GM L87 Engine Lawsuits Set To Move Forward in 2026

Owners argue the repair fix for defective GM L87 engines led to lower performance, additional wear and tear, and reduced resale values.

General Motors (GM) faces a dozen nearly identical claims that it botched the repairs on roughly 600,000 engines recalled earlier this year, which will be merged into a combined class action lawsuit next month.

The litigation took off in the wake of an April 2025 GM engine failure recall affecting 597,630 Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Ukon and Cadillac Escalade vehicles that contain GM 6.2-liter L87 V8 engines. It followed an investigation into bearing rod failures that led to auto accidents and at least a dozen injuries.

Bearing rods help support the crankshaft’s rotation within a vehicle’s engine. When they fail, the engine can suffer severe damage, including complete seizure that causes it to freeze, impair movement and increase the risk of an auto accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into problems with the GM L87 engines in January 2025, discovering more than 28,000 field complaints involving engine failures linked to crankshaft, connecting rod or bearing failures. More than half involved a complete loss of vehicle propulsion.

The NHTSA identified at least 12 reports of accidents, including 12 occupant injuries. In addition, the agency also received 42 reports of vehicle fires that may have been related to the problem, but were never confirmed as being caused by the failed bearing rods.

As a result of the defect, at least a dozen GM L87 engine lawsuits have been filed against the automaker, first over the problem itself, and then over GM’s response and alleged repairs to address the issue.

The first complaint (PDF) was filed by James S. Powell of Illinois in February 2025, before the recall was announced. Powell indicated that he bought a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali in October 2022, noting that there was clearly an engine defect affecting the vehicles. Eleven additional class action lawsuits have been filed since then, with the latest saying that even after GM acknowledged the problem, it failed to address and fix the recalled vehicles properly.

Plaintiffs allege that even after GM tried to fix the problem, if dealers did not see an immediate issue with the crankshaft or camshaft all they did was replace the factory oil. However, the lawsuits claim this new oil led to increased wear on the engine components, negatively impacting vehicle performance, fuel consumption and the vehicles’ resale value.

GM and the plaintiffs agreed to have the very similar lawsuits, all seeking class action status for those affected by the recall, consolidated in the Eastern District of Michigan before U.S. District Judge Shalina D. Kumar, who issued a stipulating order (PDF) late last month calling for plaintiffs to file a consolidated complaint by January 27, 2026.

Judge Kumar has called on GM to file an answer to the complaint, or any defense motions or objections, known as Rule 12(b) motions, by March 30, 2026, and plaintiffs would have until May 29, 2026, to answer. GM’s replies will be due by June 29.

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