Is the Older GM L86 6.2L Linked to L87 Engine Failures? What Is Confirmed and What Is Not

Published September 28, 2026 · Reviewed September 28, 2026

What did the PickupTruckTalk report actually say?

On September 20, 2026, PickupTruckTalk asked whether GM's L87 problems could reach back to the L86 6.2L V8, which it describes as the engine in 2014 to 2018 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The story built on a GM-Trucks.com report. As PickupTruckTalk describes it:

• A forum member described a video claiming some L86 engines built in late 2017 and 2018 used a rod bearing similar to an uncoated bearing discussed in connection with L87 failures.
• PickupTruckTalk calls that a secondhand claim. GM-Trucks.com said it could not locate the video or verify the connection, and that it had asked GM about it.
• PickupTruckTalk wrote that GM has not confirmed an L86 connection in the documents it reviewed, and that the report "raises an owner question, not a confirmed extension of GM's L87 defects."

So the accurate status is: unverified and unconfirmed. We have not seen any GM statement, recall filing, or NHTSA document that ties the L86 to the L87 defects.

Is the L86 part of the L87 recall or NHTSA's investigation?

No. GM's recall report for 25V274 covers model year 2021 to 2024 vehicles with the L87 built March 1, 2021 through May 31, 2024. It names two root causes: sediment on connecting rods and in crankshaft oil galleries that damaged rod bearings, and crankshafts whose dimensions and surface finish were out of specification. NHTSA's Engineering Analysis EA26005, opened August 20, 2026, covers 2021 to 2026 model year GM vehicles equipped with the L87. Neither includes the L86. GM's Special Coverage N252494003 is tied to the L87 recall condition. Our main GM 6.2L L87 guide has the full list of covered vehicles.

Recalls are VIN-specific, so check yours anyway with our recall lookup tool or NHTSA's site. If you are not sure which 6.2L your vehicle has, a dealer can confirm the engine from your VIN.

Our take: what a confirmed link would mean, and what it would not

As PickupTruckTalk points out, the L87 recall is not just about whether a bearing had a coating. GM's stated causes involve contamination and crankshaft manufacturing specs. A claim that two engines shared a similar part does not show they share a defect. Settling that would take evidence like production records, bearing specifications, and teardown measurements.

If a link were ever confirmed, here is how we would read it:

• It would not automatically create a recall. A recall follows a manufacturer's safety-defect determination or an NHTSA process. News reports do not trigger one.
• It would not revive an expired warranty. Coverage still depends on your written warranty's terms, time, and mileage.
• It would not prove why your engine failed. Your own diagnosis and teardown findings still matter most.
• It could become relevant evidence in some claims, depending on the facts and the law that applies.

Until then, treat the L86 question as open. Do not assume your L86 failure is part of the L87 problem, and do not assume you have no options because it is not.

What rights might an L86 owner still have?

This is where most L86 owners start. GM's factory powertrain coverage is limited in years and miles, and most 2014 to 2018 trucks are likely past it by now. Check your dates and mileage with our warranty period checker and read powertrain warranties explained. Even so, options may remain:

• Extended warranties and service contracts. If you bought GM or third-party coverage, an engine failure may be covered under its terms. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. 2310(d)(1), lets a consumer sue over a failure to comply with a written warranty, an implied warranty, or a service contract.
• Problems first reported under warranty. If the engine symptoms showed up and were reported while the truck was still covered, that repair history can matter even after coverage ended.
• Used-truck purchases. A dealer warranty or implied warranty may apply depending on the sale and your state. See used car warranty claims under MMWA.
• State law. State lemon laws usually cover a limited early period of ownership, so many will not reach an older truck, but rules vary. Use our state law lookup and check deadlines with the statute of limitations calculator.

If a claim is available and you prevail under MMWA, 15 U.S.C. 2310(d)(2) allows recovery of reasonable attorney fees and costs. MMWA is federal, so it reaches owners in every state. For more, see what if my warranty is expired. Results depend on the facts of each case.

What should L86 owners with engine failures document?

1. Engine and recall status. Confirm the engine code and save a dated recall check for your VIN.
2. The diagnosis in writing. Ask the shop to record the cause it found, such as bearing damage, and any teardown findings. Ask whether the failed parts can be kept.
3. Maintenance records. Oil changes and receipts, especially near the failure.
4. Warranty and contract papers. The factory warranty booklet, any extended warranty or service contract, and any denial letters.
5. Every repair order and cost. Towing, rentals, and repair bills. Log them in our repair attempt log.
6. A safety complaint. You can report the failure to NHTSA, which reviews owner complaints.

If you own an L87, the recall and investigation apply differently; see our model guides for the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500, and recall vs lemon-law claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is the L86 6.2L included in GM's 6.2L engine recall?

No. Recall 25V274 covers certain 2021 to 2024 vehicles with the L87 built March 1, 2021 through May 31, 2024. NHTSA's EA26005 covers 2021 to 2026 model year vehicles with the L87. Neither includes the L86.

Has GM confirmed a link between the L86 and L87 failures?

No. As of PickupTruckTalk's September 20, 2026 report, the claim was secondhand and unverified, GM-Trucks.com could not verify it, and GM had not confirmed an L86 connection in the documents reviewed.

My 2014 to 2018 Silverado or Sierra 6.2L engine failed. Do I have any claim?

Possibly. It depends on your coverage and history: an extended warranty or service contract, symptoms first reported under warranty, or a used-truck warranty may give you options under MMWA or state law. Results depend on the facts.

Would a confirmed L86 link mean a new recall?

Not automatically. A recall follows a manufacturer's safety-defect determination or an NHTSA process. A confirmed link could matter as evidence, but it would not revive an expired warranty on its own.

How do I check whether my truck has an open recall?

Enter your VIN in our recall lookup tool or on NHTSA's recall site. Recalls are VIN-specific, so check even if your model year is not listed in news coverage.

Sources

• PickupTruckTalk: Do GM's 6.2L V8 engine failures go back further than we thought? (September 20, 2026)
• GM-Trucks.com: Does GM's 6.2L failure saga reach 2014-2018 Silverado / Sierra trucks? (as cited by PickupTruckTalk)
• GM Part 573 recall report, NHTSA recall 25V274
• NHTSA ODI resume, Engineering Analysis EA26005 (opened August 20, 2026)
• NHTSA recall search by VIN
• 15 U.S.C. 2310, remedies under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act