Did GM Anticipate the Downfall of Your V8? | Carscoops

      Following a significant recall, General Motors is currently facing a lawsuit regarding widespread failures of V8 engines in popular trucks and SUVs, including the Escalade and Silverado.

      Models affected in this situation include the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe. Certain GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles may also have defective V8 engines. One plaintiff reported that the V8 engine in his Escalade required replacement after a serious failure.

      It didn't take long for GM to transition from announcing a substantial recall to encountering a class action lawsuit. Merely weeks after recalling nearly 600,000 trucks and SUVs in the U.S. due to potentially faulty 6.2-liter V8 engines, the automaker is now facing legal action regarding the same concern.

      A class action based in Michigan, seeking a jury trial, claims that GM has been aware of these engine issues for several years but has failed to inform customers who purchased or leased the affected vehicles.

      Two Main Causes of Engine Failures

      An investigation revealed two primary factors contributing to these catastrophic V8 engine failures. The first is thought to be rod-bearing damage resulting from sediment accumulation in the connecting rods and crankshaft oil galleries. The second issue pertains to crankshaft dimensions that are out of specification, which can also cause failure.

      Over time, GM has received 28,102 complaints or incidents that may relate to this issue. The affected models include the 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, 2021-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, as well as the 2021-2024 GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL.

      Plaintiffs Share Their Experiences

      The class action has identified two plaintiffs who experienced problems with GM’s V8 engines. The first is Jason Rittereiser, who purchased a GMC Sierra 1500 in August 2022. He is suing GM for not disclosing the engine issue at the time of sale.

      The second plaintiff, Mitchell Fagundes, bought a 2022 Cadillac Escalade in December 2022. Just a few months later, in January 2023, the V8 in his Escalade reportedly experienced a catastrophic failure while on a road trip, necessitating an engine replacement.

      The lawsuit asserts that GM was aware of the issue as early as March 2023. On March 24, 2023, the automaker published an article on the GM-Techlink website meant to inform and educate its dealers.

      In the article, GM acknowledged that a “no crank condition may be found on some 2019-2023 Silverado, Sierra; 2021-2023 Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Escalade models equipped with the 6.2L V8 engine (RPO L87).” The same article cautioned that engine noises such as “thumping, knocking, or rattling” might indicate crankshaft bearing failure.