As GM Authority has already covered at length, General Motors has issued a safety recall for several vehicles equipped with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine. The recall was announced amid an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) into alleged engine failures. Notably, the recall also follows more than 14,000 GM field complaints alleging a loss of propulsion.
Per an NHTSA Safety Recall Report (25V-274), an internal GM investigation reviewed 28,102 field complaints in the U.S. that were potentially linked to the L87 engine failures. Among these, 14,332 complaints specifically indicated an alleged loss of propulsion, meaning the vehicle suddenly lost power while driving – a serious safety risk that could increase the risk of a crash.
GM later determined that the likely cause behind the engine failures was related to manufacturing and quality control issues at the supplier level, including rod-bearing damage resulting from contaminants, as well as out-of-spec and incorrectly finished crankshafts. These defects are believed to have caused the engine bearings to fail, thus resulting in engine failure and a loss of propulsion. The investigation covers incidents reported between April 29th, 2021, and February 3rd, 2025.
In addition, the report identifies 12 crashes potentially related to the engine failures, as well as 12 potentially related minor / non-physical injuries. The report also highlights 42 potentially related fires, although the exact cause behind these fires has yet to be determined.
GM initiated a formal safety recall on April 17th, 2025. Affected vehicles will be inspected, and if the related defects are identified, a replacement engine will be installed. Vehicles that pass the inspection will receive a higher-viscosity oil, a new oil cap, a replacement oil filter, and an owner’s manual insert to reflect the change.
GM has also confirmed that the defects are confined to a specific manufacturing window, and thus, 2019-, 2020-, and 2025-model-year vehicles are not included in the recall. A total of 597,630 units have been recalled in the U.S., with about 721,000 units recalled worldwide. GM estimates that only three percent of recalled vehicles have a defective engine, or roughly 18,000 units of the 597,630 units recalled in the U.S.
Comments
The resale/trade-in value on pickups with the 6.2 engine just went in the toilet. Glad I don’t have that engine. GM is shedding truck customers quickly with all of the recent drive train problems (5.3 lifters, transmissions, and now the 6.2 engines). I may skip the half tons all together and go with a 3/4 ton 6.6 gasser, that seems fairly safe if the tranny holds up, it also now has the fake Allison transmission.
Sales data totally contradicts your statement. GM gained market share last year and in Q1 in trucks. You must be MAGA, since your beliefs and opinions are impervious to evidence.
yea, because Everything Democrats say can be backed up with receipts, as evidence. LOL… keep drinking the kool -aid.
Absolutely not, as 14K is just under 3%. That’s a drop in the bucket vs some other recalls that have happened recently. Even Toyota who’s engine recall was every engine needed replacement hasn’t had a drop in perceived reliability. This really is only a big deal on this site with people who have nothing better to do than complain. The GM V8’s from talking to most mechanics and engineers at work still is perceived as more reliable than the Ford Ecoboosts. Not everyone follows every single potential recall as that would drive one crazy and convince one to never drive again. 3% of one specific engine that accounts less than half the total sales is 1% or less of the total production of this truck.
I just checked value of mine on carvana, no value change.
How old are the original LS engines?
1997
How is a different grade of oil going to solve?….
“GM later determined that the likely cause behind the engine failures was related to manufacturing and quality control issues at the supplier level, including rod-bearing damage resulting from contaminants, as well as out-of-spec and incorrectly finished crankshafts. These defects are believed to have caused the engine bearings to fail, thus resulting in engine failure and a loss of propulsion.”
gm must think us mechanics are stupid.
Reading comprehension is not your strong suit, from the article:
“Affected vehicles will be inspected, and if the related defects are identified, a replacement engine will be installed. Vehicles that pass the inspection will receive a higher-viscosity oil, a new oil cap, a replacement oil filter, and an owner’s manual insert to reflect the change.”
Vehicles that have the defect will get a new engine, those that don’t have the defect will just get a higher viscosity oil. GM estimates that 3% of the recalled vehicles will need a new engine. How in the world is this so hard to understand?
It doesn’t take a high school education to question why GM is changing the oil spec for UNAFFECTED engines. That gives a strong impression that GM is trying to bandaid non-catastrophic damage. There are also good reasons to question a manufacturers claim of the affected vehicles.
I think we’re owed transferrable extended engine warranties for these 6.2L trucks, else people aren’t going to want them in resale.
Ten year warranty or 150K mileage given to those with a 6.2L engine pass inspection and change in oil spec 0-40. I own a 21 AT4 and would be happy with that if transferable.
So why change the oil viscosity if the vehicle passes? Obviously that means that GM is still concerned that the engine could still fail, but maybe the thicker oil will get it past the warranty period. I would sell it immediately after I got rid of the new oil filler cap.
I’m a mechanical engineer and been working on cars on the side for decades. If I had one of those I would sell it fast.
I don’t disagree, but it seems every company has issues lately.
We finally have a number on the recall, 3% of vehicles not already diagnosed/fixed. Pretty high, but hardly the end of the world.
Reading isn’t your strength. Article says estimates 3% have block windows.
This higher grade oil ain’t no way in hell going to keep them from continuing to fail. Maybe gettem out of warranty.
Ever done a heavy oil treatment? Used to be a standard mechanics truck that an engine with rod knock or excessive oil consumption you just replace 30 weight with a 40 or even 50 and keep on rocking. Know a guy with the horrible Dodge 4 speeds that did that to his slipping transmission, and while it slowed down shift times, it never slipped again. It was a beater anyways. A 0W40 is still thinner than a strait 40, and will definitely give the bearings extra protection.
Funny my dad told me that same thing. His first car was a 36 Chevy that he bought in 1948 at age 15. Anyway when he got rid of it he filled the crankcase with 90 weight to quiet down the knocks. It quoted the engine bug he still only got $25 for the car so he wasted the money to buy the 90 weight grease. Told me that story when I first started driving and wrenching on cars. I’m 65 now so that’s an old story.
Not the end of the world. But 3% is a guess. How long will it take to get a replacement engine or an appointment to have a dealer check your engine? Will you drive it until it is inspected? Do you trust your dealer? Will resale be affected?
There has to be a window of time the defective L87’s were produced ! GM should easily figure this out and the recalls will most likely be dismissed ! Man the youtubers totally ate this up like a river full of piranhas !
the “window of time” is March 1 2021 to May 31st 2024
This whole thing just sums up everything I dislike with this iteration of gm. They really need to get it together, their V8 engines need to be reliable and durable for customer loyalty and confidence in ownership of a gm vehicle.
I remember this happening with C7 Corvette engines failing in a few hundred miles supposedly due to debris in oil filters. Then there were the Corvette 396s, 427s and 454s from the 60s and early 70s that routinely broke valve springs causing dropped valves and catastrophic engine failures. AFM has been another disaster. Seems like GM has been busy finding one way after another to torpedo their V8’s for the last 50 plus years.
GM has made the best v8 engines for many years, true there have been some bad years, some bad models. But nothing beats this latest bunch of junk. Just in the last four or five years GM has increased profit with less income, how? By cutting down quality. Or should I say eliminating quality. Time for a new CEO. Sales will be dropping, you can’t make this kind of junk without it showing up. Funny thing is that the CEO change will happen, expense will go way up to improve quality, sales will be dropping badly due to terrible history, and a bunch of knuckle draggers will be saying, Oh if only Barra were back…..
It’s disappointing to see how such a profitable drivetrain that is used in so many of GM’s most profitable vehicles could have succumbed to poor execution. Whether it’s bad design, supplier defects or poor quality the outcome is the same and this recall couldn’t come at a worse time. Shrinking global markets, EV demand is slowing and looming tariffs, GM has a five alarm fire on its hands. Profits are going to take a hit, dealers are in a precarious situation trying to pacify recall owners, while consumers are over extended in a slowing economy. GM has their work cut out for them, management is going to be put to the test! I hope C8 Corvette owners 6.2 isn’t having the same issues, it’s going to take a miracle to get through this mess. The auto industry is still suffering from the challenges faced during COVID, supply chains and labor shortages have hit home for suppliers and manufacturing. The domestic and foreign auto industry is affected. How they reassure consumers during this difficult recall will determine how much it affects GM future sales.
So does this make the 4 banger the most reliable engine in the half tons?
I own a ‘21 Tahoe with a 6.2. No word yet from GM re this recall. Are they still notifying customers?
The letters to notify customers haven’t come out yet, but check your My Chevrolet App… i found my recall in there.
Sounds like the old General Motors Mary Barra promised to do away with, this issue has been known for a long time yet GM refuses to do anything about it until the federal government begins looking into it. Compare GMs actions to the way Toyota has handled their recent engine issue on the Tundra, Toyota stepped up and offered new motors to 100,000 owners regardless of the engine failing or not, and they stepped up to the plate without government pressure. SHAME ON GM … AGAIN!