Massive GM L87 Engine Recall Gets Bigger as Owners Report Ongoing Failures
What’s the Problem
In early 2025, General Motors recalled roughly 598,000 vehicles equipped with its 6.2-liter L87 V8 engine after widespread complaints of engine failures. Drivers reported sudden power loss, knocking noises, and in severe cases, catastrophic engine seizure due to failed connecting-rod bearings.
Now, federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have expanded their investigation to cover an additional 286,000 vehicles that may share the same defect. Owners of vehicles not originally covered by the recall continue to report identical symptoms, suggesting the issue may be far more widespread than GM first acknowledged.
At the heart of the issue are alleged manufacturing inconsistencies in the L87 engine’s connecting-rod bearings, crankshaft machining, and oil-flow passages — all of which can cause metal-on-metal wear and internal damage leading to engine failure.
Allegations
Several legal actions and owner reports outline the same recurring allegations:
Defective Engine Components: Improperly manufactured connecting rods or contaminated oil passages may lead to premature bearing wear.
Unexpected Failures: Owners describe engines that fail suddenly and without warning — sometimes at highway speeds — increasing crash risk.
Incomplete Recall Coverage: Certain 2019-2020 Silverado and Sierra models, which use the same L87 engine, were excluded from the official recall despite similar failures.
Ineffective Remedies: GM’s recall remedy — an inspection and oil-spec change to 0W-40 with a new oil cap — may not protect engines already suffering internal wear.
Consumer advocates argue that GM’s limited recall leaves thousands of vehicles vulnerable, especially given that the L87 engine is used across multiple high-volume, high-value trucks and SUVs.
Recall / TSB
GM’s 2025 recall (NHTSA Campaign No. 25V-274) includes multiple vehicles equipped with the 6.2 L L87 engine:
2021-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2021-2024 GMC Sierra 1500
2021-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban
2021-2024 GMC Yukon / Yukon XL
2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade / ESV
Dealers are instructed to inspect the engine for internal damage. If no issues are found, they will replace the oil and filter, install a revised oil-filler cap labeled for 0W-40 viscosity, and update service records. If damage is found, the entire engine must be replaced.
Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) accompanying the recall detail new oil-change intervals, torque specs, and metal-debris inspection procedures. However, owners and independent technicians have questioned whether these TSBs adequately address underlying machining or lubrication issues that may have already compromised engine longevity.
Symptoms
Drivers experiencing the L87 defect report several consistent warning signs:
Knocking, ticking, or growling sounds coming from the lower engine or under load.
Fluctuating or dropping oil pressure and intermittent “Check Engine” or “Oil Pressure Low” warnings.
Sudden power loss or engine shutdown while driving, sometimes without prior fault codes.
Metal particles in oil, unusual oil consumption, or visible sludge on the dipstick.
Engine misfire codes (P0300-P0308) accompanied by vibration or reduced performance.
Even if symptoms are intermittent, owners should document them immediately and avoid continued driving until the vehicle is professionally inspected.
How to Proceed
Document Issues: Keep copies of all repair orders, invoices, and dealership communications. Confirm that every symptom you describe is recorded on the repair order when you drop off your vehicle.
Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts: Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, if your vehicle remains unrepaired after four or more attempts — or if it’s out of service for 30 days or more cumulatively — it may qualify as a “lemon.”
Monitor Symptoms: If new noises, warning lights, or power loss occur, stop driving and contact your dealer immediately. Repeated failure of a replaced L87 engine may strengthen your lemon law claim.
Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney, like Valero Law, APC: A specialized lemon-law attorney can evaluate whether your situation qualifies for a repurchase or cash settlement under California law.
Call Valero Law
If you are among the many GM owners now experiencing serious engine issues with your Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac equipped with the 6.2 L L87 engine, you may be entitled to relief under the California Lemon Law.
Compensation may include:
A complete repurchase of your defective vehicle
A replacement vehicle
Or a substantial cash reimbursement for damage already caused by the defect
If you’re in California and your GM truck or SUV has a 6.2 L engine, lifter, or transmission defect, call Valero Law, APC at (424) 299-4447 or complete our free Lemon Law case evaluation form today.