By John 
Federal safety regulators are again scrutinizing General Motors’ 6.2-liter V8 engine after receiving complaints that engines continued to fail even after recall repairs were completed.
Ford Sets New Recall Record in 2025
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation confirmed it has received 36 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires alleging engine failures in vehicles covered by Recall 25V-274. In each reported case, owners said the prescribed recall remedy had already been performed before the engine suffered damage or catastrophic failure.
The recall, issued in April 2025, covered more than 721,000 full-size GM trucks and sport utility vehicles built between 2021 and 2024. Affected models include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL; and the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. The recall addressed problems tied to the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter L87 V8 engine.
GM’s internal investigation documented more than 28,000 engine failure reports between April 2021 and February 2025, with roughly half occurring while vehicles were in motion. The company identified two primary issues: rod-bearing damage caused by machining debris left in connecting rods and crankshaft oil passages, and crankshafts that did not meet dimensional or surface finish specifications.
Under the recall, dealers were instructed to inspect engines for a diagnostic trouble code associated with crankshaft and camshaft misalignment. Vehicles that passed inspection received higher-viscosity oil, a new oil filter, a revised oil cap, and updated owner’s manual guidance. Engines that failed inspection were repaired or replaced.
Despite those measures, regulators are now evaluating whether the remedy adequately addressed the underlying defects. NHTSA opened a formal recall query after reviewing the post-repair failure complaints, a step used when there are concerns a recall fix may not fully resolve a safety issue.
Separately, the agency has already expanded its review to include additional vehicles equipped with the L87 engine dating back to 2019, following more than 1,100 reports of engine bearing failures outside the original recall population.
The current inquiry does not guarantee another recall, but it could lead to expanded corrective actions. If the scope is widened, nearly 600,000 additional vehicles could be affected. GM manufactures the 6.2-liter L87 V8 at its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York.
For owners, the renewed investigation raises fresh concerns about reliability and safety, particularly given the risk of sudden engine failure and loss of propulsion while driving.
Eve 
Shawn Henry