Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 2 days ago
Federal regulators are examining continued GM engine failures following prior recall repairs, a development with implications for vehicle reliability and oversight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened Recall Query RQ26001 on January 16, 2026, focused on the 6.2L V8 L87 engine in Silverado, Tahoe, Escalade and related models. The review follows GM recall 25V-274 from April 2025, which addressed sediment buildup and crankshaft wear through higher-viscosity oil and engine replacements. Despite remedies, owners reported breakdowns, including incidents after repairs, and 36 complaints were noted alongside more than 28,000 earlier reports. The probe covers 597,630 U.S. vehicles, with 721,000 recalled globally. No crashes have been reported.
Transcript
00:00GM under federal investigation after recall fix made 600,000 vehicles worse.
00:06In winter, a GM Silverado's 6.2-liter V8 failed despite a recent recall fix stranding the owner.
00:14Nearly 600,000 vehicles face similar issues, raising questions about the remedy's effectiveness.
00:20GM faces a federal probe after nearly 600,000 vehicles with 6.2-liter V8L87 engines,
00:29including Silverado's and Tahoe's, failed despite recall fixes.
00:3436 complaints have been reported, with the investigation potentially expanding.
00:40Introduced in 2019, the L87 engine powers high-performance GM trucks.
00:46Recall 25V-274, issued in April 2025, addressed sediment buildup and crankshaft wear affecting more than 28,000 complaints.
00:56The defect stemmed from substandard manufacturing practices.
01:00Despite recall remedies, including oil upgrades and engine replacements, failures persisted.
01:06Owners continued reporting breakdowns, some after completing repairs.
01:11In May 2025, a class-action lawsuit was filed, and by October, the investigation scope widened to include nationwide incidents.
01:19On January 16, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched Recall Query RQ-26001, examining 597,630 U.S. vehicles.
01:35The probe reviews whether the recall, which included higher viscosity oil and engine replacements, sufficiently addressed the underlying defects.
01:43The U.S. market is the primary focus, though globally, 721,000 vehicles were recalled.
01:52Persistent complaints across multiple models, including Escalade and Silverado, highlight ongoing reliability and safety concerns.
01:59Affected owners face recurring engine failures and service hurdles.
02:04While no crashes have been reported, failures raise serious reliability concerns, leaving many frustrated and uncertain about next steps.
02:13NHTSA is assessing the quality of L87 engine parts, testing of recall remedies, and whether the fixes adequately resolved the defect.
02:22Failures after oil changes and replacements cast doubt on the recall's efficacy.
02:26Over 28,000 complaints trace back to metallurgy issues in L87 engines, highlighting long-standing design and manufacturing concerns dating to 2019.
02:37With 721,000 vehicles recalled worldwide, GM faces potential cross-border legal scrutiny and regulatory oversight.
02:46GM must submit detailed data to NHTSA and coordinate with dealerships.
02:51Outcomes will influence next steps in remedies, recalls, and customer support.
02:57Industry experts note that manufacturing flaws in the crankshaft underpin persistent failures.
03:03Both oil upgrades and engine replacements failing indicate the original remedy may have been insufficient.
03:10Expanded remedies, including full engine replacements, are possible.
03:14Widespread systemic issues could trigger additional recalls and stricter oversight.
03:19The case may lead to improved recall testing standards and post-recall monitoring, ensuring fixes fully addressed defects.
03:28Persistent issues and recalls may reduce consumer trust in GM, particularly for vehicles with the 6.2-liter V8 engine, potentially impacting future sales.
Comments

Recommended