Federal safety regulators are scrutinizing General Motors again after reports that a previous recall repair did not stop engines from failing in hundreds of thousands of trucks and SUVs. The new federal probe focuses on nearly 600,000 vehicles in the United States whose 6.2‑liter V8s were supposedly fixed, yet some owners say their engines still seized or blew up afterward. At stake is not only the reliability of a popular powertrain, but also whether one of the country’s largest automakers can convince drivers that a high‑profile safety defect has truly been resolved.
How a massive engine recall turned into a fresh safety investigation
The current inquiry grew out of a sweeping recall that General Motors launched after discovering internal engine damage in its L87 6.2‑liter V8. Earlier in 2025, GM recalled 721,000 vehicles worldwide over the issue, with nearly 600,000 of those in the United States. The recall covered a wide range of full‑size pickups and SUVs built with the L87 engine, including high‑volume models that anchor GM’s truck business. Owners were told that a dealer visit would prevent catastrophic failures tied to metal debris and lubrication problems inside the engine.
Regulators are now questioning whether that promise held up. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, referred to in several reports as NHTSA, has opened a new recall query into the effectiveness of GM’s remedy after owners reported that engines failed even after the recall work was completed. One account describes the agency’s action as a move that Opens Probe into Vehicles Over Engine Failure Issue, underscoring that the focus is not on a new defect, but on whether the earlier fix was adequate. For GM, that distinction matters, because a flawed remedy can trigger additional regulatory scrutiny, higher costs, and deeper questions about its internal validation process.
What owners say happened after the “fix”
Owner complaints are at the heart of the new investigation, and they paint a troubling picture of engines that still failed after recall repairs. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, described in one report as NHTSA, Office of, has received 36 owner responses alleging engine failure in vehicles that were already subject to the recall. Another account notes that the government has received 36 complaints that engines still failed after the supposed fix, suggesting a consistent pattern in the data regulators are reviewing. These failures reportedly include sudden loss of power, engine seizure, and in some cases complete replacement of the powertrain, all in vehicles that owners believed had been made safe.
Drivers say the recall remedy involved replacing certain engine components and, in some cases, switching to a higher viscosity oil, but they argue that these steps did not address the underlying defect. One summary notes that Drivers claim that replacing engine components did not prevent later failures in affected trucks and SUVs. Another report describes how GM’s recalled 6.2L V8s are still “blowing up” even after being fixed, with some owners saying the recall work was completed shortly before the engine failure occurred, as reflected in the Key Points summary. From a consumer perspective, that sequence is particularly galling: a trip to the dealer that is supposed to prevent disaster, followed by the very breakdown it was meant to avoid.
The scope of the new federal probe and the vehicles at risk
The fresh investigation zeroes in on a large slice of GM’s recent truck and SUV lineup. One account describes how NHTSA Opens Probe Into 600,000 G Vehicles Over Engine Failure Issue, focusing on models equipped with the L87 6.2‑liter V8. Another report says NHTSA Probes Nearly 600,000 G Vehicles Over Engine Failure Complaints, underscoring that the agency is treating the issue as a broad safety concern rather than a handful of isolated incidents. A separate summary notes that NHTSA just reopened the GM 6.2L engine recall query, describing Nearly 600,000 G trucks and SUVs and urging owners to Check their VIN to see if they are affected.
Specific nameplates include late‑model Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs that use the L87 V8, such as certain 2021–2024 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL models referenced in the General Motors Faces Models Fails summary. Another analysis notes that U.S. legacy automaker, General Motors GM, is under regulatory and cost pressure because of L87 engine failures, highlighting how central this powertrain is to the company’s portfolio. For owners, the practical question is whether their specific vehicle is part of the probe, which is why multiple reports urge drivers to run their VINs through federal and manufacturer databases.
Why regulators doubt GM’s remedy and what it means for safety
At the core of NHTSA’s skepticism is a simple question: did GM’s chosen repair actually eliminate the risk of engine failure, or did it merely reduce the odds without fully addressing the root cause? One report explains that federal regulators have opened a new inquiry after receiving complaints that engines failed even after recall work, describing how Questions GM Engine are now driving the agency’s review. Another account notes that federal safety regulators are once again scrutinizing General Mot, stating that Federal officials want to know whether the problem was truly solved, not just patched. That framing captures the broader policy concern: a recall that fails to fix the defect can undermine public confidence in the entire safety system.
From a safety standpoint, the stakes are clear. Sudden engine failure in a heavy truck or SUV can leave drivers stranded in traffic, unable to accelerate or maintain speed, which raises the risk of crashes. One summary notes that NHTSA Opens Probe into 600K Vehicles Over Engine Failure Issue, signaling that the agency views these failures as more than a mechanical nuisance. Another report describes how NHTSA Probes Nearly 600,000 G Vehicles Over Engine Failure Complaints, reinforcing that the agency is responding to a significant volume of reports. If NHTSA ultimately concludes that GM’s remedy was inadequate, it could order a new recall campaign, require more extensive repairs, or even push for buybacks in extreme cases, all of which would carry substantial financial and reputational costs for the automaker.
What affected GM owners can do now
For owners, the immediate priority is to confirm whether their vehicle is covered by the recall or the new investigation. Federal guidance encourages drivers to use the NHTSA recall checker to see if their truck or SUV is affected, with one consumer resource advising people to start by visiting the NHTSA site and entering their VIN. GM offers a parallel tool through its owner portal, where drivers can search for open campaigns by vehicle identification number on the company’s recalls page. Third‑party services also provide recall lookups, including a GM‑specific checker that directs owners to the automaker’s Official Website Recall Center for confirmation.
Owners who have already had the recall work performed but are experiencing symptoms such as ticking noises, warning lights, or loss of power should document everything and contact their dealer promptly. Legal and consumer advocates tracking L87 engine problems advise that GM recall notices were expected to be mailed and that dealers would inspect vehicles, with some guidance noting that If the vehicle passes inspection it may receive updated maintenance instructions, while those showing damage could qualify for more extensive repairs. Separate consumer information about GM’s engine lawsuit affecting Chevy and Cadillac owners stresses the importance of checking recall status and keeping records, urging drivers of affected truck and SUV models to use the SUV recall tools and to preserve repair invoices in case future remedies or compensation are offered. As the probe into 600,000 G vehicles unfolds, those paper trails could determine how quickly and completely owners are made whole.
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