Cam Shaft and Lifter failure. Lifters were replaced 3 times
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 engine complaints
Page 3 of 14: complaints 41 to 70 of 372, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Driving on the highway lost proportion/acceleration, loud knocking coming from the engine
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle began to shake uncontrollably. A knocking sound was heard from the engine, and the vehicle entered limp mode. No warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall, and the contact was advised to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was 81,000.
I had the L87 recall completed, and the vehicle passed inspection. The dealership completed the required protocol and replaced the engine oil with 0W-40. Approximately 6,000 miles later, while traveling at about 75 mph and six hours from home, I experienced a brief loss of power followed by an immediate return of power. My wife and I noticed it but, with no warning lights or alerts, continued driving while monitoring the vehicle. About 10 miles later, we began hearing a faint squealing noise that progressively became worse. I was able to exit the highway safely, but once I came to a complete stop, the engine shut off and would not restart. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership, where it was determined that I had suffered a catastrophic engine failure. No loaner vehicle was available, leaving my family stranded six hours from home with an inoperable vehicle. It took approximately seven to eight weeks for the repair to be completed. When I received the vehicle back, I immediately noticed something still was not right. At around 40 mph and 1,000 RPM, the truck would shudder or hesitate. My local dealership diagnosed a poor spark plug connection on cylinder #3, which was causing arcing and a misfire. After the connection was repaired, the issue was resolved. My local dealership is currently working with the repairing dealership to address several minor workmanship issues, including wire clips, fittings, and missing bolts. This entire event was unexpected. There were no warning lights, alerts, or unusual noises before the initial loss of power. The only indication of a problem was the sudden power loss followed shortly thereafter by a horrific screeching noise. Thankfully, I was able to safely exit the highway and bring the vehicle to a stop. Considering I was traveling at 75 mph, the situation could have been much worse.
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with 6.2L L87 engine. At approximately 97,000 miles, the engine developed a significant knocking noise. I immediately took the vehicle to an authorized GMC dealership for diagnosis. The dealer determined that the engine required replacement but advised that my VIN was not included in GM Recall 25V‑274. The dealer quoted approximately $15,000 for replacement. I subsequently had an independent repair facility replace the failed engine with a genuine GM replacement engine at a cost of approximately $12,400. I am reporting this because the failure appears similar to the L87 engine bearing/crankshaft failures addressed by Recall 25V‑274, despite my VIN not being included in that recall.
My vehicle is on a recall list. Took it to the dealership for engine vibration test. They changed oil and put on a new cap. My engine blew up a couple weeks later. They replaced my motor. It blew up on the mechanics test drive. I'm now waiting on my 3rd motor. They have had it for over 5 months now.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The low oil level was observed, and the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was previously serviced at the dealer, where it was discovered that the oil was 3 quarts low at approximately 56,653 miles. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed. After driving 3,000 miles, it was observed that the oil level was 2 quarts low on July 16, 2024. The dealer confirmed there was no recall coverage, and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the dealer and manufacturer confirmed the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 59,075.
For close to one year, there feels like a catch, grind, stall, or slight shake, mostly while the vehicle is shifting gears, made worse or noticed more by higher speeds like driving on the highway vs. slow city streets. It's difficult to explain or assess so not sure if it is the engine or transmission. With the open recall from GMC on some vehicles with the same engine as mine it is concerning that maybe it should have been included.
While driving down an isolated 2 lane road in West Texas, the engine in my 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 began making knocking sounds and vibrating badly. The truck's acceleration was extremely sluggish and the vibration worsened at slow speeds. I was able to slowly make my way back towards a dealership, where the diagnostic teardown revealed a bent pushrod and camshaft damage.
While driving my son to school we were driving 45 mph and the entire engine shut off and lost all power. Engine would not restart. Took it to the dealer and was told the engine was dead.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine oil consumption system/engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. My 2021 GMC Sierra is equipped with the 6.2L engine, and the engine is consuming oil at a rate that I believe is abnormally high. The vehicle and engine are available for inspection upon request. I am also concerned that my vehicle may be affected by an engine-related recall or safety campaign associated with this engine. When attempting to verify the recall status, the system appears to have an error and is not identifying my vehicle. I am requesting that the vehicle’s VIN and engine configuration be manually verified against all applicable recalls and safety campaigns. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The excessive oil consumption creates a potential safety concern because I am concerned that the engine could become critically low on oil while I am driving, potentially resulting in engine damage, loss of power, or complete engine failure. This could occur while traveling at highway speeds or in an area where it may be difficult or unsafe to stop. I regularly travel with my family, which increases my concern about the possibility of an unexpected engine failure and the potential risk to my passengers and other motorists. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. I previously addressed this issue with Newton Chevrolet in [XXX], and later took the vehicle to Malcolm Chevrolet in [XXX], after continuing to experience concerns about excessive oil consumption. Malcolm Chevrolet tested the vehicle and confirmed that it is consuming oil at an excessive rate. The prior visit to Newton Chevrolet and the subsequent confirmation by Malcolm Chevrolet demonstrate that this concern has been reported and evaluated by more than one dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I purchased this truck from a used car dealer. It had received the fix in January this year. They sold it to me I put 15,000.00 down and financed 15,000.00. I had the truck two weeks and was driving down the road to pick up some tools from a friends. I pulled from a drive way I heard a pop likei hit something In The road nothing was in the drive or road I could have hit. I made it two stop signs to make the turn too go pick up the tools and as I am slowing down to stop the stuck shuts off at like 45 miles an hour and leaves me comming to a stop with a truck crank crank crank no start. Cause it said shift I to neutral to restart. I did and the engine went to cranking over and o er really fast. And I was Abel to get control and get stopped at stop sign blocking the stop sign and a guy with a boat behind me. My friend came with his truck and pulled me from intersection up into His yard. And I had car lot I bought it from come get it they tried to finance me a motor thru there prefers dealer. I went to them they explained that the cams and timing chain was staying still as they turned the engine Over by hand. The timing chain stayed staionary. I researched the truck online figured out there is a l87 recall and had it taken to dealer they are offering good will payment on labor because it is 6, 000 miles past the 150000 dead line Wich I only placed just over a thousand of the 156000 miles on this truck. I have been without this truck for 31 days as of today. And I feel they should replace entire engine. I Am so frustrated with this cause I already payed 15000 and don’t have the money to fix this truck.
2021 6.2L GMC Sierra Denali. Has the L87 engine that is recalled but yet my truck doesn’t fall under the recall although the recall is for 2021-2024 engines. Everything that the engine recall states is the issue with my truck, I have service report from dealership stating that there is wear/breakage of cam shaft/crank shaft amongst other things including cylinder 3 and 5 misfiring , bearings broken , filings in the oil , banging in the engine and safety lights on. My local GMC dealership recommended that the only acceptable action was to replace the engine at my cost of course. This is unacceptable of a supposed reputable large corporation not caring about the “little guy”. The truck only has 136000 kms on it and I was only going 60 km/hr when this happened. Please help as I feel GM knows this engine is faulty but somehow has managed to escape a recall on my vin number
Engine temp rises way above mid-level and will stay there for several minutes before cooling back down to normal temps. 2 different mechanic shops have told me it's the coolant control valve, but want $2500 to fix it. This service bulletin is for the same year, make, model, and motor as my truck, but the dealership said it wasn't covered.
P1010 and P2B86 engine code, constant cooling fan on engine. Confirmed by dealership, quoted for coolant control valve. VIN not included in special coverage N252508341 for this known issue. Limited engine power alert, unable to maintain speed on highway. Dangerous condition traveling under speed limit.
2021 Harley Davidson Sierra 4WD, 6.2L L87. Started the truck in the morning and immediately heard intermittent, very loud banging noise coming from engine. Shut truck down quickly and had it towed to dealer. Diagnosis was bent pushrods & failed lifters which were replaced under warranty. Factory warranty expired only 4 months after this failure, and the recall does not include my VIN so I did not get an extended warranty or any other protection. GM has yet to even reimburse the tow bill. Completely unacceptable for a truck that was well over $100k when new.
Corroded grounding strap failed cylinder 5 glow plug circuit cracked and separated exhaust backpressure valve
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power, decelerated, and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. After exiting the freeway, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then later towed to the dealer for assistance. The contact was informed that there were metal shavings inside the engine oil. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 149,000.
The vehicle has about 38000. The warrantee expired about 6 months ago. About three weeks ago I started the engine, it sounded like a cement mixer filled with rocks. I had it taken to my dealer. They investigated the problem and determined that it has bad lifters and bent push rods. The dealer told me that it is a known problem but it is not covered by the current 6.2l engine recall
On June 25, 2026, at approximately 84,000 miles, while traveling approximately 60-65 mph on Highway 121 in a posted 65 mph zone, driving my 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 equipped with the 6.2L L87 engine, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared, including “Check ESC,” “Check Parking Brake,” “Check Brakes,” and “Check Engine.” The engine began operating abnormally. I drove directly to Sewell GMC because I was concerned that the engine could fail or the vehicle could lose propulsion while in traffic. There was no crash, fire, or injury. Sewell GMC inspected the vehicle and confirmed catastrophic internal engine damage. The technician found metal debris in the engine oil and oil pan, damaged internal bearings, and camshaft/lifter damage. Sewell advised that the complete engine must be replaced. The vehicle remains at the dealership, has not yet been repaired, and the engine and failed components should be available for inspection. Before this incident, I had not experienced warning lights or symptoms indicating that an imminent catastrophic engine failure would occur. GM and the dealership advised that my VIN is not included in the current L87 engine recall because the engine was built in 2020. However, the diagnosed bearing damage, metal contamination, and catastrophic engine failure appear similar to the engine failures addressed by that recall. I am reporting this because an unexpected internal engine failure while driving creates a serious risk of loss of propulsion and a collision.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the engine was making an abnormal sound, and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The engine was popping and making cranking sounds, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven back to the residence with the issues. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that there was metal fragments found in the oil filter, and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
I'm not sure if they've pulled it out yet. They said two weeks to get motor. Engine started shaking and then started knocking. Had wrecker take it to GMC dealer they said it needs an engine. It is a 2021 6.2 carbon pro 1500 Sierra AT4 it did not come up on recall list and I don't know why? it obviously the same problem.
At 115,000 the coolant control valve has gone out. GM acknowledges this issues in 2020 model trucks. My truck is a 21 and displaying the same characteristics. A simple google search will show this is a known issue in 2021 vehicles as well. In 2020 model trucks GM has provided a special 150,000 mile warranty to replace this part. GM needs to step up and provide a proper warranty/recall for the affected 2021 models.
I am submitting supplemental evidence regarding my 2021 GMC Sierra (VIN [XXX]) for Recall Query RQ26001, Campaign 25V‑274. Despite multiple repair attempts, my vehicle remains unsafe and non-compliant with GM Service Bulletin N252494002. The recall remedy was performed deficiently. [XXX] Northeast Buick GMC installed a remanufactured short block instead of the required complete engine, reused the original seized-engine oil pan (which continues to leak), and failed to address critical electrical damage. Documentation proves they deleted Labor Operation 14BUZ (Engine Electrical) after their technician noted a blown mega fuse. A second dealer, Penske Chevrolet, subsequently deleted Labor Operation 77CVZ01 from my repair order, demonstrating a systemic pattern of ignoring recall-required repairs. Electrical damage has cascaded, resulting in a burnt fuse block and active faults P0615, P0617, P26E4, P26E6, U0623, and U0284. More critically, within 24 miles of my last service, the vehicle developed a new, severe safety failure: the "Service Brake Pad Monitor" system failed, accompanied by a red "Service System" dashboard alert and a noticeably spongy brake pedal. These brakes were recently serviced, yet this failure introduces a new risk of crash not present prior to the recall "remedy." GM Executive Resolution Case XXX has provided no resolution, reimbursement, or safety assurance, ignoring all deadlines since XXX. I possess extensive documentation, including service orders showing deleted labor operations and diagnostic logs. I request this update be integrated into the investigation of RQ26001, as the current remedy is demonstrably ineffective and has exacerbated safety hazards. The manufacturer’s refusal to remediate these issues, despite my compliance, leaves me with an unsafe vehicle and significant financial loss. I am prepared to provide all supporting records to substantiate this complaint. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving and my check engine light came on a mile from my house. I drove home and the next morning, I started my truck. It was loud and pulsating like it wanted to stall out. I had it towed to a repair shop. They plugged into the truck and said it was giving code P0016. I had it towed to another place and that it is where it is sitting now. I also received a email from onstar saying "A critical issue with the engine and transmission system in your 2021 GMC sierra Crew Cab has been detected. P0016 was detected. I searched my VIN # and it says that there are no recalls on my truck. I do see that there was a silent recall on the engine that is in my truck.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while turning the ignition on, the "Service Parking Brake" message was displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the engine ran rough. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine lifters needed to be replaced; however, the dealer could not diagnose if there was further engine damage until the lifter repair was completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,530.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Add oil to engine" message was displayed. The vehicle was driven to an AutoZone within two minutes and turned off. Upon inspection of the engine oil level, the contact observed that the dipstick was completely dry. The dealer was notified of the issue, and an appointment was scheduled for an oil consumption test. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been serviced for a routine oil change on April 21, 2026, at 53,590 miles. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Action Number: RQ26001(ENGINE). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,802.
I own a 2021 GMC Sierra AT4 3.0L Duramax (VIN [XXX]). The vehicle has codes P1098 (Coolant Control Valve Performance) and P129F which coincides with the first code. My dealer believes this is consistent with an Engine Coolant Control Valve failure. I understand Special Coverage XXX exists for this issue, but I've been told my VIN is not included. My truck has the exact engine, symptoms, and diagnostic codes addressed by Special Coverage N252508341, but my VIN is excluded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Since purchase of my 1500 Sierra 6.2L on 10FEB2021, the vehicle has always appeared to burn an excessive amount of oil which is consistent with GM’s 6.2L engines and has created safety issues leading to sweeping recalls on this engine model from 2021-2024. I have been informed that the engine was consistently down 2+ qts of oil at every recommended oil change (approximately every 5000mi) although GM literature indicated that this level of consumption was usual in their 6.2L engine. In a JAN26 oil change at approximately 35,000mi I was told that my engine was down over 3qts of oil. On 17FEB2026 I took my vehicle into my Chevy/GMC Dealership to request an oil consumption test at ~35, 089mi. On 30JUN2026 I returned to the dealership for my 2000mi check-in, at ~37,800mi, and was informed that my vehicle had failed the consumption test. With over 600,000 vehicles recalled since 2024 in the 6.2L category, my vehicle/VIN has never been associated with a recall. Despite having minimal miles on this engine, I am now financially penalized for repairs because I had just exceeded the initial Powertrain Warranty and my extended warranty would not cover a pre-existing condition. GM’s 6.2L engines have pre-existing issues from the factory and represents a danger to consumers and the driving public because of these failures.
2021 GMC Sierra after purchase at 4,700 miles had issue with the lifter rods and were replaced at that time. Now the truck has a little over 67,000 miles and once again have the same issue. This appears to be a known issue with this truck and the 5.3L engines. The truck is in repair and since it is slightly over its warranty of 60,000 miles. The dealer will not cover the repair. Seeing that this is an ongoing and known issues with service bulletins it seems that this should be a potential recall. We were lucky that we identified the issue early and were able to get to the dealer to fix. Otherwise we could have broken down in the middle of our daily commute in the expressway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history