GM’s 6.2L L87 V8 has been under a federal spotlight for nearly a year, and the situation shifted again when NHTSA expanded its investigation. This change came after regulators received failure reports outside the group of vehicles GM had already recalled earlier in 2025.
That raised the question many owners are asking. How wide does this problem go, and what should they do right now?
What Started The Review
NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation in January 2025 after early reports of bearing failures and sudden loss of power. Regulators wanted to understand the pattern. GM responded by identifying supplier quality issues involving connecting rods and crankshaft parts. Those findings led to a recall in April 2025 for engines built between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024.
Why The Investigation Grew
Even after the recall, NHTSA continued receiving complaints from owners who were not part of that original group.
By October, regulators had logged more than one thousand bearing failure reports and thousands of additional field submissions from GM. That level of activity led NHTSA to close the preliminary review and open a broader engineering analysis.
Which Vehicles Are Being Looked At
The expanded review covers GM models from 2019 through 2024 that use the 6.2L L87 V8. NHTSA included the following vehicles in the investigation:
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- GMC Sierra 1500
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
- Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac Escalade ESV
Being part of this list does not mean every unit will be recalled. It simply shows where regulators are focusing their technical review.
If you want to check your specific vehicle, you can use GM’s VIN lookup tool.
How This Affects Owners Right Now
There has been no guidance telling owners to park their trucks or SUVs, and there have been no injury reports tied to these failures in the official filings. NHTSA’s focus is on the potential safety risk created by a sudden loss of power. That is why owner reports carry so much weight during this phase.
Owners can take a few simple steps while the investigation moves forward:
- Run a VIN search through NHTSA
- Pay attention to any new engine noises or warning lights.
- Keep records of repairs and dealership communication.
- If a failure has already happened, submit a report to NHTSA at this link. These reports help define the size of the problem.
Where Things Stand Now
The investigation has moved into a more detailed stage, and regulators are paying close attention to failures reported outside the original recall group. There is still no final answer on what is causing every complaint, and there has been no direction telling owners not to drive their vehicles.
For now, the clearest updates will continue to come from NHTSA filings, and we will keep following this issue as new information comes out.
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