In 2017 Chevy Silverado owners filed a class-action lawsuit. This lawsuit addressed serious material quality issues in certain GM trucks and SUVs sold between 2007 and 2014. Drivers are frustrated with Chevy’s response. A classic-action lawsuit that hoped to satisfy them has now been dismissed.

Chevy Silverado drivers’ splitting dashboards

The dashboard’s material near the control panel and surrounding the airbag panels seem to crack and split at a much higher rate than typical dashboards. Some cracks are severe and can run the entire length of the dash. Many owners worry that broken dashboard pieces could become airborne if airbags deploy. However, the manufacturer and the NHTSA have both ruled that the issue is merely a cosmetic one.

Chevy refuses a recall, costing owners thousands

Many owners had their dashboards replaced as part of a Takata airbag recall. Dealerships currently check for signs of wear, warping, and cracking that is unrelated to the airbag issue. A service bulletin instructed technicians not to repair unrelated dash issues. The Takata airbag recall affected five Chevy models and four GM models.

Many owners chose to replace the cracking dashboards at their own expense. However, this proved to be costly and could rack up thousands of dollars in expenses. Many owners felt that Chevy should compensate them for these costly repairs. After this four-year legal battle, it is unsure if these drivers will ever find satisfaction from Chevy.

Why was the lawsuit dismissed?

GMAuthority detailed the recent ruling. This suit claimed that GM had committed fraudulent concealment of the cracked dashboard issues. They also cited unjust enrichment and violation of state consumer protection laws. General Motors’ legal team put forth the defense that the company did not know the dashboard issues existed at the time of sale. They further argued that no known safety risks are associated with the cracking dashboards.

The sixth circuit court of appeals judge John Nalbandian dismissed the lawsuit stating that the plaintiffs failed to prove GM knew any safety risks associated with the issue. For example, the judge pointed out many drivers did not seek replacement or repairs until their trucks had many miles on them. Moreover, this made it difficult to prove that the vehicles sold between 2007 and 2014 were defective at the point of sale.

As a result, the lawsuit was dismissed, leaving drivers with no hope. In short, the court did not find Chevy responsible for repairs.

What can Chevy Silverado drivers do if their truck has a cracked dash?

Chevy Silverado owners have two options forward. The first and easiest is to pay for the repairs out-of-pocket. The solution is hard to swallow, but it is the most straightforward.

Secondly, owners can check their Vin with the manufacturer to see if their vehicle falls under the toccata airbag recall umbrella. To avoid potential injury, every vehicle should be checked against active recalls. If the Takata airbag recall covers a Chevy Silverado, dashboard replacement may be covered at a local license dealership.