Owners of nearly 600,000 popular GM trucks and SUVs face a serious recall over V8 engines that could suddenly fail. General Motors issued the recall after federal safety filings revealed potential manufacturing flaws in critical engine parts, putting drivers at risk of the engine dying without warning.

2025 models, pictured here, are not affected.

The recall covers 597,630 vehicles in the US. Official documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) point to manufacturing defects in connecting rods or crankshafts as the potential source of engine damage or complete failure.

Interestingly, the specific recall notice documents cited by CBS News list no definite warning signs before an engine might fail. The L87 recall follows an NHTSA probe into engine failures, which started after the agency received dozens of owner complaints.

Damage has been reported with very low mileage, this engine seeing only 28k miles. Note the dark discoloration of the connecting rod from excessive heat. (Photos: Reddit user N_Dixon)

People driving certain 2021-2024 model year vehicles need to pay attention. The affected vehicles for the L87 recall include the Escalade, Escalade ESV, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL equipped with the L87 V8 engine.

GM confirmed its dealers will inspect the engines and repair or replace them for free if needed. Owners should expect official recall letters in the mail starting around June 9, 2025. The recall numbers are N252494000 (GM) and 25V-274 (NHTSA).

Some damage has been reported as catastrophic with a complete failure of the connecting rods as seen here in bits in the oil pan.(Photos: Reddit user N_Dixon)

Dave’s Auto Center: “I’m Not Finding Any Bearing Issue Here”

Adding another layer to the story, Dave from Dave’s Auto Center recently tore down a failed L87 V8 from a Cadillac Escalade that had driven less than 1,000 miles. While the recall context generally links failures to potential bearing issues within the crank/rod assembly, Dave found something different.

His inspection uncovered a broken connecting rod and missing c-clips that hold the wrist pin in place. He suspects a flaw in the rod casting or the missing clips caused this specific engine to let go, stating directly, “I’m not finding a bearing issue.” here.

While Dave’s finding is just one specific case, it raises questions about whether different types of failures might be occurring across the nearly 600,000 recalled vehicles. As GM dealers begin the massive task of inspecting these trucks and SUVs, a clearer picture might emerge about the exact failure points.

The bottom line for owners: contact your dealer when you receive the official recall notice. Regardless of the specific internal cause, the risk of sudden engine failure is real.

Getting the free inspection and potential fix (GM recall number N252494000) is key to staying safe on the road. Owners can also reach out to Cadillac (1-800-333-4223), Chevrolet (1-800-222-1020), or GMC (1-800-462-8782) customer service lines.