General Motors’ 6.2L V8 engine failures have prompted a safety recall for more than half a million Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac trucks and SUVs.
GM’s Safety Recall N252494001 was issued to address this engine defect. GM vehicles equipped with the 6.2L engine type experienced engine failures at highway speeds, often at low mileages. Affected vehicle owners reported having to get engine replacements, which can cost thousands of dollars when not covered by existing warranties. Some had to get their engines replaced multiple times.
However, ongoing failures of the 6.2L engine type post-remedy have prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate the effectiveness of the recall.
If your GM vehicle has been experiencing ongoing engine problems and your local dealership cannot repair your vehicle to conform to warranty, your vehicle may be considered a defective product under your state’s lemon laws.
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What Vehicles Have the L87 Engine?
The L87 6.2L V8 engine was introduced in 2019 to replace its predecessor, the L86 engine. It debuted in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the GMC Sierra 1500. It was later featured in the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban, Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.
These GM vehicle models come standard with the L87 6.2L V8 engine:
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV
These GM vehicle models have the L87 6.2L V8 engine as an option or only on certain trims:
- 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2019–2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon XL
Some of these vehicles of previous model years may come equipped with the L86 engine. Though the L86 and L87 engines have a lot of similarities, the L86 engine is not the subject of this federal investigation.
GM L87 Engine Failure Investigation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation is currently overseeing multiple regulatory actions related to GM’s L87 6.2L engine failures. NHTSA first opened a safety defect investigation into these engines in early 2025. In response, GM issued a safety recall for these vehicles.
NHTSA upgraded its investigation in late 2025 after receiving additional L87 engine-related complaints involving vehicles not covered by the recall. Following reports of engine failures in vehicles that had already received recall-related repairs, NHTSA formally opened a recall query to investigate the effectiveness of GM’s safety remedy.
Preliminary Evaluation: PE25001 (January 2025)
NHTSA initiated the first phase of its defect investigation after receiving 39 complaints and some Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging engine failures.
This phase of the investigation included the following vehicles:
- 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2019–2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon XL
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV
According to investigation documents, catastrophic engine failures were caused by connecting rod bearing failures. Complaints reported knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and, in some cases, broken connecting rods damaging the engine.
By the end of this phase, NHTSA was aware of 30,694 incidents in total, including 16 incidents of injuries.
Engineering Analysis Upgrade: EA25007 (October 2025)
NHTSA upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis after receiving 1,157 complaints of engine failures in vehicles not previously covered by GM’s recall.
The upgraded investigation includes the following vehicles:
- 2019–2021, 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2019–2021, 2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2021, 2024 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2021, 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021, 2024 GMC Yukon
- 2021, 2024 GMC Yukon XL
- 2021, 2024 Cadillac Escalade
- 2021, 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV
NHTSA’s engineering analysis into GM’s L87 engine failures is ongoing. Investigation documents report a total of 3,315 recorded incidents in this vehicle population alone.
Recall Query: RQ26001 (January 2026)
The Office of Defects Investigation launched its recall query after receiving 36 vehicle owner questionnaires reporting engine failures in vehicles repaired under recall. GM’s recall repairs include an engine inspection, an oil change with higher viscosity oil or an engine replacement.
Vehicle owners alleged that both recall remedies failed to address the risk of engine failures.
GM 6.2L Engine Recall
In April 2025, General Motors issued a recall in response to NHTSA’s ongoing investigation into L87 engine defects.
Here is an overview of the GM engine recall:
- NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000
- General Motors Recall Number: N252494000
- Number of Vehicles: 597,571
- Technical Service Bulletins: N252494000, N252494001, and N252494002
- Safety Defect: The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine may have manufacturing defects that cause engine damage and engine failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Suspected Cause: Sediment on connecting rods and crankshaft-oil galleries, as well as out-of-specification crankshaft dimensions and surface finish.
- Vehicle Symptoms: Engine knocking, banging and/or other unusual noises, Check Engine Light illuminates, vehicle hesitation, high RPMs, abnormal shifting, reduced propulsion, vehicle non-starting and other engine performance issues.
- Notification Schedule: GM engine recall notices were mailed June 18, 2025.
The GM 6.2-L L87 engine recall did not include all vehicles equipped with this engine. It does, however, list the following vehicle models:
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021–2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon XL
General Motors instructed dealerships to inspect these vehicles. If the vehicle passes inspection, the technician will replace the oil with higher viscosity oil and replace the oil fill cap, oil filter and owner’s manual insert. If the vehicle fails inspection, the engine will be repaired or replaced. The effectiveness of both repairs is still under investigation.
GM Recall Contact Information
To schedule a repair appointment or report further issues, General Motors’ customer service can be contacted at the following phone numbers:
- Cadillac customer service: 1-800-333-4223
- Chevrolet customer service: 1-800-222-1020
- GMC customer service: 1-800-462-8782
Top GM 6.2L V8 Engine Symptoms
Though the GM L87 investigation is primarily concerned with engine failures, a survey of complaints from Chevy, GMC and Cadillac owners reveal a host of issues with the L87 6.2L V8 engine and other engines in the affected models.
GM engine problems may include:
- Rattling noises or other engine noises
- Oil leaks or oil pressure problems
- Vehicle stalling or slowing
- Connecting rod or axle rod detaching
- Metal particles circulating through the engine
- Damage to engine block
- Engine seizure
- Catastrophic engine failure
If your Chevy, GMC or Cadillac vehicle has engine issues that cannot seem to be resolved, your vehicle may have a manufacturing defect. If your vehicle is considered defective under the California Lemon Law, you may be eligible for legal restitution.
Cadillac Escalade Engine Complaints
The 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles come with GM’s L87 engine as its base engine. Owners of Cadillac Escalades have reported their engine issues to NHTSA via submitted complaints, some of which we will feature below:
“I was driving with my family of five on I-15 … when the ability to accelerate was impacted. We noticed a strange noise from the engine compartment too. After about ten seconds of the strange noise and as I was attempting to cross four lanes of traffic to pull over, the car gave an oil pressure problem reading and shut off as we were in the process of coming to a complete stop. … The vehicle was towed … I am now without a family vehicle and no loaners were available, according to the service writer. He said that I will likely have to rent a car while I wait for a new engine. He also said that there are two Cadillacs at the dealership that have been waiting on new engines since May 2022. My family cannot bear the expense of this engine failure, the depreciation of the vehicle while it sits waiting for a new engine, the trauma and danger the incident put us through, and the time I am spending to try to resolve the issue. I’m worried that others will have a similar experience and am writing about this incident to ensure that it’s documented.”
“The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the contact heard an abnormal rattling sound and then saw smoke coming from under the hood. Other drivers were honking at the contact and alerted him that there was oil leaking from the rear of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the axle rod had detached causing an engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The dealer was awaiting a new replacement engine. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000. VIN was not available.”
“As I was driving on the highway in the left lane at approximately 85mph, without any warning lights from the vehicle, the car completely shut off. I had to cross over three lanes of traffic on a busy highway with the car completely stalled out to get to the breakdown lane. The vehicle was towed to my local Cadillac dealership where I was later informed that the engine had completely seized. The service department at the dealership indicated that this is a known issue with the engine in the model year 21-24 Escalades. He indicated that there are faulty bearings that send metal particles through the engine, causing it to seize.”
“My 2023 Escalade Sport that was purchased new has had two engines seize up while driving. The first time this happened was July 17th, 2023, when we were traveling for vacation. It had 10,697 miles on it. We were driving 70 down the highway with the cruise set and it just died. No warning at all. There was no shoulder, the side of the road was steep and muddy so my husband had to time it to get it in someone’s driveway safely. We were pulling a 14ft trailer. We were NOT close to the max weight*, so that had nothing to do with it. How it happened was not safe at all. It was scary having that happen with no warning and we were not close to a city. We had to call family to come offload our car as we had suitcases for vacation. We also had to have another family member bring a truck to pull the trailer home. We lost days of vacation over this. The car was towed to our Cadillac dealer and we were told it needed a new engine. Making another claim for the 2nd engine that failed in this same car.”
*Cadillac’s ‘23 Escalade Brochure states that the maximum towing capacity for 2WD models is 8,200 lbs for vehicles purchased with the Heavy Duty Trailering Package.
If your Cadillac Escalade or other vehicle model experiences engine seizures or other recurring issues, take it to a dealership for repairs and keep the documents related to your repair visits. If your dealership is unable to repair your vehicle within the warranty period, you may be entitled to certain forms of restitution under the law.
GM Engine Problems: Your Legal Options
If your Chevrolet, Cadillac or GMC vehicle still has engine issues despite engine repairs (or even replacements), you could be entitled to restitution under the California Lemon Law. Under this state consumer law, owners and lessees of defective vehicles may be entitled to one of the following rewards:
- A cash-and-keep settlement, where you keep the vehicle and receive some cash compensation.
- A replacement vehicle, where the model is nearly identical to your current vehicle model.
- A GM lemon law repurchase, where the manufacturer repurchases your vehicle for an amount calculated according to what you paid, minus a mileage-based offset.
Costs and expenses associated with your vehicle defects, such as out-of-pocket repair costs and rental or towing costs, are also compensated under the law. Consult with a lemon law attorney to find out if your vehicle is eligible for a lemon law claim.
Is there a GM 6.2L Class Action Lawsuit?
Yes. Before NHTSA opened its recall query, General Motors faced several lawsuits alleging that the remedies offered under GM’s L87 6.2L engine recall were inadequate. These lawsuits have since been consolidated into a single class action case.
The GM L87 6.2L engine lawsuit represents owners and lessees of the following vehicles:
- 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021–2024 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2019–2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon
- 2021–2024 GMC Yukon XL
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade
- 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV
According to the lawsuit, the recall remedy is ineffective because replacement engines are equally defective due to unresolved manufacturing defects.
We recommend that you find out if your vehicle is included in the claim. The lawsuit may have a deadline to opt out of a class action lawsuit to retain your individual right to sue.
Individual GM Lemon Law Claim
The benefit of an individual lemon law claim over a class action lawsuit is that you can sue for charges more specific to your circumstances. While members of class action lawsuits usually get a small portion of the final settlement, owners of defective vehicles can often walk away with much larger rewards upon winning a lemon law claim against a manufacturer.
If you win your lemon law claim against the manufacturer, your attorneys’ fees and costs are paid for as part of the final settlement. This is part of the contingency fee basis in which your lemon law attorneys are only paid if they win your case.
Talk to a GM Lemon Law Attorney
Our GM lemon law attorneys are experienced in handling simple and complex lemon law cases in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective new vehicle from a dealership, your vehicle may qualify for lemon law protection. Not sure if your vehicle qualifies? Get a free consultation from a with a lemon law attorney today. Call our lemon law firm at 833-208-8181 or fill out our consultation form below.
References
- (2025, January 16). Loss of motive power due to engine failure. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=PE25001
- ODI RESUME OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2025, from https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-PE25001-10002.pdf
- Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V-274. (2025). https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V274-1598.PDF
- (2025, April 24). Engine Failure. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=25V274000
- (2025, October 23). Loss of motive power due to engine failure. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=EA25007
- (2025, October 23). ODI RESUME: Loss of motive power due to engine failure. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-EA25007-23191.pdf
- Check out the 2023 Escalade. (2023). Cadillac.com. https://brochures.cadillac.com/2023/escalade/specs-trims/
- (2025, May 17). GM L87 Engine Lawsuit Says Engine Recall Not Good Enough. CarComplaints.com. https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2025/gm-l87-engine-lawsuit-recall.shtml
- Wood, D. A. (2025, June 12). GM Engine Recall Lawsuit Says Repairs Inadequate. CarComplaints.com. https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2025/gm-engine-recall-lawsuit.shtml
- (2024, September 16). GMC, Chevy, Cadillac Lawsuit Investigation: Did Your Engine Fail While Driving? ClassAction.org. https://www.classaction.org/gm-engine-failure-lawsuit
- (2026, January 16). Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=RQ26001
- (2026, January 16). ODI RESUME: RQ26001. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-RQ26001-10001.pdf
- Powell v. General Motors (2025). https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69650736/1/powell-v-general-motors-llc/
