General Motors V-8 engines are no stranger to lifter problems. Owners of GM V-8 engines with Active Fuel Management (AFM) have dealt with stuck and collapsed lifters for years. But it seems a new round of lifter woes are hitting GM truck engines with relatively low mileage.
The GM lifter problems affect both the 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups as well as their GMT T1XX platform SUV siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade.
“On the older trucks, you would see issues around the 50-100k range, whereas a lot of the new trucks’ failures are in the 4-digit mileage range,” said a dealership technician who wishes to remain anonymous. “We are seeing about one every other week, and just last week had three towed in on one day.”
What is a lifter?
For those who aren’t technical, let’s back up a moment and talk about what a lifter does. In its simplest terms, it helps open the valves in the engine. Each valve in an engine has a separate lifter, and in vehicles with active fuel management (AFM) or dynamic fuel management (DFM), which deactivate cylinders when they aren’t in use, lifters will collapse when the cylinder is deactivated so the camshaft won’t open the valve.
Understanding this, it’s not difficult to see how a problem could occur. And if you want more detailed information on a what a lifter is and does, this J.D. Power article is a great resource.
Signs of GM lifter problems
The GM lifter problems seem to be most prevalent in the L84 5.3-V-8 and L87 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8 engines with build dates between September 2020 and March 2021. These engines are the newer variable displacement design, which uses DFM rather than the older AFM system. The vehicles seem to be failing with less than 10,000 miles on the odometer. For more information on defective GM 8 speed transmission problems and class action lawsuits check out toolsbible automobile blog.
Drivers report that the issue can manifest simply as a check engine light, be as dramatic as engine shuddering/rough running, or as sudden as complete engine shutdown. Unfortunately, once the “Check Engine Light” comes on, the damage has likely already been done. The engine may make a ticking or knocking noise, which may or may not vary with engine RPM.
What went wrong?
Signs so far point to a batch of bad lifters used during engine assembly.
“They shear the locking pin inside and then they either don’t lock in a fixed position or they come out in two pieces,” our anonymous dealership technician said.
If the lifter gets stuck in the wrong position, a bent pushrod can be the result.
GM’s fix
GM is advising technicians to diagnose the misfire condition first. Identifying any engine trouble codes that may be set (typically P050D, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, or P0308) first. Once an affected cylinder is identified, the technician can disassemble the necessary portion of the engine for confirmation.
Once a collapsed lifter or bent pushrod has been identified, the current fix is to replace only the affected cylinder head bank components. Damaged lifters are to be replaced across the entire cylinder bank, while undamaged pushrods are reused. Frustratingly, some owners report having one cylinder bank of lifters replaced, only to have the other cylinder bank fail soon after.
Parts availability has been an issue though.
“Lifters have been backordered, as well as head gaskets, and the dealers that have the parts are reluctant to sell them off to other dealers,” the anonymous dealership technician said.
Parts scarcity has been a common theme in the automotive world for the past few months due to pandemic-related supply chain issues. Dealerships are in a tough spot deciding how much stock they need to keep on hand to service their own customers versus selling parts wholesale to other dealerships.
We called one local GM dealership which did not have any lifters in stock, while a different nearby GM dealer had hundreds on hand.
The bottom line on GM lifter problems
Current owners of affected vehicles have no choice but to wait and see if they will fall victim to faulty lifters problem. Unfortunately, the GM lifter problems are currently being handled on an “as-needed” basis, so owners will have to wait and see if problems manifest on their own vehicle.
So, far GM has not issued any national recalls. Luckily, it seems that the lifters problem does have a fix that is working.
“When we can get the parts, it’s a relatively quick repair and it’s a one-and-done fix,” the anonymous dealership technician said. “I have not seen any of the new trucks having the lifters replaced and then coming back 6,000 miles with lifter failure again.”
In cruising through many online forums, I found some owners are choosing to deactivate DFM with aftermarket computer tunes and physical parts replacements. Those who choose this route should research carefully, however, as such changes may void their vehicle’s warranty. And deactivating the system may not ensure stopping a failure, as only time will tell.
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49 comments
Jacob
I bought a denali 2023 and 2 times engine broke 😬😡 i am thinking about too upgarde the engine for the 6.6 gas engine en tune tye engine and desactive dod and afm or whater that crab that engine comes without does things somebody has had issues with does 6.6 never hear nothing bad from does engine
Ryan
2019 GMC Sierra SLT with 83,000 on it. All of the sudden truck lost power and was shaking and every light that you could think of came on. I wasn’t far from home so was able to get it back to the drive way and had it towed to the GMC dealer. I googled the issue and found that lifter problem and mentioned that when I called the dealer telling them I was having my truck towed to them. They came back first that it was something with the fuel injection and they’d have it fixed in a day. Then a couple days pass and I finally got an update well it does appear like it is the lifter issue but they are only going to replace the one side. I argued that given it’s a known problem shouldn’t they replace all of them…which took them a couple days to figure out yes. Eventually they worked their whole way through the engine down to the cam shaft needing to be replaced due to burning and the bearings for the shaft.
All of this started in early July 2023 and it took until early October for all of the parts to finally come in. The extended warranty only covers a rental for engine work for 8 days and the dealer has nothing they could give me so on own for a vehicle during this time while still paying for my truck that is just sitting at the dealer. Then they called me and said my truck was already to be picked up so I rushed out there and got my truck back. Drove it home and the low oil engine light came on. Called them right away but by the time I got home and got to the dealer to pick it up, service was closed for the night. So I drove it around a little more and got it to come back on so wasn’t a one time issue. Took it back to service the next day and they found a leaky seal on the bottom of the engine that would require the transmission be removed. Warranty wouldn’t pay for it but they felt so bad for me that the dealer decided they’d pick up the bill and even gave me a tiny car rental while they did the 2 weeks of work. Got my truck back after this and drove even less distance from the dealer and the same light came on (of which when service test drives their work do they only go out to the parking lot and back into the garage and call it good because I only went like 5 miles). Now the issue is they found metal shavings in the oil and it took a week but finally got the permission to tear down the engine again to find out the cause of the metal shavings.
I will also say a year before any of this happened, I had my truck in for an oil change and I told them about a clicking noise I hear all the time when the engine is running. They checked everything outside the engine (belts and whatever else) and said they didn’t see anything and quoted me some unbelievable price to diagnose the engine with the warning that they still may not find anything. I mention this as after reading about the lifter issue, the noise I was hearing has been mentioned in all the articles about the lifters starting to make that noise when they are starting to go bad.
Either way I’m now basically waiting on my second engine rebuild for this lifter issue, maybe it seems to be dying down because even the certified technicians for GMC don’t know about it so it doesn’t get reported. I’m left wondering if there is anything I could do as it would’ve been easier for me to just slam my truck into a tree and total it then wait for all these repairs and now I’m for sure not confident they will fix it this time as well
Tim Esterdahl
Holy cow what a story Ryan. Just terrible luck really on this truck and I agree with you, might be simpler to just slam the truck into a tree and let insurance total it.
Dale Huhtala
My 2017 GMC Sierra 6.2L has had this problem twice in the last 9 months. $6,000 to fix the first time, covered under warranty the second time. They won’t reset the one year warranty after the second repair though, so I’m not sure what to do now. Can’t buy a new truck because they have the same bloody problem! I can’t believe GM cannot resolve this extremely common problem!
Donald williams
My 2019 gmc is in the shop now 40000 miles bad lifters and cam shaft they are going to replace them. I pulled over when my truck started shaking I cut it off when I started it up transmission would not go forward or backwards
Mike
Sorry it’s 2021 not 2022
Mike
Something needs to be done about this lifter issue, my truck just now has 63,000 and has previously been in the shop for this. 2022 chevrolet custom 2.7 4 cylinder 4×4
Anonymous
Just happened to my 2015 6.2… Cylinder #7 misfire P0307. 1 year and 3000 Kilometers out of warranty. yeah vote with your wallet do not buy any GM with AFM/DOD.
Anonymous
2021 chevy silverado 1500 lifter failure @6700 miles suppose to replace all lifter been in shop over a month hope repair work
JimStark
I have a recent problem, when slowing down to a stop, something shudders. I was thinking transmission but now wondering if it is this lifter problem? Could it be?
Goose
I think that’s how mine started. Slowing down coming down an exit ramp every morning, thought my brake pads were coming due. Went on for about a month. Parked it at work one morning and noticed a rough idle. Couple hours later, made it a 1/4 mile before the shimmy really started, then got ESC Service and Parking Brake Service warnings on the dash. 2021 Silverado, Trail Boss w/38K on it. Pick it up tomorrow, hope they’re doing all the cylinders, not sure yet. Wish I had read this article sooner.
Chelsea
So let me get this straight– GM has known for years that this is an issue. And has instructed service to be done before some trucks were able to be sold… but what about all the trucks that are still having the issue that they won’t just recall?!
My 2019 Silverado 1500 RST 5.3L L84 is currently sitting at the dealership having the engine torn down (at MY expense) and they’re estimating $3k-$7k in repairs to fix the same issue.
I was loyal to Chevy for many years- owned 5+ Chevy vehicles and this will be the last.
Michael Kidwell
2019 Silverado with 29,000 miles and the pinion seal is leaking!
Michael Kidwell
And the 2.7 turbo is running strong!!!
Andyman
I have a 2020 Silverado My lifters on the left side were replaced at 9000. Now at 17000 miles the right side is being replaced. I hope I don’t have any more problems with lifters. Also I am worried about the brakes under recall saying that the bolt on the calipers on both front and back could fail or break. Do I need to let the dealer shop check to see if mine are affected. I don’t want to crash with failed brakes. Or should I get my brakes replaced, will this clear up the problem? I am really disappointed in GM. I had a 2011 Silverado and no problems only minor one. I saved up 9 years to get a new truck, and I put a lot down on this truck. Why so many problems? I have driven Chevy’s for over 50 years. I am afraid to drive it anywhere. After I get the second set of lifters put in, should I have any more problems? Please advise me what to do on my brakes also.
Anonymous
2020 Silverado LTZ – (Purchased in Jan 2020) 52K Miles.
Engine code showed misfire on #5 cylinder..
At first they said lifter – then they called back and the cylinder is scored.
They are replacing my engine under warranty – I have little faith they have actually corrected the design flaw..
Dunno – back to the Tundra?
James
I just got my 2015 gmc Sierra out of the shop for bent pushrods I had the truck for 7 months and it’s been in the shop twice same problem I will never buy another GMC OR CHEV EVER AGAIN I’m going to a Toyota tundra
PC
My 2019 Silverado LTZ is in the shop now. Number two cylinder lifter defective. Dealer will replace lifters on that side only. 36,000 miles.
Jimmy Day
My 2021 GMC Sierra SLT had lifters replace at 7100 miles and again at 31440 miles. Luckily my dealer had parts for quick repair. My only worry is will this happen again and is the motor considered brand new now
Steve Simmons
2021 Just went in with 21,000 miles on it yesterday 11/17/2022. I will call to see if I can get both sides replaced. This is my 3rd Sierra since 2004, and likely my last. My last was a 2014 SLT Pearl white, paint started peeling on it, but mechanically is was very solid, should have kept it, sold for $28k with 102k miles on it last October.
Tony R.
My 2021 GMC AT4 with the 5.3 was put in the shop last week with the Lifter Problem. It had only 9300 miles. They’re waiting for parts and I’m not sure if they’re going to replace them all, or just one side. There should be a recall to replace all lifters on both sides immediately for these trucks like mine, built in 2020 and 2021. I’m waiting for mine to be repaired so I can trade it for anther brand.
Gmc unreliable
2021 gmc At4
Lifter failure twice in less than 12 months.
Failed at 14000 and 32000 miles. I will never buy another gmc or chev vehicle.
Dave H
I had this issue 2 months ago on my 2020 GMC Sierra 6.2L. Cylinder 8 had the issue which they replaced the pushrod as well and that bank of lifters. Now it’s back in the shop with the same issue! Pretty disappointed in GM. I’ve been buying GM vehicles for 30 years and never had any real issue. Guest all good things come to an end.