What does the GM 6.2L L87 engine lawsuit allege?

The consolidated complaint alleges the 6.2-liter V8 L87 engine has a design defect that causes insufficient lubrication between the crankshaft and its connecting-rod bearings. The plaintiffs say the resulting friction and heat can lead to spun bearings, broken connecting rods, and sudden engine seizure with total loss of propulsion, sometimes without warning while driving. These are unproven allegations.

What is GM recall 25V-274 and how does it relate to the lawsuit?

In April 2025, GM recalled roughly 600,000 model year 2021–2024 trucks and SUVs with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine (NHTSA Recall No. 25V-274) for connecting rod and crankshaft defects that can cause engine failure. Dealers inspect the engine, replace it if it fails inspection, and otherwise switch the vehicle to higher-viscosity 0W-40 oil. On June 8, 2026, GM asked the court to dismiss the class action, arguing this NHTSA-supervised recall already remedies the alleged defect. The plaintiffs dispute that the recall fully fixes the problem, and NHTSA opened a review of the recall remedy in January 2026 after reports of engines failing even after the recall fix.

Do I need to file a claim in the GM L87 engine class action?

No. Because this is a lawsuit and not a settlement, there is nothing to claim and no deadline. If your vehicle is covered by NHTSA Recall 25V-274, you can have the free recall remedy performed at a GM dealer. If the lawsuit ever settles or a class is certified, a separate claims process with its own deadlines would be announced. OpenClassActions.com is watching the docket for updates.

GM 6.2L V8 L87 Engine Failure Class Action Lawsuit

Q: Is there a GM L87 engine settlement yet?

No. Powell et al. v. General Motors, LLC is a consolidated class action lawsuit, not a settlement. There is no settlement fund, no claim form, and no deadline to act. GM has not been found liable, and the company is currently asking the court to dismiss the case. Owners do not need to do anything right now.

Q: Which GM vehicles are covered by the L87 lawsuit?

The litigation focuses on 2019–2024 GM trucks and SUVs equipped with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL, and the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. No class has been certified, so the covered vehicles could change as the case proceeds.

By Steve Levine

Chevrolet truck, illustrating the GM 6.2L V8 L87 engine failure class action lawsuit covering Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade models

Published: June 11, 2026

▼ Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet

This article describes a consolidated class action complaint. The statements below are unproven allegations. General Motors has not been found liable, there is no certified class, and nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.

Status Motion to Dismiss Pending Consolidated class action · Powell et al. v. General Motors, LLC, E.D. Mich. · GM moved to dismiss June 8, 2026

Allegation 6.2L V8 L87 bearing defect can cause sudden engine seizure 2019–2024 Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban · Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL · Escalade & Escalade ESV

Can I Claim? No — nothing to claim yet No settlement, no fund, no claim form · Recalled vehicles get the free NHTSA 25V-274 remedy at GM dealers

What Is This About?

General Motors is facing a consolidated nationwide class action over its 6.2-liter V8 EcoTec3 engine, known by the RPO code L87, which powers many of GM's most popular full-size trucks and SUVs. Owners allege the engine has an internal defect that can cause it to seize without warning while driving, leaving the vehicle with no power.

The litigation is captioned Powell et al. v. General Motors, LLC, Case No. 4:25-cv-10479-SDK-KGA, pending before Judge Shalina D. Kumar in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. About a dozen separate L87 lawsuits filed around the country were consolidated into the case in late 2025, and the plaintiffs filed a 389-page consolidated complaint on February 26, 2026 on behalf of 44 named owners. GM has not been found liable, and the claims remain unproven.

The newest development: on June 8, 2026, GM filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing in large part that its existing recall already fixes the problem.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

According to the consolidated complaint, the L87 engine suffers from a design defect that causes insufficient lubrication between the crankshaft and its connecting-rod bearings. The plaintiffs allege the resulting friction and heat wear down the bearing surfaces, leading to "spun" rod bearings, broken connecting rods, and ultimately sudden engine seizure — a catastrophic failure that cuts all propulsion, sometimes at highway speed.

The suit covers 2019–2024 GM trucks and SUVs equipped with the 6.2L L87, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and Suburban; the GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL; and the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. Plaintiffs allege GM knew about the failures for years from warranty data, dealer reports, and owner complaints, yet continued selling the vehicles without disclosing the defect. They bring warranty, consumer-protection, and fraud-based claims and seek damages on behalf of the proposed class.

The case is led by court-appointed counsel from DiCello Levitt, with Hagens Berman, Lieff Cabraser, and the Miller Law Firm also on the leadership team.

The 600,000-Vehicle Recall at the Center of the Fight

In April 2025, GM recalled roughly 600,000 model year 2021–2024 trucks and SUVs with the 6.2L L87 engine under NHTSA Recall No. 25V-274, acknowledging that connecting rod and crankshaft components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure, with loss of propulsion increasing the risk of a crash.

Under the recall remedy, dealers inspect the engine. Vehicles that fail inspection get an engine repair or replacement; vehicles that pass are switched from 0W-20 to higher-viscosity 0W-40 full-synthetic oil, with a new oil fill cap, a new oil filter, and an owner's-manual insert.

The recall itself has since come under scrutiny. In January 2026, NHTSA opened a review of the recall's effectiveness after receiving dozens of owner reports of L87 engines failing even after the recall remedy — including complaints where the engine failed after receiving the official fix.

GM's Motion to Dismiss

On June 8, 2026, GM asked the court to dismiss the consolidated complaint. The company argues the doctrines of prudential mootness and primary jurisdiction warrant dismissal because its NHTSA-supervised recall already remedies the alleged engine defect — in other words, that there is nothing left for the court to fix.

GM also argues the express warranty claims fail because the plaintiffs do not allege GM ever denied them warranty repairs, and that the implied warranty claims are limited by the terms of the written vehicle warranty.

The plaintiffs are expected to oppose the motion, and the post-recall failure reports under NHTSA review are likely to feature in that fight. A ruling on the motion will shape whether the case proceeds into discovery and toward class certification.

Is There a GM L87 Settlement Yet?

No. This is a lawsuit, not a settlement. That means:

• There is no settlement fund.
• There is no claim form.
• There is no payout, and no deadline to act.
• Owners do not need to do anything in the lawsuit at this stage.

One thing owners can do right now: if your vehicle is covered by Recall 25V-274, the recall remedy is free at any GM dealer. You can check whether your VIN has an open recall on NHTSA's recall lookup site.

Note that this case is separate from the $150 million GM engine class action settlement, which involves different engines and is already past its claim deadline. Nothing about that settlement applies to the L87 litigation.

Who Could Be Affected?

The consolidated complaint is brought on behalf of current and former owners and lessees of 2019–2024 GM vehicles with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. No class has been certified, so the definition is not final and could change as the case proceeds.

If you own one of these trucks or SUVs, it may be worth keeping records of any engine repairs, oil consumption issues, dealer visits, recall work, or out-of-pocket costs. If a class is later certified or a settlement is reached, documentation like that is typically what a claims process asks about. There is nothing to file right now.

Why This Case Matters

The L87 litigation is one of the largest active auto-defect class actions in the country, touching some of the best-selling and most expensive vehicles GM makes. It also lands amid a wave of complaint-stage defect cases where automakers point to recalls as a defense — the Honda Odyssey airbag class action makes the mirror-image argument that a recall does not fix the defect or restore vehicle value, and the Volkswagen ID.4 battery fire class action raises a similar dispute over whether recall remedies make owners whole. How the court treats GM's recall-based dismissal argument could influence those fights too.

What Happens Next?

The plaintiffs will respond to GM's motion to dismiss, and the court will rule after briefing (and possibly a hearing). If the case survives, it moves into discovery and an eventual class certification motion — steps that typically take months to years. The case could also be narrowed, amended, or resolved along the way.

OpenClassActions.com will continue watching the docket for the dismissal ruling, NHTSA's findings on the recall remedy, class certification activity, and any future settlement or claim form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a GM L87 engine settlement yet?

No. This is a consolidated lawsuit, not a settlement. There is no fund, no claim form, and no deadline. GM has not been found liable and is currently asking the court to dismiss the case.

Which vehicles are covered?

The litigation focuses on 2019–2024 GM trucks and SUVs with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and Suburban; GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL; and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. No class has been certified, so this could change.

What about the recall — should I still get it done?

Yes. NHTSA Recall 25V-274 is free at GM dealers regardless of the lawsuit: dealers inspect the engine, repair or replace engines that fail inspection, and switch passing engines to 0W-40 oil. Getting the recall done does not affect any rights you might have if a class is later certified.

Do I need to file a claim?

No. Because this is a lawsuit and not a settlement, there is nothing to claim. If the case ever settles or a class is certified, a claims process and deadlines would be announced separately.

Sources

• NHTSA — Part 573 Safety Recall Report, Recall No. 25V-274 (GM 6.2L V8 L87 loss of propulsion): NHTSA Recall Report
• CarComplaints.com — "GM Files Motion to Dismiss L87 Engine Lawsuit": CarComplaints
• DiCello Levitt — "DiCello Levitt Appointed Lead Counsel in Nationwide GM 6.2L Engine Defect Litigation": DiCello Levitt
• Hagens Berman — "General Motors (GM) L87 Motor Engine Failure Defect" case page: Hagens Berman