Posted on 08/24/2026 2:29:21 PM PDT by DFG
The 6.2-liter V8 found in certain Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade models has been recalled for more than a year now, but the remedy may not be to the government's satisfaction. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it would investigate the recall after receiving complaints from owners who had experienced engine failures even after their trucks and SUVs had been repaired according to GM's standards.
Problematic Machining And Lubrication
The original recall of the 6.2-liter V8, codenamed L87 and also found under the hoods of some Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 pickups, pertained to machining flaws to the crankshaft and connecting rods, as well as foreign material that would clog oil passages and contaminate rod bearings. In extreme cases, affected vehicles would exhibit rod knock, losses of power, and complete engine failure.
GM traced the problem back to a supplier and worked out a solution to build the engine components to tighter standards, then issued NHTSA Safety Recall 25V-274 in 2025 for 597,000 examples of the company's full-size, body-on-frame SUVs and half-ton trucks. The recall inspection involved inspecting for excessive wear on the bearings and rods, with passing vehicles getting a higher-viscosity oil for better lubrication and failing units receiving entirely new engines.
Fixing A Fix Till It's Fixed
However, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received nearly 500 complaints from 6.2-liter V8 owners who alleged their vehicles suffered from engine failure even after successfully carrying out the manufacturer recall. Furthermore, ODI says that GM itself has received 6,900 such reports, although consolidating duplicates brought the total number of claims down to 6,050. As a result, the office opened an engineering analysis and recall query into GM's supposed remedy.
Making matters worse for Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC, the complaints don't just apply to the 2021–2024 models that the companies initially recalled. Newer SUVs and trucks not subject to the initial 2025 campaign (and theoretically built with the new component design) have also reported engine failures, meaning the solution might be more complicated than GM and its suppliers initially thought. The total number of vehicles covered by ODI's investigation totals 997,743 trucks and SUVs from the 2021 to 2026 model years, 400,000 units more than the company recalled last year.
The engineering analysis is still under way, so it's possible that the post-recall engine failures are related to something else entirely, whether that's driver error or some other mechanical issue. We'll reserve final judgment for when we hear more from either ODI or GM.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Long known for its steadfast reliability and flexibility, GM's small-block V8 has suffered a bit of a black eye as a result of these pesky 6.2-liter engines. And it's all the worse that many of the six-two's current customers are driving around in some of GM's most expensive vehicles, like the Escalade and Yukon Denali. Although the automaker wouldn't admit to anything, we suspect that the new 5.7-liter L76 and 6.6-liter L78 engines found in the 2027 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 are an attempt to distract customers from the unfortunate reputation of the current engine (while also boasting improved power and capability over their predecessor). Here's hoping for a speedy solution for all current 6.2-liter V8 owners.
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Why gm got away from the 5.7 vortec is beyond my understanding.
I had one in a ‘96 gmc pickup and it was bullet proof.
and the 3.8 v6 ...
It's been a long time since GM was known for "steadfast reliability and flexibility".
My 25 year old ford modular v8 shows no sign of slowing down.
The US manufacturers and Stellantis are attempting to design vehicles that completely fall apart the day after the warranty expires. GM just went a little bit too far.
what is a modular v8?
The Ford Modular engine is an overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 gasoline-powered small block engine family introduced by Ford Motor Company in 1990 for the 1991 model year. The term “modular” applied to the setup of tooling and casting stations in the Windsor and Romeo engine manufacturing plants, not the engine itself.
As opposed to the modular V-10.
The ford mod v8 and v10 have got to be the best engines ever. Rock rock solid.
Huh, My 2016 Cadillac CtS-V has the 6.2,granted it’s supercharged and a little older but less than 50k and runs like new, still scary fast
is that 351 windsor? any others?
The first car company to whip out the blueprints for pre- 2007 cars and build them again mainly as they were will start selling a lot of cars/Trucks. GM should bring back the Buicks from that time along with the 3.8L engine. Bring back the old Siverado’s too. All of those vehicles could hit at least 300K if taken care of.
For longevity it’s the modular engines. There are Crown Vics with 500k on the original engine..
I’m fed up with the feds...
Get out of our lives...!!!!
Government Motors, never will I buy one.
Ford I had was bad enough, and it felt refined compared to a GM similar car.
Because it already came from the factory slow ;-)
I kid!
Why gm got away from the 5.7 vortec is beyond my understanding.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah.... I don’t think the Vortec 5.3 in my 2007 Avalanche will ever die. Mind you, I did have to rework it to disable that stupid Active Fuel Management....
I worked on the 2000s Excursions.
The Vehicles were great.
One with a turbo-Diesel would be a good find.
The V-8 gas was slow and the V-10 a gas guzzler.
Over the last 7 years I’ve had a series of F-150s with the eco-boost engines. [first a 2.7 and then 2 3.5s]
Often I get over 20 mpg and have 350 to 400 hp on tap, even at 4000’ Altitude.
To date the ones I’ve had get replaced at relatively low miles, so I don’t know about aged engines.
The early LS were fine.
Then came cylider de-activiation, cam phasers, direct injection and alcohol viscosity oils.
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