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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Bert
I have a 2019 Chevy Silverado bought it brand new right out of the dealership show room. My only issue is my service engine light every so often comes on I take to the dealership they tell me they can’t find anything wrong with the truck. It only has 13,000 should this be happening ?
Oh yeah, lots of Glory Days going on here. I love how the the early 2000s GM engines that were known for PISTON SLAP, are now the finest engines ever made! At the time, I bet some of the same actors here proclaimed to never buy another GM again!
I was looking at other truck forums because this bothered me, and I noticed that every manufacturer has issues. I also noticed that a majority of upset people from said forums claimed they were going to buy a gmc or chevy next vs any other specific brand…
Re Julie’s comment. Obviously the bonus obsessed “top dogs” at the General Do Not care about the product they are pushing. Just (if you can) S T O P supporting them. Keep your ol clunker for another year. Only if their “big buck bonus’s” start to dry up will they listen. Only when it effects them personally will they try to fix things. Before anyone buys another from the General look up the definition of crazy before you hand over your money.
No excuses for these issues with new trucks. Mine has 9,100 mikes and had the first oil change at the GM dealership at 5k miles. I’ve never towed anything and normally drive it about 30-40 miles a day. Very well maintained and it failed this week. The dealer said they’re seeing more of them like mine with even fewer miles fail. GM uses cheap parts probably from China and we pay the price. This will be my last GM truck.
I own a 2021 High Country Tahoe, During the first year it had various recalls repair, now as I post this comment the service department at my local chevy dealer says that it has lifter issues and that due to lack of shortage of parts, delays and labor that it’s going to take about a week in a half or so. Now I don’t have another vehicle to move around to pick up my kids from school, my husband takes them in the morning. Can any tell me if some how Chevy can loan me a car?
I appreciate if anyone can give me an answer.
When I had our truck serviced last, our GM dealership didn’t have any loaners either. I called the local Enterprise car rental agency and they rented us a car while our truck was being serviced.
I have also heard that other local used car dealerships have been renting out cars for uses such as this, so that could also be a possibility for you if there is another local used car dealer or dealers in your area…at least to call and check.
Good Luck
My 2021 with 16K miles is in the shop for lifter issues :*(. Being told its going to be out of service for at least a month.
Mine was at the shop for a long time, too. After a month and them disassembling the whole engine, they sent off the piece with the stuck pushrod in it (lower portion)… anyway – It’s been approved for the lemon law and goes to hearing in August… I should be getting back my deposit and all payments, including registrations… Let us know if you got yours back and what they said… I documented all voicemails also.
2021 Silverado Trail Boss. Estimated 10k miles. Don’t know the exact miles because I am in Virginia and my truck is in West Virginia. The truck left me stranded for 2 days in West Virginia. My brother eventually picked me up and drove me to my destination in Virginia (5 hrs) because the dealership didn’t have a loaner and couldn’t get me a GM rental. I have been in Virginia for almost 2 weeks without my vehicle. GM told me they would deliver it to the nearest GM dealership but has yet to “find a driver”. I am in Virginia to visit my mother. She is 90 and fell on Easter shattering her shoulder. I came here to visit with her while she is in recovery. I and staying 45 minutes from the facility she is at and as I write this I still don’t have my truck. I have to say that this is the worst experience I have ever had with a product I have purchase. This truck is still under warranty and being maintained by the dealership I purchased it from so whoever out there thinks this is a lack of maintenance issue you are completely and entirely wrong!
Signed – Still Stranded
I’m getting a new engine supposedly….it’s been at the dealer since May 16. Has anyone else had to wait this long?
I “fixed” my problem with the 21’ GMC by trading it for an F150. I know they have some issues too but I didn’t want want to wait until the other bank of lifters failed too. The left side failed at 9,100 on mine. Not sure I’ll ever buy a new GM again either.
Have driven Suburbans, then Yukons since early 1990s, trading in every 3 to 5 years. Purchased latest Feb 2021. At 5000 miles, lifter(s) went out and all replaced (6 weeks in shop). Back in shop now at 20,000 miles for steering module (?) failure. Been stranded on trips twice now. Not happy. Repairs covered by GMC, but we’re out thousands on van rental fees. Will miss my Yukon, but I no longer trust it, especially night driving.
What will you buy to replace the huge body? Just curious
GM is no stranger to these tactics, do some research on the faulty valve train of the now discontinued ls7…. complete valve train failures at 5k on up mine failled at 42 k almost dropped 3 valves into the engine and yet they get away with it
I have a 2016 GMC Yukon with 79,000 miles. My lifters fell and it cost me almost $3,000 to get it fixed. Where is the recall on this?
I Have a 2021 Chevy Silverado with less than 80,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the transmission, water pump and now the lifters. All three have been an issue with GM and still no recall. GM needs to take responsibility for these issues and make it right not just for me but everyone who is experiencing these issues.
This is what happens when you incorporate complex systems into a product using the cheapest parts available. GM is not alone in this. Nor is it an uncommon phenomena. I worked in a QC and R&D lab for 25 years. Engineers were constantly requesting we test cheaper parts for validation. Often times to save as little as 1 or 2 pennies. Results were 50/50.
Do an AFM delete and the engine will be a beast forever.
I’d say Lark’s right, that’s my plan. I’ve read many comments of people getting 300-400k miles out of 5.3s before they used DOD.