GM has recalled thousands of trucks and SUVs. Some Americans have argued that the GM V8 engine has been plagued by problems for a long time.
Car Recall: Why They Will and What Should You Know
Why does a car recall occur? Here’s what you need to know if your car has an open recall:
- Recalls are a common occurrence for automakers, but new information about GM’s V8 engines is frowning.
- The American “Big 3” automaker is fighting a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of GMC SUV owners.
- The lawsuit alleges that GM replaced the customer’s faulty V8 with a similarly defective engine. Complaints from other drivers reflect serious concerns.
As of May 1, American Automaker General Motors, a manufacturing plant in Tennessee, recalls nearly 600,000 full-size SUVs and trucks (721,000 worldwide). This is the biggest recall of 2025 in terms of affected vehicles. While a massive recall is big news, there’s more to this story than eye-catching.
The recall itself is a source of concern, but the timing is even more troubling for some consumers who have long sued the engine issues, including lawsuits filed months ago.
Which GM vehicles have been recalled?
General Motors recall expands to:
- 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade (and Escalade ESV)
- 2021-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2021-2024 Chevrolet Suburbs
- 2021-2024 Chevrolet Taho
- 2021-2024 GMC Sierra 1500
- 2021-2024 GMC Yukon (Yukon XL)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers safety recall reports detailing the issues. According to the report, “GM has launched a product investigation following the notice of an investigation into the alleged engine failure of a GM vehicle equipped with an L87 V8 engine.”
The product investigation opened on January 16th, but GM owners have been complaining about the issue of the L87 V8 engine for months and potentially years, according to the lawsuit, several automotive publications and Reddit forums. “Many people have the same problem as the latest GM V8 seized them while driving in December 2024 when users post about the struggles of the GM V8.
Earlier this month, GM officials released a poll on their thoughts on the severity of the L87 engine issue, calling GM “relatively elusive about the issue.” Poll respondents voted in favor of a serious issue that opposes minors with L87 issues.
General Motors faces lawsuits via V8 engine
The NHTSA claims over the past decades that “vehicle safety development helped increase the number of lives saved annually.” Recently, vehicle safety has improved significantly, but drivers still experience serious vehicle defects that could completely change ownership experience.
One such experience is detailed in a lawsuit filed February 18, 2025 in the Eastern District of U.S. District Court, Southern Division.
“On or around October 22, 2022, the plaintiff (Powell) purchased a new 2023 GMC Yukon Denali manufactured by GM and containing an L87 V8 engine,” the lawsuit states. Powell took the vehicle to a certified GM dealership after the check engine light was on in 2024. After inspection, Powell was informed that the engine was defective and would be replaced by another engine. According to the lawsuit, Powell had problems with the new engine after the replacement.
The lawsuit alleges that a vehicle equipped with an L87 V8 engine “shares a general defect in engine bearings.
The April 24 NHTSA recall notice indicates defects including “connecting rods and/or crankshaft engine components of these vehicles… which could lead to engine damage and engine failure.”
The lawsuit further alleges that “GM has known about the engine defects for several years, but has not disclosed it.”
The lawsuit cites many consumer complaints reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding vehicles equipped with an L87 V8 engine. “It is uncontroversial that GM had knowledge of engine defects prior to March 24, 2023.” This was a few years before the recall was issued. A similar lawsuit was filed early in early April in Georgia.
When asked about the lawsuit, GM’s statement said it was not their policy to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
What should I do if my GM vehicle is being recalled?
General Motors takes recalls very seriously and pays individual attention to every L87 engine that arrives at the dealership. When asked about the recall, GM said, “We will inspect it and repair or replace the engine if necessary. Vehicles passing through will be provided with a higher viscosity oil.
Therefore, if your vehicle is part of an ongoing recall, you should immediately take it to an approved GM dealer for service to avoid potential engine troubles. Here you can use the vehicle identification number to search for recalls on a specific GM model.
What does recall mean to GM?
Reliability is a major concern for car shoppers. After all, no one wants to deal with car trouble, especially when it can lead to sophisticated mechanic fees and accidents. It is unfair to call an unreliable GM vehicle based on the recall in question. That said, General Motors has complex reliability scores on some of its bestselling models. In contrast, Toyota is producing all of the longest-lasting top five cars, based on research from ISEeCars.com.
Furthermore, GM’s recent recalls are not the only major recalls in recent years. In 2021, General Motors recalled all Chevrolet Bolt models due to fire risk. Reports of the Bolt fire have made the recall even more disastrous for the company and its consumers. Did GM need to issue a recent recall earlier? There are many angry consumers on the forum expressing their anger over how long it took them to deal with the L87 V8 engine issue.
Charles Singh is an automotive reporter for the USA Today Network. Contact him at csingh @gannett.com or X..