GM L87 5.3L V8 Engine Lawsuit
Thousands of GM truck and SUV owners are affected by serious engine defects. Find out if your vehicle qualifies for a lemon law claim.
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What Is the GM L87 Engine Problem?
The GM L87 is a 5.3-liter V8 engine used in many of General Motors' most popular trucks and SUVs, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, and GMC Yukon. Despite being a flagship engine, the L87 has been plagued by a series of well-documented defects that can lead to catastrophic engine failure.
The three primary defects affecting the L87 engine are excessive oil consumption, active fuel management (AFM) lifter failure, and timing chain issues. These problems are not caused by owner neglect or lack of maintenance — they stem from fundamental design and manufacturing flaws in the engine itself.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against General Motors alleging that the company knew about these defects and continued selling affected vehicles without adequate disclosure or remedy.
L87 Engine Defects in Detail
Excessive Oil Consumption
Many L87 owners report their engines consuming a quart of oil every 1,000 to 2,000 miles — far above what GM considers normal. This excessive consumption is linked to defective piston rings and the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, which deactivates cylinders to save fuel but causes uneven wear.
Low oil levels can lead to increased engine wear, overheating, and eventually complete engine failure if not caught in time. Many owners report no low-oil warning light until damage has already occurred.
AFM Lifter Failure
The Active Fuel Management system uses special hydraulic lifters to deactivate cylinders. These lifters are prone to premature failure, causing a loud ticking or knocking noise, misfires, reduced power, and check engine lights. In severe cases, a collapsed lifter can damage the camshaft and require a complete engine rebuild.
Lifter failure repairs typically cost between $3,000 and $5,000 at a dealership, and the problem frequently recurs even after repair because the underlying design flaw remains unaddressed.
Timing Chain Issues
The L87 engine's timing chain can stretch prematurely, causing rattling noises on startup, rough idle, and eventually engine timing problems that can lead to severe engine damage. The timing chain tensioner may also fail, allowing the chain to slip and potentially causing the engine to shut down while driving.
A timing chain replacement on the L87 can cost $2,000 to $4,000, and some owners have experienced multiple failures within the warranty period.
Vehicles with the L87 5.3L V8 Engine
Chevrolet
- Silverado 1500 (2019+)
- Tahoe (2021+)
- Suburban (2021+)
GMC
- Sierra 1500 (2019+)
- Yukon (2021+)
- Yukon XL (2021+)
If you own any of these vehicles and have experienced oil consumption, lifter failure, or timing chain problems, you may have a strong lemon law claim. California's Song-Beverly Act requires the manufacturer to repurchase or replace your vehicle if they cannot repair a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts.
Legal Options for GM L87 Engine Owners
If your GM vehicle has experienced any of these L87 engine defects, you do not have to accept repeated costly repairs or an unsafe vehicle. Under California's Lemon Law, you may be entitled to a full vehicle buyback, a replacement vehicle, or a cash settlement.
Our experienced lemon law attorneys handle GM engine defect cases regularly and can evaluate your claim at no cost. If we take your case, the manufacturer pays our attorney fees — not you.
GM L87 Lemon Law Questions, Answered
My GM truck has the L87 engine and keeps going back to the dealer for oil consumption and lifter problems. Does that make it a lemon under California law?
Possibly. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act covers a vehicle when a defect covered by the manufacturer's warranty substantially impairs its use, value, or safety and the dealer cannot fix it after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Repeated L87 failures like excessive oil consumption, AFM lifter collapse, or timing chain trouble can meet that standard. What matters is that the problem is real, it is covered by warranty, and the dealer has had a fair chance to repair it and has not.
How many repair attempts does California require before my L87 vehicle qualifies?
The law does not set one hard number, but it gives guidelines. Four or more attempts at the same defect is a common benchmark. For a defect that could cause serious injury or death, two attempts may be enough. And if your vehicle has been out of service for repairs for more than 30 cumulative days, that also points to a qualifying claim. Keep every repair order, because the dates and the descriptions on those tickets are what prove how many chances GM has had.
What can I actually get if my L87 case succeeds?
Song-Beverly gives you three possible outcomes. GM can buy the vehicle back, which means refunding what you paid plus taxes, registration, and finance charges, minus a mileage offset for the use you got before the first repair attempt. GM can replace the vehicle with one that is substantially identical. Or the case can settle for cash while you keep the truck. Which path fits depends on your situation and what you want.
Will I have to pay a lawyer out of pocket to bring a lemon law claim against GM?
No. Song-Beverly has a fee-shifting provision, which means if your claim succeeds the manufacturer pays your reasonable attorney fees and costs on top of your recovery. That is the point of the provision: it lets owners hold automakers accountable without the legal bill eating up their refund. The Lemon Pros evaluates GM engine cases at no charge.
I bought my Silverado used. Can I still file a lemon law claim over the L87 engine?
It depends on your warranty. California's lemon law changed for used cars after the 2024 Rodriguez v. FCA decision: a used Silverado sold with the remaining balance of GM's factory warranty generally no longer qualifies for a buyback or replacement. A certified pre-owned truck sold with its own new warranty can still qualify, and even when a full refund is off the table, used-car owners can often recover money damages and attorney fees. We review used purchases to see which remedies fit your situation, so it is worth having the paperwork looked at before assuming a used buy rules you out.
How long do I have to act on a GM L87 lemon law claim in California?
Do not wait. Lemon law claims are subject to a statute of limitations, and the clock is generally tied to when the warranty problems first appeared and when you knew the vehicle could not be fixed. Evidence also gets harder to assemble over time as repair records age and memories fade. If your L87 engine has a documented history of failed repairs, having an attorney review the timeline early protects your options.
Want a deeper look at your rights? Read our overview of GMC lemon law and Chevrolet lemon law claims, or learn about coverage for a used car purchase.
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