2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Lemon Law Case Study: Buyback in Utah
A Brand-New 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Duramax Returned for Eleven Warranty Repairs Before a Final Transmission Failure
Our client purchased a new 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, a Class 3 heavy-duty Duramax diesel work truck, from an authorized General Motors dealership in Utah, on July 5, 2023. The truck had only 11 miles on the odometer at delivery. Within just over two months the “Service Engine Soon” light was illuminated and the dealer was performing the first of what would become eleven documented warranty repair events across nearly two years of ownership.
The repair history included: recurring DTC P2459 (DPF regeneration frequency) with 95% soot accumulation, DTC P122D, a fully coked manifold absolute pressure sensor that had to be replaced and re-regenerated, a skewed mass airflow sensor, a starter that stayed engaged after the engine had already started, recurring “Service ESC” warnings, forward-collision-warning yaw-sensor calibration loss, infotainment system shutdown with audio loss, the truck unlocking itself randomly while parked, and a serial data gateway module recall. The repair history ended with a major transmission failure on June 6, 2025 that took the vehicle out of service for 49+ continuous days with no loaner and no documented repair-order resolution. By that point, eleven warranty visits across the same family of GM powertrain and electrical-architecture defects formed the basis of a federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claim.
What Went Wrong
- Recurring check-engine light with DTC P2459 (DPF regeneration frequency): First pass at Visit 2 in October 2023 was diagnosed as a skewed mass airflow sensor (replaced). The same code returned at Visit 8 in August 2024 with 95% soot accumulation, and the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor was found fully coked, replaced, with a forced service regeneration performed
- DTC P122D / SCR fault detection: At Visit 6 in April 2024, technicians found systems operating normally and performed a manufacturer-issued ECM/TCM recall update specifically targeting SCR fault detection on the Duramax aftertreatment system
- Recurring Service ESC and reduced-power events: ESC problems appeared at Visits 3, 4, and 5 (“Service ESC” light at Visits 3 and 4, ESC engaging unexpectedly at Visit 5) alongside forward collision warning faults, yaw-sensor calibration loss, park-assist module communication issues, and ECM/TCM/EBCM software updates, the warning kept coming back
- Starter engaged after engine start (Visit 5): Technician confirmed starter function, then updated the ECM, TCM, and EBCM software
- Infotainment shutdown, audio loss, and random unlocking (Visit 7): Radio software updated under TSB; BCM and telematics control module reprogrammed because the truck was unlocking itself while parked
- Serial data gateway module recall (Visit 9): Manufacturer-issued recall completed
- Major transmission failure (Visit 11): Vehicle brought in on June 6, 2025 with the client reporting “something in the transmission went out.” No loaner provided; no repair-order resolution documented; the truck remained out of service for 49+ continuous days, the failure that closed the case for a buyback under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Eleven Warranty Visits
Visit 1: September 11, 2023 (1 Day)
- Check engine light and reduced acceleration warning appeared
- Technician identified a related GM service bulletin and re-flashed the ECM and TCM as instructed
Visit 2: October 28, 2023 (1 Day)
- Check engine light illuminated again with stored DTC P2459 (DPF regeneration frequency)
- Technician determined the mass airflow sensor was skewed; the faulty MAF sensor was replaced
Visit 3: November 27–28, 2023 (2 Days)
- “Service ESC” light and forward collision warning illuminated
- Technician reprogrammed the yaw sensor to address calibration loss
Visit 4: December 12, 2023 (1 Day)
- “Service ESC” light returned and the truck entered reduced power mode
- Park-assist module communication issues identified; software update applied
- Radio screen rebooting issue reported, no diagnostic codes were stored and no fix was available at the time
Visit 5: February 12, 2024 (1 Day)
- Starter stayed engaged after the engine had already started; ESC engaged unexpectedly
- Technician confirmed the starter function and updated the ECM, TCM, and EBCM software
Visit 6: April 22, 2024 (1 Day)
- Check engine light on with stored DTC P122D
- Technician found systems operating normally and performed a GM-issued recall update to the ECM and TCM specifically related to SCR fault detection on the Duramax aftertreatment system
Visit 7: May 6–7, 2024 (2 Days)
- Infotainment system shut off and lost sound intermittently
- Truck reported as unlocking itself randomly when parked
- Radio software update applied per TSB; the BCM and telematics control module were reprogrammed
Visit 8: August 23–30, 2024 (8 Days)
- Check engine light illuminated again with stored DTC P2459 and 95% soot accumulation in the diesel particulate filter
- Technician found the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor fully coked and replaced the sensor; a forced service regeneration was then run
Visit 9: October 28–31, 2024 (4 Days)
- Recall performed for the serial data gateway module
- Dash rattle and check engine light concern documented but could not be duplicated
- Radio glitch reported, software update applied per bulletin
Visit 10: December 3, 2024 (~1 Day)
- Client reported irregular shifting, shuttering from a stop, and harsh downshifting
- ECM and TCM were reprogrammed and shift adapts were reset
- Recall for remote start programming also completed at this visit
- Repair order documented only the promised date; no in/out service window was recorded
Visit 11: Starting June 6, 2025 (49+ Days)
- Truck brought in for major transmission failure with the client stating “something in the transmission went out”
- No loaner vehicle provided
- No repair order was available, so the exact cause was not documented
- The vehicle had been out of service for 49+ days when the repair history was last updated
- At this point, eleven warranty repair events, recurring DPF/SCR aftertreatment defects, multiple GM-issued recalls and ECM/TCM reflashes, and a final 49+ day transmission failure with no documented resolution, a federal Magnuson-Moss buyback claim was the only viable path forward
The Legal Basis for This Silverado 3500HD Claim
Utah’s New Motor Vehicle Warranties Act sets a more demanding state-law threshold than many of its neighbors, it generally requires four or more repair attempts for the same nonconformity, or thirty or more cumulative business days out of service, all within the first year of original delivery. But Utah is not the only available remedy. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act lets owners enforce a written warranty on any vehicle with a powertrain or bumper-to-bumper warranty when the manufacturer has failed to permanently repair a substantial defect, and on this Silverado 3500HD, eleven warranty repair events plus a 49+ day transmission failure made the federal Magnuson-Moss claim strong.
This case presented several compelling legal factors:
- Utah Lemon Law (Utah Code Ann. § 13-20-1 et seq.): Utah’s New Motor Vehicle Warranties Act protects buyers of new motor vehicles purchased in Utah within the first year of original delivery. This claim was brought under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
- Manufacturer-issued recalls and service bulletins: General Motors itself issued recall updates to the ECM/TCM for SCR fault detection (Visit 6), a serial data gateway module recall (Visit 9), and a remote start programming recall (Visit 10).
- Pattern of recurring Duramax aftertreatment nonconformities: DTC P2459 returning with 95% soot accumulation and a fully coked MAP sensor, ten months after the first MAF sensor replacement for the same code, is the exact pattern the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act was written to redress: a defect the manufacturer had repeated opportunities to repair under warranty and could not.
- Final-visit transmission failure with no documented repair: No repair order was available for the June 6, 2025 visit. A 49-day disappearance with no resolution and no loaner supported the claim of substantial impairment of use.
- Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: Repeated unsuccessful warranty repairs on a written-warranty nonconformity triggered a federal claim with attorney-fee shifting against General Motors LLC.
How Easy Lemon Secured a Buyback
Free Case Evaluation
We reviewed the complete repair history and confirmed eleven documented warranty repair events and 71 days out of service.
Documentation & Case Building
Our team compiled every repair order, stored DTC (P2459, P122D), control-module reprogramming (ECM, TCM, EBCM, BCM, telematics control module, park-assist module, yaw sensor), GM recall service action (SCR fault-detection ECM/TCM recall, serial data gateway module recall, remote start programming recall), Duramax aftertreatment intervention (MAF sensor replacement, MAP sensor replacement, forced service regeneration), and final-visit transmission failure note into a buyback-grade timeline showing General Motors’ inability to permanently repair the truck.
Demand to General Motors LLC
We filed a formal demand against General Motors LLC citing the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, documenting eleven repair attempts, a 49+ day single-visit transmission disappearance, recurring DPF/SCR aftertreatment defects, and three GM-issued recalls.
$90,527.56 Buyback Recovered
Easy Lemon successfully negotiated a $90,527.56 Buyback under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, General Motors repurchased the Silverado 3500HD and refunded the purchase price (down payment, monthly payments, sales tax, registration, and finance charges) less a mileage offset. Our client paid nothing out of pocket† for legal representation. The $90,527.56 total includes the attorney fees.
$90,527.56 Vehicle Buyback Recovered Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Key Case Facts
- Vehicle: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (Class 3 heavy-duty Duramax diesel pickup)
- Purchased in: Utah (July 5, 2023)
- Status at purchase: Brand new (11 miles at delivery)
- Mileage at intake: 45,000
- Primary defects: Recurring DTC P2459 (DPF regeneration frequency) with 95% soot accumulation and a fully coked MAP sensor; DTC P122D addressed via GM recall ECM/TCM update; recurring “Service ESC” warnings with park-assist and yaw-sensor faults; starter that stayed engaged after engine start; infotainment shutdown, audio loss, and random unlocking; serial data gateway module recall; harsh downshifting and shuttering from stop; and a final 49+ day transmission failure on June 6, 2025 with no documented repair-order resolution
- Repair attempts: 11 documented warranty repair events
- Days out of service: 71 cumulative days, including 49+ days at the final visit alone
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Settlement type: Buyback, vehicle repurchased under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, surrendered to General Motors at an authorized dealership
- Settlement amount: $90,527.56 (Buyback)
What Our Clients Are Saying
Attorney on Record
Steven Nassi, Esq.
Managing Partner, Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Licensed attorney whose practice is limited to lemon law. Steven leads the Easy Lemon legal team and has overseen thousands of successful lemon law claims against major manufacturers including General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick), Stellantis, Ford, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and more.
Having Problems With Your Chevrolet Silverado HD?
Repeated “Service Engine Soon” lights, DPF/SCR aftertreatment faults, MAP sensor coking, or transmission shudder in a Silverado 2500HD or 3500HD you trusted are unacceptable, and in Utah, you may already qualify for a Buyback or cash settlement. Free case evaluation, 30 seconds.
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If your Chevrolet keeps going back to the shop for the same problem, you may qualify under your state's lemon law, the manufacturer pays our fees, not you. We handle Chevrolet cases like this one regularly.
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