Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of GMC Sierra 1500 - part 1

Engine knocking. Engine being replaced under warranty due to premature bearing failure. Picotest was performed prior to my purchase with 12800 miles. 0w40 oil being used at the time of failure. At the dealer now getting the engine replaced.

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My motor has a catastrophic failure. Started sputtering and squealing.

While traveling at highway speed during rush hour commute, the vehicle lost engine power and stalled. While coasting, I tried to restart the engine several times without success. Before coming to a stop, I attempted to get to the shoulder safely. Unfortunately, a portion of the vehicle was left partially in the lane and on the shoulder. Once I was completely stopped, I tried to put the electronic shift control into neutral so I could push the vehicle safely to the shoulder. The shifter would not allow me to shift into neutral and other override methods researched failed to work. I continued to try and restart the vehicle without success. I was in an unsafe position during rush hour commute for about 50 minutes until roadside assistance arrived and loaded and towed the vehicle. There was no warning of the issue prior to the incident. A code (p129f-fuel pump driver control module speed signal incorrect) was produced after the stall occurred via my GMC app. My vehicle was towed to my local dealership for service, but have not received the vehicle back at the time of reporting.

2026 GMC Sierra 1500 at4x with 3898 miles. Driving 71mph on state highway on flat grade road. Lost power and vehicle shut down after pulling off the road. No previous lights or warning signs prior to power loss. Vehicle would not start afterwards. Onstar diagnostics sent ecm engine and transmission system code p0016. Had vehicle towed 100miles to gm dealership. Upon inspection of vehicle, the service department contacted me the following day and said the the vehicle needed an entire engine replacement according to gm cooperate. I asked if it had anything to do with the 6. 2l v8 l87 engine problems from previous recall years of 2021-2024. Service tech stated yes it was more than likely the same issue. Very unhappy with my new gm vehicle purchase. Will have to have a full engine replacement before my first oil change!.

My 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 denali with l87 6. 2l v8 suffered a catastrophic, silent seizure at 108,000 miles. Driving at highway speeds, warning light stating shift to neutral and press start, engine completely shut off and would not turn back on. I was in the car with my 3 children about to make a turn across a 4 lane highway. I was able to recognize that there was power loss quickly enough that we were safely within the turn median, and fortunately a "good samaritan" stopped to assist us in getting across the highway into a parking lot. I hate to think what would have happened had this power loss occurred during the turn. There was no warning light, sound or other issue prior to this occurring. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained with all services occurring at my local GMC dealership. We had the truck towed to the dealership who confirmed the engine needs to be replaced.

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While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden and momentary loss of power, similar to briefly applying the brakes, after which power resumed. This was followed by a progressively louder squealing noise. I pulled over to investigate, at which point the engine shut off and a low oil pressure warning appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was then towed to a dealership, where initial inspection suggested the issue may be related to the l87 recall involving the crankshaft bearing.

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I am retired and have always bought gm vehicles which are taken care of with required oil changes etc. This one I have only owned 25,000 mi each year (I have owned two years). So, when purchased it has high 50,000 miles not sure of exact, and it has only been driven 2 years. When calling escalation at gm, they act as though it doesn't matter and too bad. 110,000 miles and the truck needs a new motor. This is what we are told and 10,000 more than the initial 1500 to tear it down. This truck is not broken due to us, this is a problem with the manufacturer and the responsibility needs to be addressed. My husband has a heart issue and he almost didn't make it home. I'm not accepting that nothing be done, since next we need a lawyer and a media appointment. This isn't right when you see thousands of people with the same GMC sierra trucks online with complaints of the same valve and motor issues. This needs completely replaced and not by a customer, by the manufacturer. How can 1500 people new wrong on one sight stating the same as we have had. This person who is responsble for reporting and making sure we are safe needs to be fired. I am writing my representatives, senators etc to let them know this is going on. No one should pay for the mistakes of bad engineering. Period.

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My vehicle began exhibiting symptoms consistent with a failed engine coolant flow control valve. The check engine light illuminated, and diagnostic testing indicated a fault related to the coolant control valve system. In addition, I experienced abnormal cooling system operation, including the engine cooling fans continuing to run after the vehicle was shut off. Vehicle was tested few times in auto zone these symptoms affected the normal operation of the vehicle and are consistent with the condition described in special coverage n252508341. Based on the diagnostic findings and vehicle symptoms, I believe my vehicle qualifies for coverage under this program. I respectfully request that my vehicle be inspected and evaluated under special coverage n252508341 and that any eligible repairs be performed according to the terms of the coverage program.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC sierra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40-45, the engine warning light illuminated. There was an abnormal sound coming from the fan. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the coolant flow valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not included in a special coverage program. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

While driving my vehicle, the engine and transmission lost power and the check engine light came on. The vehicle went into limp mode and engine propulsion was limited. Had I been traveling at a faster speed, this would have been very unsafe. After coming to a stop, placing the transmission in reverse did not move the vehicle and there was a grinding noise. I was able to savely move forward in limp mode, but the shifting was harsh. I was able to find an empty parking lot to safely park. The truck was towed to jim winter dealership in jackson mi for inspection.

I was driving at 45 mph and all of a sudden the screens went black as if the truck was turned off and the first thing I did was turn on the hazards because I didn’t know if the engine shut off either there was on coming traffic from both my front and back so I was scared my truck shut off 5-7 seconds later the screens turned back on and everything went back to normal but I was scared that my truck just turned off I made the dealership aware of this issue as soon as I pulled over and they said they had a busy schedule and that they would try to have a manager reach out to me to “squeeze me in” mind you I just got my truck back from the dealership due to electrical issues and service yesterday and not even 24 hours later this happened so I am upset.

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While driving at night, a low oil pressure warning light illuminated on the dashboard. The following morning, I checked the oil level using the dipstick, which indicated a normal reading. Based on this, I proceeded to drive the vehicle. Shortly after departing, the engine began knocking severely. I immediately stopped and returned home. The vehicle was towed to a GMC dealership for diagnosis. The dealership determined that the engine had experienced catastrophic failure and required complete replacement. I was quoted $11,000 for the repair.

Loud knocking noise started while motor is running. Took to dealer who confirmed the noise and inspected. Metal confirmed in the oil pan and throughout motor. Service advisor said a new motor will be needed and has sent info to gm. This vehicle was checked per the recall and passed the pico test. Oil was changed to new gm 0-40 by dealer.

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the message "engine power reduced" was displayed and the vehicle decelerated and stalled. The vehicle was pulled over onto the shoulder and failed to restart. Roadside assistance was called to the scene, and the vehicle was towed to the local service center, diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine cam actuator screws had failed causing metal shavings to enter the engine and turbo. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the reduced power mode and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant control valve failure. The contact was informed that the coolant control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the failure was like the failure description in special coverage bulletin: n252508341. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the special coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 58,500.

While coasting down or under very light acceleration between 12-20 mph the vehicle has a shudder like driving over a highway rumble strip. While cruising on the highway at 65+ mph, the vehicle has a light shudder or vibration. Vehicle has been checked numerous times for wheel and tire inconsistencies. Brake pads and rotors have also been replaced with no change in issue. Headlights daytime running light changes color from bright white to purple during warm weather. The vehicle has been to 3 different gm dealerships and they acknowledge the issues but do not provide a resolve.

1. The l87 engine loss of propulsion failed and is available for inspection at the service department at power swain Chevrolet dealership, fayetteville, nc. 2. I, other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians were at risk. That vehicle could have come down on the highway, causing a vehicle pileup, which could have caused mass casualties. 3. The problem is known; the service advisor informed me the vehicle's engine needed to be replaced. 4. There were absolutely zero warning lamps or my GMC app alerts to announce vehicle issues. I have attached the last two maintenance records I have on hand. I suspect the dealership will try to deny responsibility for repairs. An extended warranty most nearly means we expect it to break down and your safety is not our concern.

Vehicle details: 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 z72 4x4, 5. 3l v8 ecotec3 engine, VIN: [xxx] mileage at time of incident: 220,000 miles location: [e. G. , little rock, arkansas area or specific road/highway – please provide if desired] what happened: the 5. 3l v8 engine’s hydraulic roller lifters failed. One or more lifters collapsed, stuck, or lost proper oil pressure/operation. This led to improper valvetrain function, causing loud ticking/knocking noises, cylinder misfires, significant loss of engine power and performance, and internal engine damage (such as camshaft lobe wear or related components). Component or system that failed or malfunctioned: hydraulic valve lifters (camshaft followers) in the engine valvetrain, associated with the active fuel management (afm) system. The failed lifter(s) and related components are available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: the engine malfunction resulted in sudden or progressive power loss and misfiring while driving. This reduced the vehicle’s ability to accelerate or maintain speed, especially in traffic or on highways, creating a hazardous situation that put my safety and the safety of other road users at risk of collision or breakdown. No accident or injuries occurred , or other symptoms prior to the failure with details recall, e. G. , ticking noise timeline, misfires has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? “yes, confirmed by shop inspection” has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? [yes] additional notes: repair estimate is approximately $20,000 (likely due to extent of internal damage requiring major engine work or replacement). This failure aligns with a well-documented issue in gm 5. 3l engines equipped with afm. Vehicle status parked information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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On [xxx], my 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 denali equipped with the 6. 2l engine suffered a sudden loss of power while driving. The vehicle lost propulsion and could not continue operating normally. The vehicle was taken to orange Buick GMC in orlando, florida. The dealership advised that the engine is locked and unable to rotate manually, and that the engine requires replacement. The vehicle has approximately 126,000 miles. This failure occurred while the vehicle was being driven and created a safety concern due to sudden loss of propulsion. A sudden engine lockup or loss of power could increase the risk of a crash, especially if it occurs in traffic, at highway speed, while turning, or while crossing an intersection. There was no crash, fire, injury, or death. The vehicle remains at the dealership awaiting repair. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My truck went into reduced power mode while driving on the highway (very dangerous and life threatening) for a coolant control valve failure code (p1098), which has been confirmed by a gm dealership. Gm already has extended the warranty for special coverage n252508341 for selective VIN numbers only and my VIN number is being excluded which isnt safe at all or fair. My truck is a 2021 sierra denali 3. 0l lm2 duramax and has the same exact problem (coolant control valve failure code), and the same exact faulty part, and the same exact motor (lm2) which directly matches the perimeters for the n252508341 special coverage program but my truck isnt being recalled or covered for repair due to them selectively choosing certain VIN numbers to recall only.

I was driving down the highway when all of a sudden felt a hesitation and then seen message low oil pressure turn off vehicle and was just able to pull of the exit ramp of the highway when the truck had complete loss of power and then died. . Called dealer right away and was flat bedded to the dealer. . This just happened yesterday (06/08/26).

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Notice during startups and slow speeds engine making taping noises. After bringing my truck in for service I was told my sound was my lifters on the passenger side.

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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.

While towing jetski's the #2 cylinder has a persistent misfire. Was able to limp to chapman Chevrolet where it took 2 days to diagnose. Vehicle is below 70k, which just recieved a brand new transmission and torque converter due to metal shavings from converter getting pushed through to the transmission. Service advisor's message below: "performed further diagnosis and requested engine teardown to determine root cause of misfire. During disassembly, found cylinder #2 intake/exhaust valve train failure, including a bent pushrod and a severely scored/collapsed lifter. Inspection revealed the damaged lifter had caused abnormal contact with the camshaft lobe, resulting in significant scoring and wear of the camshaft. The failed lifter and bent pushrod led to loss of proper valve operation and cylinder misfire. Point of failure is lifter #2 that resulted in camshaft failure as consequence. I am in the process of generating a quote and taking pictures for the extended warranty. " seems like another afm/dfm issue has brought down another gm motor. Why are these motors not part of the recall, when they are going down the same was as the recall? my safety and my family were put at risk for a possible catastrophic failure and loss of power due to the engine being faulty. There were no warning laps, just check engine light, parking break wrench light. The only other sign was a quite tick that is with most chevy/gm motors.

No warning lights, engine stalled in the middle of the freeway almost got killed by a semi truck was behind me, engine lost power and found that needed new engine because of the camshaft and internal damage. Confirmed by certified mechanic.

Rough idle started at 11,400 miles. Took to GMC dealer near me and had thrust bearing clearance measured. Measured . 0054"(within spec). They released truck back to me. 19,400 mile oil change found large metal(non magnetic) slivers in the filter media. I cut filters to check for issues due to known issues with this engine(metal). I called GMC corporate, I was told to not drive the truck. I paid out of pocket for the tow 142 miles away. Dealer told me they checked thrust bearing and came in at . 0055", no noises, and no check engine light. Idle is very rough on start up. Gm corporate stated a service advisor will call. Never got a call. I have sent and displayed the evidence and offered to show oil filter contents to both dealer and corporaten both have not done anything about this safety issue. This is a severe safety issue. Engine is highly likely to lock up and cause serious injury to both me, my family, and others on the road. Dealer has released truck back to me and my family with clean bill stating they didnt find anything wrong. They refused to see my documentation of metal slivers or the 3 rimg binder full of maintenance records. As of now I will be escalating this to higher up in GMC corporate. Severe safety risk for my family and everyone on the road. GMC dealers refusing to diagnose.

Either while stopping while driving or parking (forward or reverse) the engine rpms go up thus wanting to move the vehicle in that direction causing the breaks needing to be applied harder. When you shift into neutral the rpms go way up (3000). This has happened on this vehicle 3-4 times of which I have video of the latest occurrence. When put into r or d the rpms are still over 1000. This also happened on the courtesy vehicle same make and model) I was given but on this one the rpms went up to 5000 of which I also have a video. The dealership has not been able to duplicate the issue as of yet. My fear is that the vehicle will hit someone or something if the break isn't pressed to the floor. It happens very randomly. The dealer currently has my vehicle trying to figure it out. They say gm says there's nothing they can do. No warning lights or messages appeared.

On June 1, 2026 driving eastbound on I-64 in louisville, ky. Engine shut-off warning popped up and engine immediately shut off. There were no prior warnings or unusual engine or noises. 3 passengers in car. Had to change 2 lanes and then onto shoulder while coasting and slowing down. Car was incapacitated and gave battery and 0% oil read. Oil is changed regularly and engine recall work had been performed on truck several months prior. Car at dealership, not analyzed or repaired yet.

While driving approximately 45 mph, I slowed to make a right turn into a parking lot. The engine suddenly stalled and lost all propulsion. The vehicle retained electrical power but automatically shifted into neutral, and would not shift back into drive. I braked to a stop, temporarily stranding the vehicle and blocking traffic in the parking area. Attempting to turn the vehicle off via the start/stop button actually restarted the engine, confirming the stall. The truck then shifted into drive and operated normally. A subsequent onstar diagnostic scan found no active trouble codes.

Total engine failure on 5/31/26. Truck lost engine power while on highway and had to be towed to dealership where they found the lower end of the engine failed. Engine and radiator replacement needed, both are backordered with no eta.

The vehicle received the official n252494001 recall oil remedy on 06/27/2025 at 15,438 miles (but suffered catastrophic engine failure and loss of propulsion at 33,661 miles on 05/30/2026).

The truck randomly will not detect that it was shifted into park. Shifting between gears and back to park does not automatically fix the the issue and has taken up to 10 mins to turn the truck off. The adaptive cruise controls stopped working and can still use regular cruise control. Just not adaptive. It appears greyed out. The truck has thrown the error code: p1098, engine coolant control valve position sensor minimum stop performance. The truck would go into limp mode until the error was cleared. This error has appeared 4 times over the past five months. The most recent date of it happening was today. 06/30/2026.

On xxx, while traveling at 75 mph on a major interstate highway, this 2024 GMC sierra crew cab suffered a sudden and catastrophic internal engine seizure, resulting in an immediate and total loss of propulsion. This defect put the safety of all occupants and surrounding motorists at extreme risk, forcing the driver to navigate a completely unpowered, rapidly decelerating vehicle through high-speed traffic to reach the shoulder without the aid of engine power. There were absolutely no warning lamps, error messages, or mechanical symptoms prior to the failure; the engine locked up instantaneously without any advance warning. Following the incident, the vehicle was flatbed-towed to an authorized franchise dealership (dossett GMC in [xxx]), where it remains un-repaired and is currently available for inspection by the manufacturer or federal investigators upon request. Critically, this vehicle was previously presented to a certified general motors dealership at 34,766 miles for inspection and service compliance under federal safety recall n252494001 (which covers engine component failure and subsequent loss of propulsion). The vehicle was cleared as passing the manufacturer's inspection protocol at that time. The total engine failure and seizure occurred less than 9,000 miles later at approximately 43,634 miles. The catastrophic field failure of this vehicle demonstrates that the manufacturer's current safety recall inspection and remedy are insufficient to identify or mitigate the defect, presenting an ongoing and severe risk to public highway safety. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Model: sierra denali ultimate engine: 6. 2l v8 VIN: [xxx] mileage at most recent incident: approximately 52,000 miles safety complaint summary I am submitting this complaint to report a recurring loss-of-propulsion and engine power event involving my 2023 GMC sierra denali ultimate equipped with the 6. 2l v8 engine. This vehicle has experienced two separate incidents in which it suddenly lost power while being operated at highway speeds. During both events, the vehicle unexpectedly lost propulsion without warning and without any apparent driver input or mechanical indication beforehand. No warning lights, check-engine lights, reduced-engine-power messages, service transmission messages, or other warning indicators were displayed prior to the failure. The vehicle simply lost power while traveling in traffic. During both occurrences, I was forced to safely maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway while rapidly losing speed among surrounding traffic. Once stopped, the vehicle would not resume normal operation until it was restarted. After restarting, the vehicle appeared to operate normally; however, the fact that this condition has now occurred twice raises significant concerns regarding the reliability and safety of the vehicle. Safety risk this condition presents a significant and immediate safety risk because sudden loss of propulsion during highway operation can leave the driver unable to maintain speed, safely merge, maneuver, or avoid surrounding traffic. The unexpected reduction in speed creates the potential for rear-end collisions, loss of vehicle control, or other traffic accidents, particularly when operating on high-speed roadways. Because the vehicle provided no warning before losing power, there is little opportunity for a driver to take preventive action. Additional information • vehicle: 2023 GMC sierra denali ultimate • engine: 6. 2l v8 • VIN: [xxx] • approximate mileage: 52,000 miles • number of incident information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 55.

Vehicle lost power and shut down while driving at 60 mph, would not restart.