That big recall General Motors (GM) announced last week for its V8 trucks and SUVs? Turns out the problem might be way bigger than anyone initially thought. Internal papers GM had to give the government reveal the automaker knew about potentially tens of thousands of engine failures before the recall even happened, according to a report from The Drive.

The documents, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), paint a stark picture. Between April 2021 and February 2025, GM recorded several field reports possibly related to major failures in its popular 6.2-liter L87 V8 engine.

These weren’t minor issues; the failures often involved crankshafts, connecting rods, or bearings letting go. Worryingly, over 14,000 of those reports mentioned the vehicle suddenly losing power while driving. For perspective, the official NHTSA investigation that led to the recall of GM started after only about 350 customer complaints.Regulators typically force a recall when a defect looks like a serious safety risk. In this case, NHTSA connected the engine failures to 12 potential crashes and 12 injuries, likely because engines seized up or lost power unexpectedly.

The internal GM documents also noted 42 cases where engine failure happened alongside a vehicle fire, a possibility GM couldn’t rule out as being related. Owners might get warnings like engine knocking or banging noises, a check engine light turning on, or the engine running poorly – hesitating, revving high, or refusing to start.

The recall of GM affects popular 2021–2024 models with the 6.2-liter L87 V8 engine: Cadillac Escalade and ESV, Chevy Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, and the GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL. Owners should expect recall notices from dealers soon.

GM is also setting up a way to reimburse people if they already paid out-of-pocket for repairs this defect caused – a big deal considering a replacement L87 engine can reportedly cost $10,000 outside of warranty.
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These internal numbers show just how widespread the L87 engine trouble really is. It leaves GM with a huge repair job ahead and potentially tens of thousands of truck and SUV owners facing engine replacements or repairs due to the defect.

This Is Where It Gets More Serious

Confirming the scale of the issue, GM has now voluntarily recalled 721,000 of these 2021-2024 trucks and SUVs worldwide (598,000 in the US) due to potential manufacturing defects in the 6.2-liter V-8 engine’s internal components, specifically the crankshaft and connecting rods. The automaker also issued a stop-sale order for affected vehicles still on dealer lots while inspections and necessary repairs or engine replacements are being arranged.