GM’s V8 Engine Problem Is So Bad It’s Wrecking Thousands Of Trucks And SUVs

General Motors is recalling hundreds of thousands of trucks and SUVs equipped with its 6.2-liter V8 engine. It turns out some internal components may have manufacturing defects, the kind that don’t just hurt performance, but can actually cause serious damage or even complete engine failure.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the connecting rods and/or crankshaft could be problematic. These components were made by American Axle & Manufacturing as well as Questum Macimex, and the government agency says the problems are due to “supplier manufacturing and quality issues.”

More: NHTSA Investigating Nearly 900,000 GM Trucks And SUVs Over Engine Failures

Engine teardowns have identified two primary root causes of failure. These are said to include “rod-bearing damage from sediment on connecting rods and crankshaft-oil galleries” as well as “out of specification crankshaft dimensions and surface finish.”

The NHTSA opened an investigation into engine failures, which prompted GM to conduct another investigation of their own. This was apparently the automaker’s fourth since 2022 and this one “identified a build period from March 1, 2021 to May 31, 2024 with an increased rate of potentially related engine failure claims.”

With this information in hand, they looked at new engine components as well as components from engines that had failed. This led them to the two root causes, which can “cause or contribute to bearing damage that can lead to loss of propulsion and engine failure.”

By The Numbers: Complaints, Crashes, and Fires

The company is aware of a staggering 28,102 complaints or incidents potentially related to the issue and these include 14,332 allegations of loss of propulsion. The latter implies serious damage such as engine failure.

Unfortunately, these incidents appear to have resulted in 12 crashes and 12 injuries. These were thankfully “minor or non-physical,” and most of the injuries were not crash related.

If that wasn’t bad enough, there were also 42 potentially related fires. The majority of these were “contained to the engine compartment and consistent with damage that can occur, in rare instances, during engine failure.”

Which Vehicles Are Affected?

The recall impacts 597,630 full-size trucks and SUVs in the United States. Models include the 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV as well as the 2021-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe. The 2021-2024 GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL are also part of the recall.

Around three percent of the recalled population is believed to have defects, so that would be around 17,929 vehicles. However, that’s far less than the number of complaints.

What Happens Next?

Regardless, the fix is daunting as dealers will inspect and replace the 6.2-liter V8 engine, if necessary. Vehicles that pass inspection will be switched over to a higher viscosity oil and this will also require a new oil cap, an oil filter, and an owner’s manual insert.

Owners who have seen their engines implode will be reimbursed for repairs. Notifications are expected to go out in early June and service techs can expect a packed scheduled.

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