Feds Probe GM Over SUV, Pickup Engine Failures

A federal auto safety agency recently launched an investigation into a 2025 General Motors recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to know if last year’s recall of 600,000 pickups and sport utility vehicles actually resolved mechanical issues. The agency said it received nearly 140 complaints about engine failures in recalled vehicles that were supposedly fixed.

The agency opened the probe “to investigate allegations of loss of motive power due to engine failure,” NHTSA said in a letter to GM. “The allegations state that the engines failed after receiving the remedy associated with Recall 25V-274.”

The probe focuses on the following 2021 to 2024 models:

• Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Chevrolet Suburban
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• GMC Sierra 1500
• GMC Yukon
• GMC Yukon XL
• Cadillac Escalade
• Cadillac Escalade ESV

GM initially recalled the vehicles in April 2025, citing a defect in their 6.2L V8 engines. That was after the automaker said it had received a staggering 28,000 field complaints potentially related to engine problems. 

GM said at the time that an issue with the engines’ connecting rod and crankshaft components could result in catastrophic engine failure. GM pledged to inspect engines and replace those that were defective. The company said it would use higher-viscosity oil and replace the oil filters and filler caps on vehicles that passed inspections.

The new NHTSA investigation is the latest in a series of reviews by GM and the federal auto safety agency. Depending on the results, GM may be forced to recall a wide range of vehicles again to address the problem.

Legal Rights for GM Drivers in California

The situation highlights an ongoing problem across the country: top automakers routinely put defective vehicles on the road and struggle to fix problems even after being forced to recall the cars.

Here is what GM and other car owners in California need to know: You have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. You do not need to wait around for a recall to get your car fixed, with the vehicle manufacturer picking up the tab.

The California lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces companies to buy back covered vehicles that they are unable or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts required before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Talk with a Sacramento Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a Sacramento lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Sacramento lemon law attorney.