GM Trucks Are Too Easy to Steal, According to a Key-Fob Lawsuit
A class-action lawsuit alleges that GM full-size trucks are too easy to steal.
The lawsuit specifically covers the issue of ignition key fobs being cloned.
2010–2025 models of the GMC Sierra and Yukon; Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado; and Cadillac Escalade are all named in the lawsuit.
Modern vehicles are full of all sorts of factory-installed devices to prevent or deter theft, from immobilizers to alarm systems. The problem is, of course, that thieves evolve their toolkits to defeat whatever the current technology throws up as a defense. The days of hot-wiring or jamming a screwdriver into an ignition socket are long over, but a well-equipped thief is still perfectly capable of making your car gone in 60 seconds. Or less.
Most manufacturers work hard on this thorny issue, trying to stay ahead of would-be car thieves. It's not just trying to please existing customers, but high rates of theft can impact insurance and drive shoppers elsewhere. However, a new class-action lawsuit brought against GM is claiming that General Motors isn't doing enough.
Andi Hedrick
The lawsuit, filed in Texas courts, alleges that GM ignored vulnerabilities in the keyless entry systems for certain full-size trucks and SUVs from Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. It claims that GM knew the key fobs and ignition systems could be easily overpowered by inexpensive signal cloning devices, technology that's readily available to car thieves.
Plaintiff Jeremy Burkett says his 2016 GMC Sierra was stolen right out of his driveway three years ago. He's since replaced the vehicle with a 2023 GMC Sierra, but in the lawsuit notes that he believes it to be vulnerable as well.
Two years ago, Hyundai and Kia reached a $200 million settlement with owners of easily stolen cars. These vehicles, mostly the base models without keyless push-button ignitions, were the subject of a viral trend on the social media site TikTok. Dubbed the Kia Challenge, the fad saw the theft rate of Kia and Hyundai models skyrocket 25 times over the previous year's average.
GM has previously faced a similar lawsuit over the security systems of the 2010–2023 Camaro. This new suit affects a wider range of cars, and as newer Yukons and Escalades are popular targets for theft, it could be a major pain for the company.
Brendan McAleer
Contributing Editor
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
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