General Motors is now sending out owner notifications related to a wide-sweeping recall targeting vehicles equipped with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine. GM dealerships were first given notification on April 24th, 2025, while interim owner notices started being sent out on June 9th. Owners will be notified of an available fix in phases between now and September 30th, 2025.
While dealers may not yet have replacement L87 engines in stock, many are already booking inspection appointments. Meanwhile, GM is expanding production at the GM Tonawanda Engine Plant in New York, which is currently running overtime to meet the increased demand for replacement engines.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects approximately 597,630 vehicles in the United States across the 2021 to 2024 model years. Notably, the 2019, 2020, and 2025 model years are excluded from this particular recall. GM estimates that about three percent of engines affected by the recall, or roughly 17,929 units, may exhibit defects requiring a full engine replacement.
The root cause of the issue lies in possible manufacturing defects that could result in sediment embedded on the connecting rods, and oil gallery contamination in the crankshaft, leading to rod-bearing failure. Additionally, problems with the crankshaft specs and finish have been linked to an increased risk of internal engine damage.
Here’s a breakdown of affected U.S. models and volumes affected by the recall:
- Cadillac Escalade – 79,747 units
- Cadillac Escalade ESV – 46,280 units
- Chevy Silverado 1500 – 107,244 units
- Chevy Suburban – 22,162 units
- Chevy Tahoe – 44,802 units
- GMC Sierra 1500 – 153,630 units
- GMC Yukon – 82,832 units
- GMC Yukon XL – 60,933 units
Internationally, the recall affects 49,848 units in Canada and 721,000 vehicles globally, with an estimated 21,630 engines worldwide expected to require replacement.
The recall fix involves a full inspection by a GM technician. If the vehicle’s L87 engine is defective, it will be replaced, while non-defective engines will receive an oil change with a higher oil viscosity, an updated oil cap and filter, and revised documentation for the owner’s manual.
Check out our previous coverage for more information on the L87 engine recall.
Comments
That 3% is laughable and the entire internet thinks so too.
That opinion is TMI for some to take. The shear number of Youtube, Facebook, IG, and Reddit videos and posts can readily lead you to (correctly) believe that this is a widespread and serious problem, despite that the gm denialists will proclaim here.
gm has done a lot of damage to their reputation for bulletproof V8s that happen to power their cash cows that are keeping the green dream afloat.
TMI stands for To Much !gnorance afterall.
Thank you.
Yup, what do I know. Just been saying about 3% for years and I have worked at a large fortune 100 automotive company on the warranty side from a finance perspective, so that only reiterates what I have been saying. But what do I know or the companies providing the data, as long as some guys on the internet see more than a few youtube videos or a couple of threads on a forum it must be way higher right? Proceed on with your incorrect way of thinking, there are reasons certainly people run the world and others don’t…
GM has actual data on this issue and has used mathematical analysis to come up with the 3% estimate. But some random guy on the internet name Beachy with zero expertise or data available to him thinks he knows better based on pure speculation. Are you also a vaccine expert like RFK Jr.?
No more of a vaccine expert than the ones who FORCED the Arm Jab on us were. But you were OK with that.
Totally OK with all vaccines. I have gotten every vaccine available and/or recommended for someone my age. I also have 2 degrees in Biology, so I understand how the immune system and vaccines work better than the vast majority of Americans.
So, if you have a degree in biology, did you understand how a mask will not stop a VIRUS??? Good luck with not getting any life ending side effects of the China Virus jab!
I suspect it’s 3% showing damage and a higher percentage with the problem not showing damage yet. if GM is saying that higher viscosity oil will preven damage, I’m suspicious. Higher viscosity oil isn’t going to prevent damage from debris but it would help if the bearing clearance is out of spec too high by creating a thicker oil layer on the bearing surfaces. They would need to remove and inspect all bearings and crank and rod journal surfaces to check for signs of wear. I don’t know if they can do that with engine in the car on the L87, but I’m guessing only partially. I’d demand pictures of all bearings and crank surfaces, pictures of the oil filter cut open and the filter material examined for wear “glitter” , borscope photos of cylinder walls for excessive wear caused by debris, a laboratory oil analysis which will show excessive wear , and crank journals miced ( measured) for comparison to specs . I wouldn’t trust the dealer. Dealers don’t rebuild engines anymore so few of their techs are experts on engines Take that info to and engine builder. If anything is off relative to engine mileage demand a new engine.
Yeah! We’re still waiting on the recall letter? And I don’t want just an oil change and a cap! They will just want to put a bandaid on it? I don’t think so! We paid a lot of money for this truck! And this isn’t our first recall when this truck first came out! I’m so upset at GM for having dealerships sell these trucks knowing they were bad engines! And cheap parts!
So glad i do not have a 6.2… the small duramax is the way to go… probably new tooling is the thing to look for in your next engine… Q/A is gone… in GM at least…
???? Last year nobody would touch a 3.0 with a 10 ft pole “because of the timing belt” now it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Goes to show internet opinions don’t translate to sales
If 3% of the engines are estimated to be defective, why does the “fix” include higher vis oil for all units subject to the recall? It doesn’t sound like GM has a lot of confidence in their remedy. Reality is that owners of impacted units are and will continue to suffer damages that will not be compensated by GM without filing a lawsuit. I was a lifetime GM customer (have purchased more that 20 new cars over my lifetime) but with this I am done with the company. In my opinion, GM should offer to buy back these units or replace them entirely.
CYA, or Cover Your @$$. Likely the issue is related to bearing hardness. If your bearings aren’t shot the extra oil viscosity will protect them and keep them working for a long time. If their already worn down, nothing you can do but replace them.
TBFH, the news shouldn’t be 3% of engines are being replaced, but that the remaining engines get a 150,000 mile warranty! When was the last time you got more than a 100K warranty?
Me too. I’m a 35-year GM truck customer, not anymore.
We have been buying GM vehicles as long I can remember but I think this will be our last GM vehicle!
As much as you now pay for these vehicles and they have these issues from the start?
Those youtube video stars bashing GM and blowing up the internet ! Gotta get them youtube checks !
You would think after the 2014 ignition key tumbler recall debacle, affecting 800,000 GM vehicles. GM quality protocols for any repetitive problems should be able to catch issues before the problem lingers for years and becomes widespread. My dealership told me in 2022 the 6.2 was having ongoing issues. It’s really inexcusable to have mechanical problems of this magnitude, these are expensive vehicles. If the cylinder activation technology is the problem, quit using DOD, DFM or AFM. These recalls not only inconvenience customers, but erodes customer loyalty. Not to mention the cost and lost sales. This failure is hard to swallow for dealers and consumers. I’m concerned about my 2022 LT1 Camaro, it currently has a recall on the ten speed automatic transmission and the 6.2 V8! I don’t want to sell it, but I hate having a car I can’t depend on.🙁
DOD isn’t the issue. There’s a lot of debate over DOD being the issue with LC9 from 2009 to 2013, and only reason people think it was the issue was cause GM’s lawyers though a better route was to fight the claims based off warranty criteria instead of claim merit. Many mechanics and engineers refute the issue being AFM altogether.
And the issue isn’t the design by any means. When Mobile 1 did the first full year, 20k full synthetic oil change, their test vehicle of choice was a Silverado 5.3 with the Gen V engine. They had no issues out to 500k miles with the engine. Transmission needed rebuilt at 300k, but the engine had no tick, no AFM issues, burned less than half a quart per oil change, upon teardown, bores looked almost like new, with a little more wear on the non AFM bores, and rings looked like new. It’s not a design issue, but a QC issue which QC also is plauging Toyota, Hyundai and Ford as well as GM.
Yeah, people claiming they’re done buying GM….Good luck with the other brands that far exceed GM’s recalls and are FAR from having trans or engine issues.
Are you saying that the 6.2 V8 (RPO LT-1) engine in your Gen 6 Camaro has received a recall notice? Or are you saying that the 10speed automatic in your Camaro has received a recall notice? Or both?
To my knowledge, no LT-1 6.2V8 engines in either the 2016-24 in the Camaro or in the 2014-19 Corvette have received recall notices. I’m aware of the trans issue.
I have to ask all the folks that follow this site. Would you buy a vehicle with a 6.2 even if they told you it had been replaced.
Probably not, cause Scotty Kilmore said its not a 98 Camry.
I would wait for GEN VI. And then you can find a while new list of problems..
If it isn’t knocking right now, it will later.
Yes….. Likely at 350K….. These engines will blow under warranty at 20-30K, if they don’t and you do your standard maintenance, they’ll outlast the body of your truck.
Keep up the great work, Mary .
If I could find a 6.2-liter vehicle that has an engine replaced with a new engine produced after the rod & crank bearing issues were corrected, I would happily buy it. It is a solid engine that, when assembled correctly, has proven to be near bullet-proof. I have owned 2 before.
I am not happy with the thought that my current vehicle will get an oil change, and still have these defective components in it.
You will have a 150K warranty. You’ll be fine.
How long will an inspection take for this recall, any idea? Lots of labor involved?
It’s done with a code scanner. Their looking for excessive knock or timing variance. I forget the exact code, but if the dealership says more than 30 minutes, take it elsewhere.
150,000 / 10yrs warrant just waiting for a time bomb, taking a chance on a 6 lane hwy at 70 mph possible getting killed or others. GM needs to make it right and safe period. Or yet GM buy are trucks back and put your family members behind the wheel, that wont happen. A company that doesn’t stand behind their product it shows in how they are care. But lets invest in a 4 billion dollar plant to build new engines for up coming trucks. That should be a statement to all of you not to buy GM ever again they real don’t care . Fix the real problem first, then the future.
???? Sounds like you’ve never had an engine blow before? They don’t grenade like you see in Top fuel drag racing. They rattle then die. You’ll get a check engine light for 30 seconds followed by a death rattle for another 30 seconds then a clunk, and a slow down from interstate speeds. Blowing a tire is way more dangers, and at 3% failure rate, way more likely.
FYI, if your so scared about it, I’m more than willing to take your “dangerous” 6.2 off your hands 😎
Have you had your 6.2l blow before? Because according to the complaints on NHTSA website and my own personal experience, how you described it is not at all what happened. My 6.2l failed abruptly (16k miles) while I was traveling down a highway in the left lane at 60MPH. No warning lights, no knocking, it just abruptly shut off and I lost all power. Before the recall. You’re spreading misinformation. And according to my dealer; almost all of the ones they’ve gotten in with blown engines happened exactly how mine happened. New engine has 2,000 miles on it, can’t hold oil pressure & sounds like a diesel pick up but I am told to ride it until it dies because there’s no available replacements currently. I’ll gladly let you take it off of my hands because GM is doing absolutely nothing. It is essentially a ticking time bomb.
Also add in GM has known about the bearing issue since 2022 & continued to produce & sell them for top dollar. It was only when the NHTSA got involved they decided to “investigate” it. I bought my first GM brand new (6.2) & the engined failed at 16k miles, before the recall. Sat at the shop for 66 days, GM denied buyback 2x. I will never buy another GM product.
Sounds like you need a new dealership. Your local “stealership” should of hooked you up with a replacement immediately. Ditto with an engine that’s “pinging” if I believe you on it. A pinging engine needs to be replaced. I do have a hard time believing you have 2 faulty 6.2’s in a row, as 3% X 3% is .0009. odds are you definitely didn’t get 2 faulty engines back to back.
Or….. The engines are being abused. You cutting 87 octane with diesel to save $$$??? That would cause pinging and head gasket failure.
3% of engines is a joke: let’s do math!
597630 recalled
28000 complaints before nhtsa
That’s 4.5% already that have already had the issue….
I am staying with GM trucks with V8 motors. What’s better? I have had no issues since 2000 buying GM trucks. My 2019 was a 6.2. My 2024 6.2 is running great. Knock on Wood. HAHA. Extended warrantee should allow it to hold trade in value. It will have a better warrantee than a new truck when I trade it in. My very first New car out of college was a 1974 Vega. I traded it after two years with an oil burning engine and rust thru in the fenders, and cracked dash and seat covers , 50 + thousand miles for a little over half what I paid for it. No more American cars until they got better.
Almost every major manufacturer has had major engine failures lately. It seems like modern manufacturers have forgotten how to build a reliable engine? The oil consumption is ridiculous on newer vehicles. In the 1980’s it was low quality water pumps and alternators leaving people stranded on the side of the road. Which were trivial compared to engine failures. EV’s will continue to become more popular if ICE problems continue to be a common problem. Outsourcing so many parts is causing more headaches for manufacturers, is it really worth the cost? Recalls and warranty costs aren’t cheap. Most consumers expect few, if any drivetrain issues before 150,000 miles. I’ve owned my fair share of GM vehicles and never experienced any major problems, but this recall may be hard to overcome. Something needs to change, there seems to be no accountability.
A huge screwup what a embarrassment who cut corners where is quality control It”s going to cost !!!!
Since mine is in the lot for L87 issue, I would like to know if the dealer is responsible for loaners or replacement vehicle.
I supose those that are buddies with the dealership and lots of money will get the new motors and the peiple at the bottom rail will get a new oil cap and your good to go.Thankyou
When will dealers have these motors for replacement? Before or after accidents caused by a faulty engine!
Does anyone know if dealerships are using Picoscopes to detect rod-knocks and other bad bearings, or are they simply using the camshaft alignment fault code. I don’t understand how the alignment fault can detect a bad rod bearing, (or anything but an extremely bad set of crank bearings)
The only folks I have ever known to wiggle this hard trying to get out of a fatal mistake are those on DEATH ROW.
The service managers, denied any eight speed problems, as they were told to do.
Can you see where this is going to go!