GM Releases Valve Lifter Service Update For V8 Engines
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General Motors has issued a service update for 2021 model year full-size truck and SUV models that are being shipped to dealerships and may be affected by valve lifter problems.
The problem: affected vehicles may have or may be prone to experiencing a broken valve lifter lock pin spring. This problem only affectes vehicles equipped with the naturally aspirated 5.3L L84 V8 or 6.2L L87 V8 gasoline engines.
The hazards: this problem does not pose a safety hazard, however a broken valve lifter long spring can lead to various engine problems. As we reported in a previous article that addressed these widespread GM V8 engine valve lifter issues, affected vehicles may produce a service engine light, along with a misfire, peculiar engine noise and engine damage.
The fix: dealership technicians are instructed to replace both banks of cylinders in affected vehicles. These repairs must be performed upon arrival at the dealership and before the vehicles are sold to customers.
Affected vehicles:
- 2021 Cadillac Escalade
- 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021 Chevy Suburban
- 2021 Chevy SIlverado 1500
- 2021 GMC Yukon
- 2021 GMC Yukon XL
Affected components: valve lifter, valve lifter lock pin spring.
Number of affected vehicles: it’s currently not clear how many vehicles were delivered to dealers in need of a valve lifter repair.
Owners should: this service update is for dealerships only and only affects vehicles that are en route to or have already been delivered to GM dealerships. No action is required by owners.
GM Authority has reported on these V8 engine valve lifter problems in the past, including an article outlining how GM dealers address the issues on customer vehicles. If you own a 5.3L L84 V8 or 6.2L L87 V8-powered GM vehicle, it may be worth reading up on these problems.
Contacts:
- GM service update number: N212353840
- Chevrolet Customer Service: 1-800-222-1020
- GMC Customer Service: 1-800-462-8782
- Cadillac Customer Service: 1- 800-333-4223
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236
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It’s pretty sad you spend over $50k on a vehicle and the first thing that needs to be done is replacing all the lifters and rods. Texas Speed AFM/DFM delete kit to the rescue!
I have a 2015 Yukon Denali with the 6.2 and it’s a piece of junk. I have been buying GM products for 45 years and this is the worst. I’ve had it in to the dealer more times than I can count and have had multiple transmission services. at 170k these things are scrap. I have replaced the magnetic ride struts and shocks, taillights, door wiring harnesses, GPS antenna, transfer case shift motor, and now I have a ticking on #2 lifters. If I weren’t able to do the repairs myself, this piece of junk would have been scrapped. I should have lemon lawed this pile of … I am extremely fussy about servicing my vehicles, nothing but the best parts regardless of cost. Amsoil is used in everything. My 2003 Suburban with 360k on it is still running perfectly and everything works. Good thing I hung on to it, the Denali is down so often I’m using the old Burb more than anything else. I used to work for GM final assembly and I recognize bad engineering when I see it. I have had to do significant reprogramming on the transmission because of bad programming from the factory that they wouldn’t fix. When I’m done this will be a great vehicle, although not much will be original other than the shell.
.Gm should put solid lifters in their engines and call it the day. Yes when you have an oil change done adjust the lifters if needed. My 383 motor (350 stroker) has them and it runs like a clock. Red line 7200 rpm. She’s a “quarter pounder’…runs 10’s all day long…maintain
GM engine issues is why God gave us Lexus…
Wow. I’m amazed that this is happing in 2021 going on 2022. These trucks are expensive if yiu can get one. I feel bad for everyone. I replaced my 6.0 litre in my 08 Tahoe Hybrid with a used motor. Gm could not get a engine for me. That’s ok. My tahoe had a collapsed #5 cylinder and a oiling issue on #1. Used motor was $6000.00 installed. Good luck to everyone
Holy Crap! I have a 2004 Savana 5.3 and a 2012 Express 5.3, no problems and neither one uses oil. Your saying I should consider myself lucky and just keep running them as the new engines will not be as reliable? My nephew just took delivery on a new Yukon. I hope he got a good engine. He sold his Toyota Tacoma to get the Yukon because he has a family now. I’m going to feel mighty bad if the Yukon turns out to be a lemon.
I have an 01 silverado with 300k plus on original engine. Bought a 2017 5.3L non E85 Z71 pickup dealer maintained completely and lifter failure before 124k very diappointed. Dealer tried hitting me for 14k to replace engine and 8k for a bandaid repair. Been a lifelong gm owner and one time dealer drivability tech and never saw these kinds of issues. Gonna stick with my older trucks for sure. Never will I buy another and was considoring a new 2500 with 6.6 gas engine.
gm does not put afm/dfm crap on the 6.0/6.6 in HD trucks they know better than to piss-off the HD crowd.
Hey, I’m going to my Chevy dealer RIGHT NOW to buy a brand new new $50K Chevy truck with a rebuilt engine!!!! May have to wait in line until they get more head gaskets.
To Sean Do they still make Lada’s ? Sure an S… box but you know that going in. Maybe 1 to consider.
The NAPA repair probably works.
WOW !!!! This is going to cost GM big $$$$ !!! I’m glad I don’t own one.
Maybe GM should have skipped the $10 billion stock buy-back and used the money to improve vehicle reliability.
THIS ^^^^^^^^^
G m needs to repair all the chevy dash that just crack. They crack because of bad product.
Just turned 16K miles and 21 Trail Boss in shop. And no word on getting parts to fix. Total BS!! Make better parts/engines and from this country.
Just turned 15,025 on my 21 LTZ 6.2. Hauled to dealership on a rollback last Monday. They are pretty sure it’s lifter related. Teardown investigation started yesterday. Update expected Monday of this week. Hope parts are readily available now.
You hope NAPA has the parts to fix your new truck.
18000 miles and lifters are out. They said would be two weeks.
My friend has a 2007 Chevy Tahoe ltz had same problem with his engine cylinder 4 lifter stuck be paid alot of money to have this replaced got about 4500 miles then problem happened again to this day truck still has this problem I have a 2000 GMC Yukon xl 5.3 l almost 278000 miles on it still going strong the afm was the worst thing gm came out with I had rented a suburban once with that system I used more gas with that then my 2000
If the engine has to be rebuilt, it just makes sense to delete the AFMDFM before putting it back together.
The traverse had engine issues as well, gm knew this but had bought x amount of engine’s they couldn’t return so they just shoved them in there anyway and passed it onto the consumer.
The issue isn’t that they can’t fix the problem as much as won’t. After all it may affect the bottom line. That may affect their bonus’s. That just can’t be allowed. I wonder how many will buy other brands and affect the Generals bottom line after all the smoke clears. My last new GM was in 86. Haven’t really felt the need to keep the Generals bonus’s high. Now if everyone felt the same maybe things would improve but I doubt it .
I have a 2017 Chevy Silverado and I had to replace my lifters on my own money I had Chevys all my life I’m thinking about going to Toyota
I am a life long GM customer, and I am sorely disappointed that they are doing the things they’re doin to those that have bought vehicles that are much older than 2021, some of us like me own vehicles from as far back as 2002 and we have no recourse, unless we choose to deal with the cost or get rid of the vehicles.
You all are really passing off current and future customers with inferior products and you really don’t care!
I love my vehicles but this unwillingness on your part to even remotely address this defect is very disheartening.
The author used incorrect terminology in this article. This is really a valve spring issue, not a valve lifter issue. Yes, they received a bad batch of valve springs from a supplier. Probably not correctly heat treated.