The Lemon Index
The 6.2 L V8, direct injection in the GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban, model years 2014–2025. Owners filed 7,219 complaints about cars with it (matched by VIN); 65% name the engine, #2 of the 39 everyday engines we track (1 = the most).
Known issues, checked against owner complaints
Problems owners of cars with this engine name much more often than owners of the other 38 everyday engines we track (at least 1.5× the median, and 10+ complaints):
- Lifter failure and ticking. 883 of 7,219 owner complaints (12%) mention a lifter, rocker or ticking, against a median of 0.3% for the other 38 everyday engines we track.
The lifters failed in my engine, causing engine damage, and necessitating a new engine at only 138,000 miles. The GM dealer shared an estimate of approximately $19,000 to complete this repair.
2018 owner · NHTSA complaint 11776981 - Cylinder deactivation (AFM / DFM). 122 of 7,219 owner complaints (1.7%) mention cylinder deactivation (AFM / DFM / VCM / MDS), against a median of under 0.1% for the other 38 everyday engines we track.
My 2017 Cadillac Escalade AFM lifter fail and cause complete engine failure while driving on the highway. It was terrifying to happen on the highway. This could have cause as a major accident.
2017 owner · NHTSA complaint 11763751
What YouTube owners say Tone 0-100, higher = more praise than trouble.
Average owner tone 39/100 across 12 model years, from 127 videos about this engine and its cars (#152 of 165 engines with a YouTube study).
Most-watched videos
- EXPLODED! GM 6.2L LT1/L86 Gen5 V8 Engine Teardown. 2015 Escalade Catastrophic Failure Explained 1,170,308 views
- 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2L V8 High Country w/Super Cruise - POV Review 1,063,598 views
- Do You Really Need The BIG V8? 2020 Chevy Silverado 5.3 vs 6.2 0-60 MPH Shootout! 1,056,630 views
- RECALLED GM L87 6.2L ENGINE TEARDOWN! Manufacturing Defect Causes INSANE Damage 864,180 views
- DOD AFM Delete Yukon, Tahoe, Silverado, Sierra, Escalade 6.2L & 5.3L Replace cam & lifters Part 1 847,779 views
Counted from video titles and captions: praise words against trouble words, weighted by views. Videos only count when the title names this engine or a car that had only this engine in those years.
Cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
- Chevrolet Silverado201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
- GMC Sierra201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
- Cadillac Escalade20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
- GMC Yukon20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
- Chevrolet Tahoe20182019202020212022202320242025
- Chevrolet Suburban2019202020212022202320242025
- GMC Yukon XL201520162017
Model years from NHTSA VIN decoding of owner complaints. Only years we have a car page for.
Owner complaints by model year
Counts of complaints filed so far. Older cars have had longer to collect them, and popular cars draw more because more were sold: no one reports sales by engine, so there's no per-car rate. Compare the shares below instead.
By car
| Car | Model years matched | Complaints | Name the engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra | 2014–25 | 2,127 | 64% |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2014–25 | 1,340 | 71% |
| GMC Yukon | 2015–25 | 1,167 | 57% |
| GMC Yukon XL | 2015–25 | 988 | 60% |
| Cadillac Escalade | 2015–25 | 983 | 65% |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 2018–25 | 385 | 76% |
| Chevrolet Suburban | 2019–25 | 229 | 77% |
“Name the engine” = the share of that car's VIN-matched complaints that list the engine as a problem area.
What owners complain about
Share of this engine's complaints that name each area (one complaint can name several).
What owners write
| Complaints that | Count | Share | Median, other everyday engines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Say the engine knocked, seized or failed | 2,270 | 31% | 2.7% |
| Say the engine stalled, shut off or lost power | 1,723 | 24% | 13% |
| Mention a lifter, rocker or ticking | 883 | 12% | 0.3% |
| Mention fire, flames or smoke | 234 | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Mention a misfire | 221 | 3.1% | 0.6% |
| Mention burning or losing oil | 158 | 2.2% | 0.5% |
| Mention cylinder deactivation (AFM / DFM / VCM / MDS) | 122 | 1.7% | under 0.1% |
| Mention coolant loss or overheating | 85 | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Mention a spark plug | 49 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Mention an oil leak | 37 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
Counted from the owner's own words in each complaint (all of the car, not only the engine). A share, not a failure rate.
When problems show up
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 77,844 miles; the middle report was at 47,000 miles (1,710 complaints with a mileage).
Recalls that name this engine 2
25V274000 Apr 2025 Engine And Engine Cooling Silverado 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; Sierra 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; Tahoe 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; Suburban 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; Yukon 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; Yukon XL 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; Escalade 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Ch
20V603000 Oct 2020 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Silverado 2018; Sierra 2018; Tahoe 2018; Yukon 2018; Escalade 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
NHTSA recalls on these cars and model years whose text names this engine (its size or name). The rest (brakes, air bags, wiring ...) are on each car year's page.
In owners' words
Engine failing prematurely. They just changed a 3rd engine and radiator after the second engine only lasted 7000 miles
2023 owner · NHTSA complaint 11777383
Engine failure after recall performed. Complete Engine failure at 55mph... vehicle towed to dealership. Diagnosis: Engine seized. Mileage 79,508. Currently waiting arrival of replacement engine. Vehicle at Wally Edgar Chevrolet, 3805 S Lapeer Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48360
2023 owner · NHTSA complaint 11777375
2-3-26 passed gm inspection. 11-2-26 engine started knocking was diagnosed with needing engine replaced under Special Coverage N252494003
2022 owner · NHTSA complaint 11777010
Against the other everyday engines
| Engine | Years | Complaints | Name the engine | Stalled or lost power | Burning oil | Recalls naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 EcoBoost | 2014–25 | 5,622 | 66% | 15% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6.2 V8 (Gen V) | 2014–25 | 7,219 | 65% | 24% | 2.2% | 2 |
| 2.4 Theta II | 2010–22 | 21,551 | 51% | 20% | 8.1% | 8 |
| 2.4 Ecotec | 2010–17 | 6,096 | 51% | 21% | 18% | 0 |
| 3.0 EcoDiesel | 2014–23 | 2,871 | 50% | 24% | 0.2% | 7 |
| 3.3 Lambda II | 2013–21 | 3,254 | 50% | 17% | 5.9% | 2 |
| 2.0 EcoBoost | 2012–25 | 9,735 | 48% | 12% | 0.1% | 0 |
| 2.0T Theta II | 2011–22 | 3,325 | 44% | 18% | 4.8% | 2 |
| 1.4 Turbo | 2011–22 | 3,926 | 39% | 17% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 2.4 Tigershark | 2014–22 | 9,631 | 35% | 34% | 4.5% | 5 |
| 1.5 Turbo | 2016–25 | 4,471 | 33% | 27% | 0.3% | 1 |
| EA888 2.0T | 2009–25 | 7,443 | 29% | 16% | 3.7% | 5 |
| A25A | 2018–25 | 2,979 | 26% | 12% | under 0.1% | 1 |
| 1.5 Turbo | 2017–22 | 6,390 | 26% | 14% | 0.2% | 0 |
| J35 V6 | 2003–25 | 24,038 | 24% | 14% | 0.9% | 4 |
| Skyactiv-G 2.5 | 2014–25 | 2,631 | 22% | 11% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 2.7 Turbo | 2019–25 | 1,090 | 22% | 12% | 0.5% | 0 |
| 2AZ-FE | 2001–09 | 7,176 | 22% | 3.7% | 8.6% | 0 |
| 5.4 Triton | 2005–14 | 3,952 | 21% | 15% | 0.1% | 3 |
| 5.7 HEMI | 2003–24 | 23,895 | 19% | 23% | 0.1% | 6 |
| QR25DE | 2002–20 | 16,161 | 19% | 14% | 1.5% | 4 |
| 5.3 V8 (Gen V) | 2014–25 | 13,191 | 18% | 13% | 0.5% | 3 |
| 3.6 Pentastar | 2011–25 | 34,634 | 18% | 16% | 0.4% | 9 |
| 2.3 EcoBoost | 2015–25 | 3,975 | 16% | 9.9% | 0.1% | 12 |
| 3.8 Lambda II | 2020–25 | 4,423 | 16% | 8.0% | 5.6% | 0 |
| FB20 | 2012–25 | 2,336 | 15% | 8.2% | 1.7% | 0 |
| 3.6 V6 | 2009–23 | 14,214 | 14% | 14% | 0.1% | 1 |
| K24 | 2002–19 | 15,062 | 14% | 5.1% | 1.6% | 0 |
| 2GR-FKS | 2016–24 | 3,758 | 12% | 11% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 3.5 Cyclone V6 | 2007–19 | 21,313 | 12% | 11% | 0.1% | 0 |
| VQ35 V6 | 2002–25 | 12,613 | 12% | 11% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 3UR-FE | 2007–21 | 1,377 | 12% | 8.8% | 0.4% | 0 |
| FB25 | 2011–25 | 9,853 | 11% | 6.2% | 1.5% | 0 |
| 2AR-FE | 2009–18 | 4,673 | 11% | 6.6% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 2GR-FE | 2005–18 | 8,680 | 10% | 3.5% | 0.3% | 0 |
| 3.8 V6 | 2007–11 | 7,877 | 9% | 17% | 0.5% | 0 |
| 5.3 V8 (Gen IV) | 2007–14 | 9,241 | 8% | 4.5% | 1.3% | 0 |
| 1GR-FE | 2003–24 | 5,757 | 7% | 4.0% | under 0.1% | 0 |
| 4.8 V8 | 2007–13 | 726 | 6% | 4.8% | 0.1% | 0 |
Shares of each engine's own complaints, matched by VIN. They show what owners complain about, not how often engines break.
Quick answers
Is the GM 6.2 V8 (L86 / L87) reliable?
No one reports sales by engine, so there's no per-car score. Of the 7,219 complaints owners filed about cars with it, 65% name the engine, #2 of the 39 everyday engines we track (1 = the most). 883 (12%) mention a lifter, rocker or ticking, against 0.3% for the other engines. 122 (1.7%) mention cylinder deactivation (AFM / DFM / VCM / MDS), against under 0.1% for the other engines.
What cars have the GM 6.2 V8 (L86 / L87)?
In our data: the GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban, model years 2014–2025, matched by the VIN in each owner complaint.
What are the most common 6.2 V8 (Gen V) problems?
In owner complaints to the government: engine, transmission & drivetrain, electrical.
How many recalls name the 6.2 V8 (Gen V)?
2 NHTSA recalls on these cars name it.
Complaints: NHTSA owner complaints filed under each car's own NHTSA names (the same ones its car pages count), all years filed, one per complaint number. Engine: decoded from the complaint's VIN with NHTSA's vPIC decoder (displacement, cylinders, engine model, turbo, hybrid) and the engine maker's model years; a VIN that doesn't decode to exactly one engine is left out. Older cars have had more years to collect complaints, and popular cars draw more because more were sold. Source: NHTSA owner complaints (FLAT_CMPL + COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED_2025-2026), received through 20261111; engines: NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder (batch); NHTSA recalls API. Engine names and model years: GM.