General Motors' 6.2-liter V8 engine is the subject of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) after customers reported severe engine damage. Notably, a previous recall by GM introduced a remedy for the issue, but multiple complaints have prompted further scrutiny. Not only that, problems have emerged in L87 engines outside the recall population, bringing the total number of affected units to 997,743.GM recalled 597,630 trucks and SUVs in the United States in April 2025 with recall 25V-274 because of a manufacturing defect related to the connecting rod or crankshaft components. The recall report explained:"General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety may exist in certain 2021 – 2024 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with the 6.2L V8 gas engine (RPO L87). The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe report further stated that a failed engine during vehicle operation "will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash." As a remedy, dealers were to inspect the engines and repair or replace them as necessary. Vehicles that passed the inspection were filled with a higher viscosity oil. However, it appears the fix may not have been enough. According to the NHTSA ODI report, an investigation was opened on January 16 to assess the effectiveness of the recall.A black cadillac escalade parked in a lotThe result was that ODI received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement for the L87 units produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. As of August 20, 2026, the ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles that were recalled. Out of those, 473 complaints were related to GM vehicles that underwent an oil viscosity change, while the other 26 involved vehicles that received replacement engines.However, the problem now extends beyond the recall population. The ODI received 191 reports involving L87 engines outside the recall population. GM said it had made improvements in the manufacturing process of crankshafts and connecting rods, addressing contamination and quality issues, but ODI's report indicates the problem now covers engines not included in the recall.GM has admitted that it received 6,953 complaints related to post-remedy engine failure. As a result, ODI will continue investigating complaints related to post-remedy engine failure while expanding the scope of the investigation to include engines outside of the recall population.
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