General Motors has issued a sweeping recall affecting units of its full-size trucks and SUVs produced between 2021 through 2024 model years, specifically vehicles equipped with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine. As a safety measure, GM has determined that approximately three percent of the affected units may require full engine replacement, per recall campaign number N252494002. Now, we’re taking a closer look at what it takes to replace the L87 engine for affected units.
The issue stems from a potential defect involving the crankshaft and / or connecting rod components, which could cause sudden engine failure and a complete loss of propulsion.
For those vehicles identified as a candidate for a new engine, the replacement process is extensive and quite time-intensive. GM’s official labor guide estimates that the job takes between 18.2 and 18.6 labor hours, depending on the specific vehicle and drivetrain configuration. For instance, replacing the engine in a two-wheel-drive Silverado 1500 takes approximately 18.5 hours, while the same procedure in a four-wheel-drive Sierra 1500 is estimated at 18.6 hours. Similarly, vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe, and GMC Yukon range between 18.2 and 18.4 hours, based on whether the vehicle is equipped with the optional F47 suspension or not.
Additional time may be necessary for reinstalling and recharging the air conditioning system, with R1234YF AC systems requiring an extra 1.2 hours and R134A systems needing an additional 0.3 hours. The basic inspection to determine if a vehicle is a candidate for a new engine is estimated at 0.3 hours.
The replacement procedure involves removing and reinstalling numerous components, including the intake and exhaust systems, transmission connections, and cooling hardware. The new engine, designated as part number 12740076, is installed alongside a wide range of new gaskets, seals, hoses, belts, and fasteners. The service also includes replenishing the engine with eight quarts of 0W-20 Dexos oil and four gallons of Dexcool coolant.
The recall impacts the following 2021-through-2024 model year vehicles equipped with the L87 engine:
- Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac Escalade ESV
- Chevy Silverado 1500
- Chevy Suburban
- Chevy Tahoe
- GMC Sierra 1500
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
Thankfully, GM is covering the full cost of repairs for the recall.
Comments
General Mediocrities corporate bank account is going to suffer bigly.
Great job Mary.
Why? 3% of their not most popular engine is what’s? 1/2% or less of their sales for any given year? These engines are cheap for them to make despite them listing their price as 8-10K, they probably cost half that to make internally as the margins are huge on these. This is pennies next to the bolt debacle where every single bolt needed a new battery at 14K a pop, and GM’s stock barely winced at that.
This engine recall is only a big deal because GM is known for the best engines out there and this grabs headlines. In reality this is one of the least problematic or glamours recalls. Takata was way worse
You said that a few times before and you are talking like a gm executive. Obviously you are not one of the affected unlucky customers.
And you keep pointing at other manufacturers issues as an excuse for unacceptable failures and slow reaction to remedy from gm side.
Probably because I don’t know anyone who is effected with multiple people at work with the “affected” engine in question. I see no issues having relations both familial and work associates who have had to pay out of pocket for Nissan transmission issues you would think would have been covered, and ford engine issues that have been covered, but issues I actually know people who have them. The only place I’ve seen this issue is online, and it’s kinda like every other internet outrage, sure, lots of bots on X talking about it, but nobody at the dinner table and nobody at work. What does affect my decision is a contractor were working with taking in a late model 5.0 f150 for cam phaser repair, and a coworker with a clogged EGR on a super duty.
Affected was the correct word in the context, effected is wrong in the context.
It’s actually way less than 1/2. Way less.
Strictly the parts and production costs are way less than when you amortize Engr and development cost. The biggest expense is dealership labor and the loss of confidence the customer has.
Not enough
Mary makes another mistake and then they don’t fire her. Why anyone buys anything from GM is beyond me. Dealerships are very crooked these days and GM seems to be near the top of consumer complaints. Chop 🪓 Mary. chop 🥩🪓🥩🪓 Mary 🪓🥩 chop 🪓🥩 chop chop and chop 🪓🥩
What a dumbass comment to make.
No 10 speed recalls?
I’ve had several trucks with the 10-speed and had zero issues. The 8-speed on the other hand was a pig
Yep, short pay the technicians drive the good valuable ones out, then make sure the dealer doesn’t cross a T or dot and I and deny the claim and charge back the dealer. I’m sure they’ve had their little roundtable meeting because they are going to get out of paying as many of the claims as possible
They aren’t getting short paid. The labor time to do the engine replacement is the same as a normal warranty replacement. There is no sinister intention, just an effort to take care of the customer.
It’s not like the “techs” are rebuilding the engine. They’re literally taking out the old one and putting a new one in. It’s free money. Most techs today are clueless anyway and have little formal training. Source: 16 years in retail automotive.
Absolutely, GM is a bit of a scummy Co as are most of their dealerships nowadays. Maybe Mary makes too much and is not responsible for anything. She needs to get the axe 🪓🪓🪓. Yup chop 🪓 her good.
Dealers who will do the engine replacement will make no profit on this service, since this is a recall GM will only reimburse them their costs, dealers can’t be pleased with Mary Buick Envision Made in China-Barra, hopefully this recall and the lawsuits will costs GM close to $1 billion and get lots of executives fired.
Incorrect, the labor time for the recall is the same as the normal warranty engine replacement time, paid at the normal labor rates. They will absolutely be making a profit on these repairs. Dealerships will be happy to do any replacements needed under the recall.
There is an old saying dealers like to tell you is that their service department is not a warranty shop. To my knowledge, dealers back in 1990s made no profit on warranty/recalls. Today, they make a profit that is smaller than customer-pay repairs, and they certainly cannot be happy about that since most dealers’ lots are half empty (they are in my area), their service department becomes the last resort for profit. I’m 100% sure dealers would prefer customer-pay repairs instead of a warranty/recall repair.
To my knowledge it’s 2025, not 1990. Dealers absolutely will make money off this recall, just as they do on any recall. Furthermore, fixed ops (service) has long been where dealers make their money, not selling cars.
Karma, as most dealerships I’ve worked with have sticks up their butt and lies on their lips. There has been a few that I’ve really enjoyed and trusted, but only a few. I notice their doing fairly well these days too.
Well, if you really want to know, the fixed operations of the dealership (service operations) is responsible for covering the dealer’s fixed overhead expenses. 100% would be nice but few ever attain that objective. The balance to get to 100% comes out of sales. That 100% is the goal of any dealer. That’s the way the system was designed many years ago.
On the heels of their lifter failures in AFM motors, GM is quickly ruining their reputation, or at least what’s left of it.
Any part being reused that had oil touch it needs to be cleaned or replaced how do you clean the inside of a engine oil cooler or oil lines?…….you replace it.
Engine oil cooler 🤨??? Small blocks don’t got one. They got radiator water in, radiator water out. The dry sump Corvettes have an internal oil cooler, but it’s internal, radiator water in, radiator water oout
Specs on my 2025 Yukon Denali with L87:
External engine oil cooler
Heavy-duty air-to-oil cooler
Helps the engine generate consistent peak performance
Helps prevent possible engine oil breakdown during high-performance driving or under loads
Nice! Didn’t know max tow had those! It’s the same part# as the LT track one, and there’s a water line to it and from it. No oil going to a separate radiator, and the “oil cooler” listed without “engine” in front is the tranny cooler. Those aren’t touched.
A friend is a GM “A” level tech at a GMC dealer. The dealer is using “B” level techs because they’re very busy.
The piece work book is always stingy with time allotment for a particular job. If I had a new(er) vehicle worth well north of 60K, I certainly wouldn’t want a tech to rush the job just to make time. I’ll wager that most techs will discover that 18.5 hours isn’t enough to put back in place every screw, nut, clip and route every wire exactly as the factory did.
Having worked at a dealer, techs find all sorts of way to cut time without doing a hack job. I worked at a Kia dealer during the GDI replacement debacle and I believe the book paid 12-14 hours depending on a vehicle. 1 tech could do 1 engine and start another in one day if he was good. There’s nothing worse for a technician than a “Come Back” repair as you don’t get paid on it, so they’ll do it right and find ways to do it fast.
I can imagine that draining fluids and dropping the exhaust can be done at the same time before doing transmission and then pulling the engine. You’d probably have the new engine on a stand or bench and swap everything over relatively easy while putting on new parts. I can see this becoming an “8-5” job if the tech stays on it, they get paid good and it’s a days work for them. Hell, you can get the engine in the following morning, and start the next one while doing the A/C recharge.
Very simple ! This is not just a GM problem !
How do they determine you need a new engine as opposed to oil change ?
I applaud GM for finally listening to customers and deciding to stick with V8 engines for full size trucks and SUV’s for the next generation. But, they must be more reliable than the current V8’s that are being recalled for replacement. I realize Tonawanda isn’t the source of the problem, other suppliers must step up their quality control efforts. GM needs to refocus their internal quality control efforts on drivetrain reliability. With fewer divisions to manage and fewer ICE drivetrains required there is no excuse for major recalls. Too many resources were focused on EV development, I would almost bet they neglected ICE vehicles. The Biden green energy policies have put a huge burden on the auto industry financially. The mandates made it difficult to respond to government regulations and consumer demand within a reasonable time frame. The auto industry is at a crossroads, while trying to balance consumer needs and government regulations. Several manufacturers might not survive, flexibility will be required during the next decade.
“Good try” to drag the focus of the comments from gm’s quality / customer satisfaction issues to EV’s and Biden (you forgot to mention the source of all evils, Mary Barra).
Again a lame attempt for excuses for a subpar product delivered by gm.
How can one tell if the replacement engine is old stock with the same issue? How can one know if It is actually a new one? Is there any manufacturing date code on them? Also concerned about just doing the oil change and possible? lowered fuel economy. Then long term, the negative stigma of having that engine when trying to sell. Seems like we are screwed unless they replace all the engines with certified new engines.
There is only two remedies for GM: 1# Make a cash settlement with those affected an allow them to return the vehicle to General motors so the company can replace those engines at their leisure. They can easily sell them on a discounted market. 2# Pay off the existing finance debts if the customer still owes on the vehicle and let the customer take the risk of failure with a caveat that it will be registered as a salvage motor vehicle. That way any future owner knows the risk…One way or the other it will be a huge financial hit, but they have to bite the bullet and save their reputation.
If the vehicles are built by robots an 18 hour task should be able to be done with a robot in 15minutes shouldn’t it. It is repeatable by vehicle type so scan the vin and in you go for an engine swap . Where can’t I see someone wrong in this story in this day and age?
And a good tech can do it in half the book time?
It’s going to take more than 18+ hours to do this job correctly with no leaks loose bolts or scratches to the paint and chrome. Don’t forget you have to crate up the defective engine to send back. I worked as a Line mechanic at a Chevy dealership, the warranty time allowed was always less than a normal customer pay job. The best thing these mechanics can do at this point is get a job in aerospace. It’s less stress and pays way better.
I’m glad I don’t have to work on today’s cars for a living. I wrenched for a guy back in the late 70’s primarily on mid-60’s Fords, Mustangs, mercury’s, and Falcons. I remember parking two side by side in a warehouse, pulling both engines (6-cylinders) and automatic transmissions (in one piece). Setting them down on the concrete, swapping the transmissions and reinstalling both engines in a day single day. Of course neither had AC and probably not power steering. I could get that engine and tranny on the floor by myself in an hour. I pulled and replaced some in dirt floor barns using come-alongs and even farm tractor manure loaders. Ahh those were the days!
We owned a 2016 Cadillac Escalade, it also had nothing but problems for a “premium vehicle”
The head unit stopped working
The lifters failed, rollers too
Air conditioning
The stupid rear air suspension, multiple times, front stuts as well
For the cost, and cost vs maintenance. There are many mother vehicles to choose.
Also worth noting, the 6.2 is a gas guzzlin pig.
Would never own another, especially at the price point these are now.
Another point is all of this was inside 160,000km, most of it inside of 120,000km
More sales for RAM and Ford. GM Customers are getting tired of these problems. Have a 2019 5.7 Hemi RAM and love it. Transmission is a German ZF one of the best you can buy. Hemi engines have some problems but they don’t throw rods while driving on the freeway.
It’s more than 3 percent, I had a 6.2 on my 2014 lifter failure at 50k miles. Gm knew and hid it ! While PUTZ keeps defending the pathetic organization gm has become
Gmblows! Yeah who needs the 2 extra bolts on the engine the tech forgets where they went
I do not see any mention of flushing the engine oil cooler and lines. Asking for a repeat of this critical step isn’t performed.