The Lemon Index
Chevrolet's 6.2 L naturally aspirated V8, pushrod in the Corvette, Pontiac G8 GXP, Camaro and SS, model years 2008–2017. YouTube likes the 2014 best.
Middle of the pack: YouTube owner tone 51/100, #64 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); no engine-related recall on record, 3 known issues listed below.
Everyday cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
Model years from EPA version lists. Only years we have a car page for.
Reliability by year
Why the car page shows more: the Camaro SS page counts 1,183 complaints and 10 recall campaigns for 2010–2015, everything NHTSA files as "Camaro", other engines included. This page counts only the 103 complaints and 10 recalls we can tie to the GM LS3 / L99 6.2 by model name or the owner's own words.
YouTube videos are most positive about the 2014 (58) and least about the 2008 (46); neighboring years share many of the same videos, so small gaps mean little.
How we count: owner complaints only where the car's name and year leave no doubt; YouTube tone from videos that name this engine or its cars. How we count
Owner complaints (NHTSA) are filed by model and year, not engine. We count one for this engine only when the model name and year had no other engine (e.g. "488 GTB", "GT-R"), or when the owner's own words name a version that had only this engine that year (Z06, ZR1, Hellcat, GT500 ...). They cover the whole car (wheels, air bags, electrics ...), not only the engine, and none of them is a failure rate. We chart them only for engines with 30 or more, over 3 or more years. YouTube tone = how positive the videos are, 0–100, from titles and transcripts (praise vs trouble words, the title counts 3 times), weighted by views; a year needs at least 3 videos' worth. A video counts for this engine when its title names the engine or a car that only had this engine in the years it names; a video whose title names no model year counts toward every year of that car, so neighboring years share most of their videos.
All the numbers, year by year
| Year | Cars | Owner complaints | YouTube says | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Corvette | 0 | 46 (64 videos) | 0 |
| 2009 | Corvette, Pontiac G8 GXP | 0 | 52 (69 videos) | 0 |
| 2010 | Camaro, Corvette | 0 | 50 (73 videos) | 0 |
| 2011 | Corvette, Camaro | 0 | 47 (71 videos) | 0 |
| 2012 | Corvette, Camaro | 0 | 48 (73 videos) | 0 |
| 2013 | Corvette, Camaro | 0 | 47 (71 videos) | 0 |
| 2014 | Camaro, SS | 51 | 58 (66 videos) | 9 |
| 2015 | Camaro, SS | 17 | 54 (64 videos) | 7 |
| 2016 | SS | 24 | 55 (53 videos) | 7 |
| 2017 | SS | 11 | 57 (62 videos) | 0 |
Recalls on cars with this engine 10
None of them is about the engine itself.
20V254000 Steering · Chevrolet SS 2015–16
Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
20V638000 Seat Belts · Chevrolet SS 2014–16
19V801000 Steering · Chevrolet SS 2014–16
Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
17V382000 Steering · Chevrolet SS 2014–16
Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
17V437000 Air Bags · Chevrolet SS 2014–16
Show all 10
16V518000 Seat Belts · Chevrolet SS 2014–16
The driver's seat belt tensioner cable may be repeatedly bent over.
16V651000 Air Bags · Chevrolet SS 2014–16
15V636000 Seats · Chevrolet SS 2014
The affected vehicles received replacement seat base assemblies during repair serv.
14V375000 Visibility · Chevrolet SS 2014
In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper motor gear teeth may strip causin.
14V446000 Seats · Chevrolet SS 2014
Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the af.
NHTSA recalls by model and year. A recall counts here when every confirmed version of that model-year had this engine, or the recall names it. Check a car's VIN for its own open recalls.
Engine problems Chevrolet told dealers about
Chevrolet sent dealers 152 repair notes about the engine on these cars, including:
- This informational bulletin provides additional information on how to install pistons and suggest what tools…
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with a diagnostic tip for…
- This technical bulletin provides repair information for repairing the IP to body harness connector to correct…
NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins), matched by model name and year like the complaints, engine-related ones only. A repair note is not a recall: ask a seller whether it was done.
Known issues on record
- AFM lifter failure (L99, disputed) (Class action (alleged)). A pending class action says GM's AFM lifters fail early and names 2014-and-later Camaro SS. Only the automatic L99 has AFM in this generation; no court has found a defect. 5 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (5th gen (Zeta) Camaro SS).
- Rocker arm trunnion bearings (Trade outlet). The factory rocker trunnion needle bearings can walk out and drop needles into the oil, mainly on high-rpm or modified engines with stiffer valve springs. Fix: Fit an upgraded trunnion kit when modifying the engine. 2 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (5th gen (Zeta) Camaro SS).
- The L99 has Active Fuel Management; GM's AFM engines from 2005 to 2016 had a known lifter-failure problem (fix: lifters, guides and cam, or AFM turned off). Source
Sources: CarComplaints.com: GM lifter failure lawsuit includes multiple models (Dec 2025), Chevrolet: 2015 Camaro / Camaro SS specifications (archived), Vehicle Service Pros: Upgrading LS rocker arm trunnions (Dec 2011). The same list as on the Camaro SS page.
Every US version with this engine
| Car and versions | Years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette (C6) Corvette · Chevrolet Corvette, every year | 2008–13 |
| Pontiac G8 GXP G8 | 2009 |
| Chevrolet Camaro SS Camaro · Chevrolet Camaro, every year | 2010–15 |
| Chevrolet SS SS | 2014–17 |
Engine codes: LS3, L99 (Camaro automatic). Power: 400–436 hp, factory figures. Versions and years: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Sources: LS based GM small-block engine.
Quick answers
What cars have the GM LS3 / L99 6.2 engine?
In the US: the Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac G8 GXP, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet SS, model years 2008–2017. See the version table for each one.
Is the GM LS3 / L99 6.2 reliable?
Mostly, with known issues to check. YouTube owner tone 51/100, #64 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); no engine-related recall on record, 3 known issues listed below. Owners filed 103 complaints we can tie to it, about any part of the car. Its cars had 10 recalls (0 about the engine, fuel or powertrain). Have any used car inspected.
How much horsepower does the GM LS3 / L99 6.2 make?
400–436 hp in factory figures, depending on the car.