Is your GM vehicle equipped with the 1.2-liter turbocharged engine?
A growing number of California consumers are reporting sudden and dangerous engine failures in several popular General Motors compact SUVs. If you own or lease a 2024 or newer Chevrolet Trax, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Buick Encore, or Buick Envista, your vehicle may be equipped with a defective engine, and you may have significant legal rights under California law.
The vehicles and engine at issue
The affected vehicles all share GM’s 1.2-liter turbocharged inline 3-cylinder gasoline engine (known internally as RPO LIH or LBP). This engine is used in the following models beginning with the 2024 model year:
- 2024–present Chevrolet Trax
- 2024–present Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2024–present Buick Encore
- 2024–present Buick Envista
The Trax and Envista are only available with this engine, there is no alternative powertrain option.
What is going wrong?
Owners across the country are reporting a terrifying pattern: the engine suffers catastrophic internal failure without warning, often at highway speeds. The typical sequence includes:
- A sudden “reduced engine power” warning or check engine light
- Loud knocking or banging sounds from the engine
- Complete loss of power, including loss of steering assist
- Oil and coolant leaking onto the roadway
- In some cases, smoke or fire from the engine compartment
These failures are being traced to connecting rods breaking and punching through the engine block, causing total engine destruction. Many failures are occurring at extremely low mileage, some at under 10,000 miles.
Compounding the problem, replacement engines are on extended backorder, leaving owners stranded without transportation for weeks or even months while still making loan or lease payments.
GM’s awareness of the problem
GM has issued multiple Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) related to abnormal engine noise, oil leaks, and other conditions associated with this engine family. Some of these bulletins date back to 2020, when the same engine was used in earlier models. Despite acknowledging these issues internally, GM has not issued a recall and has instructed its dealers to characterize certain symptoms, including engine knocking, as “normal operating characteristics.”
In August 2024, GM did issue a limited recall covering the 1.2-liter engine for an ignition timing defect related to the auto stop/start system. That recall acknowledged the engine could “run rough or knock” and that continued driving “could cause engine damage.” Despite this, GM has not expanded the recall to address the broader pattern of catastrophic engine failures.
NHTSA complaint data shows a significant number of reports involving total engine failure, fire, and loss of propulsion in these vehicles, including multiple incidents filed by California owners.
A class action has been filed
On March 4, 2026, California plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against GM in Delaware federal court alleging that the 1.2-liter engine is defective and that GM knew about the defect but concealed it from consumers. The named plaintiffs purchased a 2024 Chevrolet Trax and experienced a connecting rod failure at approximately 11,500 miles. Their vehicle has been sitting at a dealership for months awaiting an engine that remains on backorder.
The lawsuit asserts claims under California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), the Unfair Competition Law (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200), the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, among others.
Your rights under California’s lemon law
California has some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, commonly known as the California Lemon Law, if your new vehicle has a defect that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to a full refund or replacement vehicle.
Key points for affected owners:
- GM’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for 3 years or 36,000 miles, and the Limited Powertrain Warranty covers the engine for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
- If your vehicle has been in the shop for 30 or more cumulative days for warranty repairs, or if the same problem has not been fixed after two or more repair attempts for a safety-related defect, you may have a strong lemon law claim.
- You do not need to wait for a recall to pursue your rights. A manufacturer’s failure to issue a recall does not limit your legal options.
- California law also allows you to recover attorneys’ fees, meaning qualified legal representation may be available to you at no out-of-pocket cost.
What you should do now
If you own or lease one of the affected vehicles and are experiencing engine problems, take these steps:
- Document everything. Keep copies of all repair orders, dealer communications, warranty claims, and any warnings or error messages your vehicle displays.
- Report the problem to NHTSA. File a complaint at safercar.gov. Consumer complaints drive federal investigations and potential recalls.
- Do not accept “normal operation” as an answer. If your dealer tells you engine knocking or oil leaks are normal, insist on written documentation of what was inspected and what was found.
- Contact an attorney experienced in California lemon law and product liability. You may have claims for a refund, replacement, or damages and time limits apply.
Get a free case evaluation
If your Chevrolet Trax, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Buick Encore, or Buick Envista is experiencing engine problems, including knocking, loss of power, oil leaks, check engine warnings, or complete engine failure, we want to hear from you. California consumers may have significant rights under the Song-Beverly Act and other California consumer protection statutes.
Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.