SEATTLE - How can your speedometer show that you're only going 10 miles an hour when you're actually pushing 60?

Consumer complaints are accelerating in a growing case involving allegedly defective speedometers in thousands of trucks and SUVs.

Local attorney Kim Stephens says phones are ringing off the hook since he filed a suit against General Motors on behalf a Snohomish County man.

He says the suit could expand to hundreds of thousands of trucks and SUVs with speedometers that could be failing right now.

"I think General Motors has known about this defect for a number of years," said Stephens, a lawyer with the Tousley Brain Stephens firm in downtown Seattle.

Stephens doesn't know what's worse: Consumers being kept in the dark about speedometers that may failing, or General Motors and its dealers reportedly forcing customers to pay from $100 to $500 for repairs.

"They've had tons of complaints about it from all kinds of consumers across the country," he said.

Since filing two lawsuits against GM last month -- one on behalf of a man in this state, the other for a driver in Oregon -- Stephens says the firm is getting calls from consumers and attorneys across the country.

Stephens is pushing for class action status to cover thousands of other drivers.

Websites are crawling with accounts of speedometer malfunctions in 11 models of General Motors trucks and SUVs, all made between 2003 and 2007. Consumers have also complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"And yet, they won't do a recall. And they won't repair the speedometer, and do so without charging consumers some amount of money," Stephens said.

He says in one case, a consumer was told her warranty would not cover repairs because her speedometer had not completely failed, it was only malfunctioning.

The suit alleges defects in the following models: The Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and Trailblazer. The GMC Denali, Envoy, Sierra and Trailblazer. And the Cadillac Escalade.

Stephens is urging owners to get their speedometers diagnosed now, and if it's failing, get it repaired.

"We hope to recover money for them in the lawsuit. And also get a remedy across the board," Stephens said.

At this point, General Motors is holding off on public comment until it can see the lawsuits.

Kim Stephens urges drivers who experience speedometer problems to contact his office, and also file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drivers of the vehicles in questions are also urged to make notes about their experiences, keep receipts from any repairs, and keep all defective parts that are replaced. That's your right by law.

Stephens points out there is no guarantee class action status will be granted. The process typically takes up to 4 months to get a judges decision.

For More Information:

www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Tousley Brain Stephens, LLC: 1-877-747-9016