Quick Facts:
- Opened: August 20, 2026, after Recall Query RQ26001.
- Vehicles in scope: 997,743 trucks and SUVs from model years 2021 through 2026.
- Post-remedy complaints to NHTSA: 499, with 473 after the oil change and 26 after a new engine.
- Later-built engines: 191 failure reports from engines built after the recall’s production window.
- GM’s deadline: October 30, 2026, to answer NHTSA’s questions.
- Recall status: No new recall. Recall 25V-274 still applies.
6 min read
In This Article
L87 Engine Recall Now Faces a Federal Engineering Analysis
The L87 engine recall has entered a new federal phase. On August 20, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened Engineering Analysis EA26005 into the 6.2L V8 in 997,743 GM trucks and SUVs. The agency wants to know why L87 engine failure continues after owners completed the fix from recall 25V-274. It has logged 499 complaints from trucks already given the fix.
This is an investigation, not a new recall. NHTSA lists no new owner letter or remedy today. The scope did grow, however. NHTSA now covers 2021 through 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban and Tahoe models with the L87. It also covers the L87 in GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL models, plus the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. The original recall covered 597,571 vehicles built from March 2021 through spring 2024.
How the Original L87 Recall Fix Works
GM’s recall letter ties the problem to connecting rod and crankshaft components with possible manufacturing defects. Engine damage follows, and a failed engine loses propulsion while you drive. The original fix has two paths. Dealers inspect each engine, and failing trucks receive a repair or a GM L87 engine replacement. Passing trucks then receive a higher-viscosity oil, a new oil fill cap and a new oil filter. GM’s January 2026 dealer bulletin authorizes Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 for those oil changes.
If your truck passed the inspection, your fill cap now names the required grade. Check it against your owner’s manual insert before you buy oil. The Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 jug below is the product named in the GM bulletin. Still, treat it as a match for the grade, not as a fix for the engine.
Mobil 1 FS European Car Formula Full Synthetic Motor Oil 0W-40, 5 Quart | OEM Approved | Turbocharger Protection | Triple Action Formula
The oil grade GM authorizes for L87 recall oil changes, in a multi-quart jug.
- The Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 named in the GM bulletin
- Full synthetic 0W-40 grade
- Sold in a 5-quart jug
- Check the grade on your fill cap first
- Oil does not address the recalled defect
The Numbers Behind the L87 Engine Recall Probe
NHTSA’s opening resume, the agency’s summary of the case, lists several counts, and each one measures something different. Our GM 6.2L V8 recall lawsuit report covers the January 2026 recall query, which came first.
| Item | What NHTSA reports |
|---|---|
| Post-remedy complaints to NHTSA | 499, including 473 after the oil change and 26 after a complete engine replacement. |
| Later-built engines | 191 reports of engine failure in engines built after the recall’s production window. |
| Complaints GM reported | 6,953 post-remedy engine failure complaints. |
| Crashes, injuries and deaths in NHTSA’s reports | One crash or fire, one injury and no deaths. |
Start with the gap between 499 and 6,953. NHTSA counts the complaints it receives, while GM counts the ones reaching its own channels. With duplicates between the two sets removed, the resume’s combined total is 6,050 incidents. Divided by 997,743 vehicles, the total works out to about 0.6 percent. The count mixes post-remedy and later-built reports, and the fleet figure includes trucks outside the recall. GM’s April 2025 recall filing estimated 3 percent of recalled engines carry the defect. This is a complaint count, not a failure rate, and the tally is still rising.
Next, look at the September 15 letter. NHTSA told GM it holds 946 reports of L87 engine failure in recalled or later-built vehicles. The opening resume counted 690 reports, which is 499 post-remedy plus 191 later-built. NHTSA’s 946 figure covers a wider first group, because it counts failures in any recalled vehicle. The two totals do not compare one to one, and NHTSA does not say how many newer reports followed a completed remedy. This gap is why the next stage matters.
What Happens Next
An engineering analysis is the last stage before NHTSA decides whether the L87 engine recall needs a second round. Our NHTSA engineering analysis stages report on the GM brake probe explains the process and mentions EA26005. The agency targets 18 months for this stage, so a decision would arrive in early 2028 at the target pace.
GM’s answer to six NHTSA requests is due October 30, 2026. Unless NHTSA grants an extension, GM must supply VIN-level production data and each truck’s recall remedy type. It must also provide every complaint, warranty claim and lawsuit count, plus its own explanation of how these engines fail.
The file ends one of three ways. NHTSA closes it with no action, GM files a new recall on its own, or NHTSA requests one. GM blamed supplier manufacturing problems for the original recall population. The 191 later-built engines raise the question of whether the same cause reaches beyond the original window.
What This Means for You
If You Own an L87 Truck
First, locate the VIN. Enter it at NHTSA’s recall lookup. The tool lists only unrepaired recalls, so a clean result means no open 25V-274 repair shows for your VIN. Then find the repair order and write down which path your truck took: oil change, cap and filter, or a GM L87 engine replacement. The 499 complaints include both paths. NHTSA gives no truck totals per path, so do not read 473 against 26 as a ranking.
Keep every receipt and dealer note. GM’s recall letter says a truck given the inspection remedy receives an engine repair or replacement at no charge for this condition. The coverage runs 10 years from the original in-service date or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. GM’s letter covers trucks built from March 2021 through spring 2024, so owners of a 2025 or 2026 truck should read their warranty booklet.
If you see L87 engine problems, report them. File at NHTSA’s safety problem portal or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. Watch for warning signs too. GM’s Part 573 filing lists knocking noises, a check engine light, and hesitation or reduced propulsion. If one appears, have a dealer inspect the engine right away. My advice: pull your repair order now instead of waiting for October 30.
If You Are Shopping for a Used 6.2L Truck
Ask for the 17-character VIN before you visit. Run it, then request the recall repair order. If the seller has no proof of the remedy path, treat the engine as unverified. Our engine recall used-truck checklist walks through the same steps for other brands.
Model year matters too. A 2025 or 2026 truck sits inside the investigation, yet GM’s recall letter does not cover it. Even a documented complete engine replacement is not a clean pass, since 26 complaints followed replacements. Use the open file as price leverage, and ask for the coverage terms in writing.
A scan tool is one more low-cost check you control before you hand over money. The BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool reads engine codes through a phone app. Its listing also states strong support for GM vehicles. A scan shows stored codes only, and a clear scan does not rule out worn rod bearings. Use it beside the repair order and a dealer inspection, never in place of them.
BlueDriver OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth, No Subscription, ABS SRS TPMS | OBDII Diagnostic Scan Tool, Car Scanner & Code Reader, iPhone & Android, Check Engine, Repair Reports, Vehicles 1996+
A Bluetooth scanner for reading engine codes before you buy or when a warning light appears.
- Listing states strong support for GM vehicles
- Works with iPhone and Android
- No subscription required
- Does not show internal engine wear
- Needs a phone and the free app
Final Thoughts
The L87 engine recall story will not resolve quickly. NHTSA has asked hard questions, and GM has until October 30 to answer. The agency’s own target puts a decision more than a year out. Until then, owners wait with a question about a truck they rely on every day.
I owned two Grand Cherokee Overlands, and I believe both had V8s. Buyers want a big, smooth V8 in a daily driver, and I understand why. I still would not buy an L87 truck without a VIN check and a repair order in hand. The 26 complaints after replacement engines weigh on me most, because a new engine is not an automatic all-clear.
If you own one, keep your records. Shoppers should use the steps above and walk away from a truck with no paperwork. The next signal on these L87 engine problems is what NHTSA posts after GM’s October 30 answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NHTSA recalling nearly one million GM trucks?
No. EA26005 is an investigation covering 997,743 vehicles. Recall 25V-274 remains the active campaign, and NHTSA has not added a new remedy.
Which vehicles have the L87 engine?
NHTSA’s September 15 letter lists the 2021 through 2026 Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Escalade and Escalade ESV with the 6.2L L87. Check your VIN, because not every truck in those lines carries the 6.2L.
How many L87 engines have failed?
NHTSA has not published a failure rate. The opening resume counts 499 post-remedy complaints and 191 later-built reports, while GM reported 6,953 post-remedy complaints. Each number counts reports, so read any single L87 engine failure total with care.
Does the L87 recall fix work?
The answer is still open. NHTSA is examining this question about the L87 engine recall. Its resume logs complaints after both remedy paths, 473 after the oil change and 26 after a replacement engine. Until the agency closes the file, a completed recall does not guarantee a trouble-free engine.
Should I buy a used Silverado or Sierra with the L87?
Only with proof in hand. The open investigation raises the bar. Get the VIN, the recall repair order and the warranty terms in writing. Also note 2025 and 2026 trucks fall outside the recall letter.