- Government probes GM’s troubled 6.2-liter V8 engine again.
- 36 engines reportedly failed after GM completed the recall fix.
- Original recall covered 597,630 trucks and SUVs like the Tahoe.
GM’s engine problems continue to grow as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation is looking into dozens of reports about engine failures. These have already sparked a recall and lawsuits, but the latest investigation is focused on failures that occurred after the supposed fix.
More: Lawsuit Says GM’s Fix Won’t Save Your V8 From Dying
The government has received 36 complaints about 6.2-liter L87 V8 engines that failed following the remedy. The original recall involved 597,630 vehicles, from the 2021-2024 model years, and was due to connecting rod and/or crankshaft components that may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage or failure.
Engine teardown analysis found this could be traced back to two key issues. The first was “rod-bearing damage from sediment on connecting rods and crankshaft-oil galleries,” while the second was chalked up to “out of specification crankshaft dimensions and surface finish.”
Also: GM’s V8 Is Fueling Lawsuits Faster Than Ford Can Issue Recalls
To address the issue, dealers were instructed to inspect the engine and make repairs or replacements as necessary. If vehicles passed the inspection, they were switched to a higher viscosity oil, which also necessitated a new oil fill cap and oil filter replacement.
Questions Over Repair Quality
Michael Gauthier / Carscoops
Fast forward to today and the new investigation is seeking to determine the “adequacy of the remedy” for the recall. It involved an assortment of trucks and SUVs including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra as well as the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban, and GMC Yukon.
The government isn’t saying much else at this point, but the original recall suggested that only 3 percent of the 597,630 vehicles were impacted. This would equate to 17,929, but the issue appears far more widespread than that.
In fact, the original recall noted the company had identified 28,102 field complaints potentially related to engine failure due to crankshaft, connecting rod, or engine bearing issues. Of these, 14,332 involved allegations of loss of propulsion. If that wasn’t serious enough, GM also identified 12 crashes and 12 injuries that could be related to the issue.
