6.2L engine recall 25V-274, post-remedy failures, lifter collapse, transmission shudder — CA Silverado 1500 owners may qualify for a buyback. Free review.
The 2019-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 T1XX is America's best-selling truck — and for a significant subset of owners who opted for the 6.2L V8, it has become one of the most documented engine-failure stories in recent NHTSA history. In April 2025, GM recalled 597,630 trucks and SUVs — including 107,244 Silverado 1500s built between March 2021 and May 2024 — for a catastrophic manufacturing defect in the 6.2L L87 engine. Connecting rods and crankshafts came off the supplier line with sediment in their oil galleries, out-of-specification dimensions, and inadequate surface finish. The result: bearing destruction, loss of propulsion, and in dozens of cases, engine-compartment fire. NHTSA's investigation file contained 28,102 complaints, 12 crashes, 12 injuries, and 42 fire allegations before recall 25V-274 was issued. The recall remedy — for engines that pass inspection, a switch from 0W-20 to 0W-40 synthetic oil — has not held up. By January 2026, NHTSA had opened Recall Query RQ26001 after 36 separate complaints described engines that catastrophically failed after the recall service was performed. The fix was not fixing the problem. And for 2019-2020 Silverado 1500 owners with the same L87 engine, the story is not over either. Those model years fall outside recall 25V-274 — but NHTSA opened Engineering Analysis EA25007 in October 2025 specifically to examine whether the same bearing failure pattern extends to the earlier build window. The engine recall is the headline. But it is not the only one. The T1XX Silverado's seven-year run has also accumulated serial brake control module software failures across three separate recall campaigns (19V-889, 20V-055, 24V-674), a decade-spanning eight-speed transmission shudder addressed in TSB 16-NA-019 (revised as recently as February 2025 to add 2023-2025 model years), and an AFM/DFM valve lifter collapse problem on 5.3L models covered by TSB 23-NA-043. For California owners who have made multiple trips back to the dealer for any of these issues, the state's lemon law may entitle them to a buyback or replacement.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
Engine makes loud knocking or rod knock sound; check engine light illuminates; engine hesitates, surges, or loses power suddenly; in catastrophic failure, connecting rod punches through engine block; engine seizes and vehicle loses all drive power; vehicle may emit smoke or burning odor; fire risk reported in some cases.
Loud ticking or tapping noise from engine, especially on cold start; engine misfires and rough idle; check engine light with DTC P0300 through P0308 (cylinder misfire); loss of engine power; excessive oil consumption; in severe cases bent pushrods and camshaft damage requiring major engine rebuild.
Vibration or 'rumble strip' sensation felt through the vehicle at 35-55 mph under light throttle; jerky or harsh upshifts from 1st to 2nd gear; hard clunking on 2-to-1 downshift when decelerating; transmission hunting between gears on highway; shudder worsens after transmission warms up; occasional sudden lurch when coming to a stop or engaging drive from park.
ABS and electronic stability control warning lights either fail to illuminate when systems are offline (19V-889), or illuminate falsely after remote start or delayed ignition (20V-055); in 2023 models, brake fluid warning light fails to illuminate during brake fluid leak, causing brake pedal degradation without driver warning; spongy or low brake pedal; unexpected brake performance reduction.
After a crash that deploys front seatbelt pretensioners: smoke or burning odor from base of B-pillar; fire visible in carpet or floor trim near B-pillar. No in-vehicle warning prior to crash-triggered event.
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
Engine makes loud knocking or rod knock sound; check engine light illuminates; engine hesitates, surges, or loses power suddenly; in catastrophic failure, connecting rod punches through engine block; engine seizes and vehicle loses all drive power; vehicle may emit smoke or burning odor; fire risk reported in some cases.
Headline issue. 25V-274 is a confirmed safety recall affecting 107,244 Silverado 1500s (2021-2024 MY). 28,102 complaints filed; 12 crashes, 12 injuries, 42 fire allegations. Post-remedy failures documented in NHTSA RQ26001 — clients whose engines failed after the recall fix was applied have strong grounds: multiple failed repair attempts under California Civil Code § 1793.2(d) and/or a defect that remains unresolved. NHTSA EA25007 also targets 2019-2020 Silverado 1500 with L87 — those clients may have claims even though no recall covers their vehicle yet.
Engine inspection at dealer; either (a) complete engine replacement, or (b) oil viscosity change from 0W-20 to 0W-40 synthetic plus new oil fill cap and filter if inspection passes. Post-remedy failures have been reported and NHTSA opened RQ26001 (Jan 2026) to investigate remedy adequacy.
Loud ticking or tapping noise from engine, especially on cold start; engine misfires and rough idle; check engine light with DTC P0300 through P0308 (cylinder misfire); loss of engine power; excessive oil consumption; in severe cases bent pushrods and camshaft damage requiring major engine rebuild.
No recall issued — lemon-law theory relies on repeated warranty repair attempts. A client whose 5.3L engine has received multiple lifter replacements under warranty and continues to misfire or tick satisfies the California Song-Beverly repair-attempts presumption (§ 1793.2(d)(2): 2+ attempts on safety defect, or 4+ on drivability defect). Confirm warranty repair orders showing P0300-P0308 DTCs and/or lifter replacement. Class-action filed December 2021 covering AFM (2014-2019) and DFM (2019-2021).
TSB 23-NA-043: replace valve lifters and guides on affected cylinder banks; replace both banks if failure under 16,000 miles. May also require camshaft replacement and pushrod inspection. Aftermarket DFM disablers used by owners to prevent recurrence. Repair cost $1,500-$3,500 out of warranty.
Vibration or 'rumble strip' sensation felt through the vehicle at 35-55 mph under light throttle; jerky or harsh upshifts from 1st to 2nd gear; hard clunking on 2-to-1 downshift when decelerating; transmission hunting between gears on highway; shudder worsens after transmission warms up; occasional sudden lurch when coming to a stop or engaging drive from park.
Multiple fluid flushes and TCM reprograms that do not resolve TCC shudder are classic Song-Beverly lemon territory. Each dealer visit for the same shudder complaint counts as a repair attempt. Document complaint descriptions carefully — 'vibration,' 'shudder,' 'rough shift' must appear consistently across ROs. Torque converter replacement after multiple failed fluid/software attempts strongly supports substantial impairment claim. TSB coverage through 2025 confirms GM-acknowledged ongoing defect.
Per TSBs 16-NA-019 and 18-NA-355: (1) full transmission fluid flush with Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP; (2) TCM reprogramming to latest calibration; (3) Service Fast Learn adaptive reset. Persistent cases: torque converter replacement, valve body replacement, or complete transmission replacement. All covered under GM 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty during warranty period.
ABS and electronic stability control warning lights either fail to illuminate when systems are offline (19V-889), or illuminate falsely after remote start or delayed ignition (20V-055); in 2023 models, brake fluid warning light fails to illuminate during brake fluid leak, causing brake pedal degradation without driver warning; spongy or low brake pedal; unexpected brake performance reduction.
Pattern of EBCM failures across three separate recalls spanning 2019-2023 model years demonstrates systemic brake control software quality failure. For 2019 clients: two successive recalls (19V-889 then 20V-055) for the same brake system demonstrate a failed-repair pattern without needing additional ROs. For 2023 clients: FMVSS 135 noncompliance (24V-674) present from delivery — a safety defect existing at time of sale supports Song-Beverly warranty-at-time-of-delivery theory.
All three: dealer reprograms EBCM or eBCM at no charge. 24V-674 also available via GM OTA update. All remedies are software-only.
After a crash that deploys front seatbelt pretensioners: smoke or burning odor from base of B-pillar; fire visible in carpet or floor trim near B-pillar. No in-vehicle warning prior to crash-triggered event.
FMVSS safety defect present at time of sale for all 2019-2020 Silverado 1500 with carpet. Primary value is in multi-defect cases: if a 2019-2020 client also has engine or brake defects, the pretensioner recall adds to the overall non-conformity record and supports a delivered-defective vehicle argument. California Song-Beverly does not require the defect to manifest during ownership if it is an acknowledged safety recall.
Dealer seals the hole in the seatbelt pretensioner bracket with a metal cover; approximately 1 hour 15 minutes; free of charge. Recall began December 13, 2019.
open
Connecting rod and/or crankshaft components may have manufacturing defects — sediment in oil galleries or out-of-specification dimensions and surface finish — causing bearing failure, engine damage, and engine failure with loss of propulsion.
closed
eBCM software/calibration mismatch from assembly prevents the system from detecting brake fluid loss and fails to illuminate the BRAKE telltale when brake fluid leaks, allowing brake pedal performance to degrade without driver notification.
closed
The EBCM software installed as the remedy for recall 19V-889 contains its own error: if the vehicle is remote-started or if the driver waits 5+ minutes after entering before starting, the electronic brake assist can be disabled while ABS, ESC and BRAKE telltales falsely illuminate.
closed
EBCM software error may disable ABS and Electronic Stability Control without illuminating the ABS or ESC malfunction warning lights on the instrument cluster.
closed
Open hole in front seatbelt pretensioner bracket allows hot exhaust gas from deployed pretensioner to vent into the vehicle cabin after a crash, igniting carpet fibers near the B-pillar and potentially causing a vehicle fire.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act covers any new vehicle purchased or leased in California. The law presumes a defect is substantial when the manufacturer has made two or more unsuccessful repair attempts on a safety-related defect, four or more unsuccessful attempts on any other defect, or when the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period. If your T1XX Silverado qualifies, you may be entitled to a full repurchase (purchase price less a mileage deduction), a comparable replacement, or a negotiated settlement. GM is required to pay your attorney's fees if you prevail — most California lemon law cases cost the owner nothing out of pocket. Owners with the 6.2L L87 engine are in a particularly strong position: NHTSA's own investigation confirmed 12 crashes, 12 injuries, and 42 fire allegations tied to this defect, and the original recall remedy is itself under federal investigation for failing in the field. Owners with post-remedy engine failures — a documented broken repair attempt — may have one of the clearest lemon law records in recent GM history. The above is general information only and is not legal advice; results depend on the specific facts of your case.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
If the dealer writes 'cannot duplicate' or 'no trouble found' on your repair order, that visit still counts as a repair attempt under California lemon law. Here is how to build the best record possible when your Silverado's problems are intermittent: 1. Document everything before each visit: exact symptom, warning codes or messages, date, mileage, recent driving conditions (towing load, highway vs. city, cold start vs. warmed up). For engine noise, a short video clip with the date stamp visible is valuable evidence. 2. For the 6.2L engine (recall 25V-274): Ask the dealer to check whether the recall inspection has been performed, what the result was (engine replacement vs. oil change), and whether any NHTSA RQ26001 guidance has been issued since your vehicle was last serviced. If your engine failed after the recall service, you have a documented post-remedy failure — one of the strongest lemon law scenarios. 3. For 5.3L lifter issues: Ask the dealer to pull all active and stored DTCs. Codes P0300-P0308 stored in memory are often present even after the engine temporarily quiets. Ask whether TSB 23-NA-043 has been applied, and if so, which cylinder banks received new lifters. If the same banks were replaced and are failing again, that is a repeat repair attempt. 4. For transmission shudder: Ask whether the fluid has been flushed with Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP (Blue Label) per TSB 16-NA-019, and whether the TCM has been reprogrammed to the latest calibration. If you have had the fluid changed and the shudder returned, request documentation of each visit. Repeated failed fluid flushes and TCM reprograms support a substantial-impairment claim. 5. Keep every repair order and every recall notification letter. Time at the dealer waiting for parts — including time during the 25V-274 engine recall — counts toward the 30-day out-of-service presumption under California law.
The 6.2L L87 bearing recall is the kind of defect that defines a generation of vehicles. GM shipped 107,244 Silverado 1500s with engine components that should never have passed quality control — contaminated oil galleries and out-of-tolerance crankshafts. The resulting failures generated 28,102 consumer complaints, 12 reported injuries, and 42 fire allegations. And now the repair itself is under federal investigation because owners are reporting engine failure after the recall service. If you have a 6.2L T1XX Silverado and your engine has failed — before or after the recall service — do not accept this as normal truck ownership. If you have a 5.3L model and have been back to the dealer multiple times for lifter ticking or misfire codes, you deserve to know your options. And if you have an 8-speed transmission that shudders at highway speed despite repeated fluid changes, GM has been aware of that problem since 2016. A conversation with a California lemon law attorney costs nothing and could result in a full vehicle repurchase.
— The Margarian Law team
Does your Silverado 1500 have the 6.2L V8 — and has it been back to the dealer for engine problems, or has it failed after the recall service? Have you had your 5.3L engine in for lifter replacement more than once, or your transmission flushed for the same shudder repeatedly? California law may entitle you to a full repurchase or replacement. Get a free case review from our team and find out where you stand.
If you own a 2021-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 equipped with the 6.2L V8 engine (RPO code L87), your truck is almost certainly covered by NHTSA recall 25V-274 (GM recall N252494000, issued April 2025). The recall covers 107,244 Silverado 1500 trucks (and an additional 490,000+ GM trucks and SUVs sharing the same engine) built between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. The defect: connecting rod and crankshaft components contain manufacturing defects — sediment in oil galleries and out-of-specification dimensions — that cause bearing failure, engine seizure, and loss of propulsion. At the dealer, your truck will either receive a complete engine replacement (if the inspection finds damage) or an oil specification change from 0W-20 to 0W-40 synthetic (if the inspection passes). Important: NHTSA opened Recall Query RQ26001 in January 2026 after 36 separate reports of engine failure following the oil-change remedy. If your engine has failed after the recall service, document that repair order carefully. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for confirmation.
Yes, and owners in this situation may have a particularly strong case. NHTSA recall 25V-274 offered two remedies: engine replacement for vehicles with detected damage, or a switch to 0W-40 synthetic oil for vehicles that passed the dealer inspection. By January 2026, NHTSA had received 36 complaints from owners whose engines failed catastrophically after the recall oil-change service — and opened Recall Query RQ26001 to investigate whether the remedy is adequate. If your engine was inspected under 25V-274, cleared with an oil change, and then failed, you have documented evidence of a failed repair attempt by GM. Under California's Song-Beverly Act, a manufacturer that cannot repair a substantial safety defect after a reasonable number of attempts — including a failed recall remedy — may be required to repurchase or replace the vehicle. Document your recall service repair order and your post-remedy failure repair order. Those two records form the core of your claim.
You are not alone. NHTSA's initial investigation (PE25001, opened January 2025) reviewed 1,157 reports of L87 engine bearing failures and found that 173 of them involved 2019-2020 model years — vehicles built before the March 2021 start of recall 25V-274's build window. Because those vehicles were excluded from the recall, NHTSA opened a separate Engineering Analysis (EA25007) in October 2025 to evaluate whether the same defect exists in earlier production. That investigation was still open as of June 2026. If your 2019-2020 Silverado 1500 with the L87 engine has experienced bearing failure symptoms — rod knock, sudden power loss, or engine seizure — document every dealer visit. Even without a formal recall covering your vehicle, California's Song-Beverly Act allows lemon law claims based on repeated failed warranty repair attempts for a known defect. An attorney can evaluate your specific facts against the evolving NHTSA investigation.
There is no safety recall for the 5.3L L84 AFM/DFM valve lifter issue, but GM has formally acknowledged the problem. Technical Service Bulletin 23-NA-043 (issued April 2023, NHTSA #10235766) instructs dealers to replace the valve lifters and guides to address engine ticking, misfires, and illuminated malfunction indicator lamps with codes P0300 through P0308 on 2021 Silverado 1500 models. The root cause is the Active Fuel Management (AFM) or Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) cylinder-deactivation system, which can cause the hydraulic lifters to collapse or seize. This problem has been reported on 2019-2022 Silverado 1500s with the 5.3L V8. Under warranty, the repair is covered; out of warranty, it can cost $1,500 to $3,500. If you have had the same lifter complaint repaired once and the ticking or misfire has returned, that second visit for the same defect may be the second repair attempt that starts your California lemon law clock.
Yes, and GM has been aware of it since 2016. Technical Service Bulletin 16-NA-019 — revised most recently in February 2025 to add 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years — addresses torque converter clutch (TCC) shudder on the 8L90 8-speed automatic transmission fitted to V8 Silverado 1500 models. The shudder typically occurs at 35-55 mph under light throttle and feels like a vibration or rumble strip sensation. Harsh 1-2 upshifts, hard downshifts when coasting, and transmission gear hunting are related symptoms. The TSB remedy is a complete transmission fluid flush with Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP (Blue Label) and a TCM reprogramming; persistent cases may require torque converter or valve body replacement. If you have had the fluid changed once and the shudder has returned — which many owners report — each visit for the same symptom is a repair attempt. Four or more repair attempts for the same drivability defect is one of the California lemon law thresholds.
You may qualify. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act creates a presumption that a vehicle is a lemon when the manufacturer has made two or more unsuccessful repair attempts on a safety-related defect, four or more attempts on any other substantial defect, or when the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period. For 6.2L T1XX owners: NHTSA confirmed this is a safety defect with documented crashes, injuries, and fire allegations. Two repair attempts on a safety defect may be sufficient — and for owners whose engines failed after the recall remedy, the recall service itself counts as one of those attempts. For 5.3L lifter owners: four or more dealer visits for misfires or ticking with the same DTCs is a classic Song-Beverly multiple-attempt case. For transmission shudder owners: repeated fluid flushes and TCM reprograms that do not resolve the symptom are cumulative repair attempts. If you prevail, GM pays your attorney's fees. Most California lemon law cases cost the owner nothing out of pocket. The above is general information and not legal advice.
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