NHTSA Launches New Investigation Into GM L87 V8 Engine Failures

After opening a query early this year, which led to a recall, the NHTSA has received more complaints regarding GM L87 V8 engine failures.

This past January, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary query evaluation into the 6.2-liter GM L87 V8, which was present in a wide variety of models, including the 2021–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2021–2024 Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Yukon XL. Owners have reportedly experienced issues with that engine including rod bearing failure and complete engine failure.

That query led to a recall for nearly 600,000 vehicles, some getting thicker oil and others receiving an engine replacement, seemingly satisfying the problem, which GM says stems from faulty crankshafts and connecting rods sourced from a supplier. However, since that recall was issued – covering models produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024 with the GM L87 V8 – the NHTSA has received complaints that this same issue is occurring in vehicles produced outside of that date range, too.

As such, the NHTSA has now opened a new investigation into the matter, covering 286,051 various 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, and 2021, 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV models equipped with the GM L87 V8 that could experience total engine failure resulting from connecting rod bearing failures.

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failures in the L87 – of which 173 fall outside of the scope of the existing recall. The department noted that it “continues to receive significant number of reports of engine failure in vehicles outside the scope of [recall] 25V-274,” which presents a safety risk warranting further investigation – precisely why it opted to open this engineering analysis, which aims to determine the true scope and severity of the problem.

Thus far, GM has received 28,000 complaints related to this problem, along with reports of 12 accidents and 42 fires that may have been caused by it. Out-of-spec crankshafts, sentiment in the oil galleries, and various other manufacturing defects were determined to be the cause, while the L87 introduced a host of new tech when it debuted, too – most notably, Dynamic Fuel Management, which replaced Active Fuel Management in the L86. Now, GM is on the verge of potentially having to recall another nearly 300k vehicles as its L87-induced headache continues.

Photos: Chevrolet

Join the Chevrolet Forums now!

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.