and, in severe cases, engine damage. It says the problem creates "an unreasonable risk of injury" to drivers, passengers and others on the road.

The complaint claims GM knew about the defect before it sold the first affected vehicle. It points to pre-production testing, warranty repair data that automakers track, customer complaints to dealers and complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It says the NHTSA complaint record for these vehicles shows "dozens" of complaints beginning as early as late 2024.

The plaintiff also argues that GM's marketing was misleading. The complaint quotes Chevrolet, GMC and Buick advertising about safety, durability and reliability. It says GM promoted the 2.7-liter engine in the 2023 Colorado as using "materials used in diesel engines to deliver the durability customers expect" while not telling buyers about the cooling system problem.

GM has not filed a public response to these claims that we could find, and the company had not commented publicly on the lawsuit as of October 20, 2026.

Which vehicles are involved

The complaint calls the following the "Class Vehicles":

Vehicle	Model years	Engine
Chevrolet Colorado	2023 to 2026	2.7L turbo four-cylinder (L3B)
GMC Canyon	2023 to 2026	2.7L turbo four-cylinder (L3B)
Chevrolet Traverse	2024 to 2026	2.5L turbo four-cylinder (LK0)
GMC Acadia	2024 to 2026	2.5L turbo four-cylinder (LK0)
Buick Enclave	2025 to 2026	2.5L turbo four-cylinder (LK0)

The named plaintiff, Jonathan Dixon of Cumming, Georgia, bought a new 2024 Chevrolet Colorado from John Megel Chevrolet in Dawsonville, Georgia, on March 16, 2024. The complaint says that in February 2026, at about 44,398 miles, his check engine light came on and the truck made a metal-on-metal grinding noise at slow speed.

On or about February 18, 2026, the dealership found a stored trouble code, P3075, and a low coolant level, according to the complaint. A pressure test found a leak at the quick-connect end of the upper radiator hose. Dixon says GM gave him $100 in goodwill and he paid $489.36 out of pocket for the repair, which has not been reimbursed.

Check your coolant if you drive one of these vehicles The symptoms described in GM's bulletin and the complaint include a visible coolant leak, a low level in the coolant overflow reservoir and a lit check engine light with code P3075. Driving with low coolant can damage an engine, so have a dealer inspect the vehicle if you notice these signs.

What GM has told dealers

Before the lawsuit was filed, GM issued two service documents about these leaks. The complaint relies on both, and both are posted in NHTSA's public database of manufacturer communications.

Preliminary Information bulletin PIT6494A (March 2026). This bulletin covers 2023 to 2026 Colorado and Canyon trucks. It tells technicians that customers may report a coolant leak or low coolant, and that technicians may see coolant leaking from the upper radiator inlet hose connection along with code P3075 ("Engine Coolant Flow Too Low").

The bulletin says "the condition may be caused by coolant leakage at the upper radiator hose quick-connect fitting due to a degraded inlet hose seal." It adds that "this leakage originates from the radiator inlet hose seal itself and is not the result of a radiator failure." The fix it describes is to drain the cooling system and remove and reinstall or replace the radiator inlet hose.

The complaint calls the bulletin's cause section "a direct admission by GM" of the defect. It also says the bulletin pays for repairs only under GM's 3-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Dixon's truck was past that mileage.

Special Coverage N262546590 (April 2026). A special coverage program is a voluntary warranty extension for a specific problem. It is not a safety recall. GM's original April version applied only to the 2024 to 2026 Traverse and Acadia and the 2025 to 2026 Enclave, and described coolant leaking "from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet."

The complaint criticizes that program on three grounds. It says the program left out the Colorado and Canyon, addressed only the lower radiator hose connection, and replaced the seal with one of the same lip-type design rather than fixing the underlying problem.

The July coverage expansion

About three weeks after the lawsuit was filed, GM updated the special coverage. The update, numbered N262546590-01 and dated July 14, 2026, adds 2023 to 2026 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks to the program. GM's notice says the update replaces all earlier versions and that the "phased launch is now complete."

According to the updated bulletin filed with NHTSA:

Condition covered: Coolant leaking "from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet."
Length of coverage: 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the date the vehicle was first placed in service, regardless of ownership.
The repair: Dealers inspect the radiator inlet hose for a leak at the hose-to-radiator connection. If it is leaking, they remove the inlet hose and replace the seal, at no charge to the customer.
Reimbursement: Owners or lessees who already paid for the covered repair can request reimbursement of reasonable and customary costs. Requests go to a dealer within one year of the date on GM's customer letter.
Notification: GM says it will mail letters to affected owners.

The complaint does not discuss the July update because it was filed earlier. The court docket we could see did not show an amended complaint.

Paid for this repair already? Keep your receipts GM's reimbursement window runs one year from the date on its customer letter, not from the date of your repair. Keep the repair order showing the leak location and cost, and ask a GM dealer whether your vehicle's VIN is listed under Special Coverage N262546590.

Who is suing and what they want

The plaintiff is represented by Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., led locally by H. Clay Barnett III in Atlanta. The defendant is General Motors LLC.

The complaint brings six types of claims on behalf of Dixon and a proposed Georgia class:

Violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a federal law on consumer product warranties
Violation of Georgia's Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Violation of Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act
Breach of express warranty
Breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, meaning a promise that a product is fit for ordinary use
Fraudulent concealment

The proposed class is "all persons who purchased or leased a Class Vehicle in the State of Georgia." The complaint says the class definition could be expanded or narrowed later. It also says there are "thousands" of class members but does not give a number.

The complaint asks the court to:

Certify the class and appoint Dixon and his lawyers to represent it
Declare the cooling system defective and require GM to notify owners
Order GM to repair the vehicles
Award damages, including for overpayment and lost value, plus punitive damages
Create a GM-funded program to pay out-of-pocket costs tied to the defect
Award restitution, attorneys' fees and interest

The suit was filed in federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act, which applies when a proposed class has more than 100 members and more than $5 million is in dispute.

Where the case stands

The case was filed in the Northern District of Georgia and first assigned to Judge Richard W. Story. On June 29, 2026, it was reassigned to Judge Steve C. Jones.

According to the public docket index we checked, GM was served on July 6, 2026, and its answer was due July 27, 2026. That index showed no filings after July 6. Later entries, including any deadline extension or a response from GM, were not visible to us as of October 20, 2026.

The lawsuit has not been certified as a class action. That means no court has decided whether Dixon can represent other Georgia owners. The next steps in a case like this usually include GM's answer or a motion to dismiss, followed by evidence exchange and, later, a motion for class certification.

What owners can do now

If your vehicle is leaking coolant now. Contact a GM dealer and ask whether your vehicle is covered by Special Coverage N262546590. GM's bulletin says dealers should check the VIN in GM's warranty system before inspecting or repairing.

If you already paid for this repair. Gather your repair order and receipt. GM's bulletin says reimbursement requests go to a dealer within one year of the date on the customer letter.

If you are outside Georgia. The lawsuit's proposed class covers Georgia buyers and lessees only. The special coverage program is not limited to Georgia.

If you want to follow the lawsuit. No action is required to stay part of a proposed class at this stage. If a class is ever certified or a settlement is reached, class members would normally receive formal notice. For cases that are accepting claimants now, see our list of class action cases you can join.

Beware of fake "claim" offers There is no settlement in this case. Ignore messages that ask for your VIN, payment details or personal information in exchange for joining the GM coolant leak lawsuit.

What remains unclear

Whether the July update covers every leak in the complaint. The updated program describes a leak "at the radiator inlet" and, for the Colorado and Canyon, the March bulletin used similar "upper radiator inlet hose" wording. The parts list in the update names "Radiator Lower Hose Seal" part numbers. A dealer decides whether a specific repair qualifies.
How the expansion affects the lawsuit. GM may argue that the coverage program resolves owners' losses. The plaintiff may argue it falls short. Neither side has addressed this publicly in the documents we found.
GM's position. We found no public statement or court filing from GM responding to the lawsuit.
The scope of the class. The complaint seeks a Georgia class only. It is not known whether similar suits have been filed elsewhere.
NHTSA involvement. The complaint cites consumer complaints to NHTSA. We found no NHTSA recall or defect investigation for this condition as of October 20, 2026.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Owners with questions about their own vehicle should contact a GM dealer or a licensed attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Which GM vehicles are in the radiator hose lawsuit?

The complaint names 2023 to 2026 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks with the 2.7-liter turbo engine, 2024 to 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, and 2025 to 2026 Buick Enclave with the 2.5-liter turbo engine.

Can I join the GM coolant leak class action?

The proposed class covers people who bought or leased one of those vehicles in Georgia. There is no settlement or claim form. If the court certifies a class or approves a settlement, class members would receive notice explaining their options.

Is this a recall?

No. GM has issued a service bulletin and a special coverage program, which is a voluntary warranty extension. We found no NHTSA safety recall for this condition as of October 20, 2026.

What does GM's special coverage pay for?

According to the July 14, 2026 update, GM covers a coolant leak from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet for 5 years or 60,000 miles from the in-service date. Dealers replace the seal at no charge if the hose is leaking.

Can I get reimbursed for a repair I already paid for?

GM's bulletin says owners or lessees who paid for the covered repair can request reimbursement of reasonable and customary costs. Requests go to a dealer within one year of the date on GM's customer letter.

What does code P3075 mean?

GM's bulletin describes P3075 as "Engine Coolant Flow Too Low." In the bulletin and the complaint, it appears with low coolant caused by a leaking radiator inlet hose connection.