GM Sued Over Defective 6.2L V8 Engines

General Motors (GM) is now confronting a new class-action lawsuit. This legal action targets its 6.2-liter V-8 engines. The lawsuit claims these engines are defective. This issue affects popular GM trucks and SUVs. Many of these vehicles were part of a recent large recall.

The engines were installed in popular pre-2025 models like the Chevy Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and Suburban, the GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and the Cadillac Escalade.

Allegations of Known Defects

The lawsuit was filed on Monday, May 19. Seattle’s Hagens Berman law firm initiated the case. It was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Plaintiffs allege GM knowingly sold vehicles with faulty engines. They claim GM was aware of the safety risks.

In the wake of this April’s major recall of 598,000 full-size trucks and SUVs (721K worldwide) due to issues with their 6.2-liter V-8 engines, General Motors is now facing a new class-action lawsuit. The case was filed on Monday, May 19, by Seattle’s Hagens Berman law firm in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The plaintiffs allege that GM knowingly sold vehicles containing a defective engine, fully aware of the safety hazards that decision presented.

Engine Issues and Recall Scope

The problematic engine is the L87. It is found in models from 2021 to 2024. The April recall involved 598,000 full-size trucks and SUVs in the U.S. Globally, this recall covered 721,000 vehicles. Issues include sediment on connecting rods. Sediment can also be in the crankshaft’s oil galleries. These problems can lead to rod-bearing damage. GM also admitted some engines have out-of-spec crankshafts. Any of these defects can cause catastrophic engine failure.

Affected GM Vehicle Models

The defective engines were installed in several popular pre-2025 models. These include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and Suburban. GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon models are also affected. The Cadillac Escalade is another vehicle on the list.

Beyond the safety issue, the plaintiffs allege that this situation is causing financial harm due to decreased vehicle values. They further claim that replacing the defective powertrains with new L87 V-8s doesn’t properly address the bearing issue, leaving owners at risk of further issues.

Financial Harm and Repair Concerns

Beyond safety, the lawsuit claims financial damage. Vehicle values have reportedly decreased. Plaintiffs also state that replacing the defective powertrains with new L87 V-8s does not fully fix the issue. This leaves owners at risk of future problems.

GM’s Stance and Manufacturing Fixes

GM maintains the faults are remedied for the 2025 model year. The automaker’s internal investigation located a specific manufacturing defect. This defect reportedly impacted engines built between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. However, the lawsuit specifically includes 2019-and-newer Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 models. This suggests a broader scope than GM’s identified manufacturing window.

The automaker’s internal investigation was able to locate a specific manufacturing defect that reportedly only impacted engines built between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. That said, the lawsuit specifically includes 2019-and-newer Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500s in its list of impacted vehicles.