Chevrolet Silverado engine failure problems: what 656 owners reported

Owners have filed 656 complaints with NHTSA that describe a complete engine failure or a replaced engine on the Chevrolet Silverado. That is 5.7% of the 11,531 complaints on file for the model. The reports run from model year 2012 to 2026, but they cluster heavily in 2019 and in 2021 to 2024.

A recall exists for part of this: campaign 25V274000, announced on 2025-04-24, covers certain 2021-2024 Silverado 1500 trucks with the 6.2L V8 gas engine. Many of the newer reports mention the 6.2L engine. If this is not your case, read the full Chevrolet Silverado problem report.

TL;DR

• 656 complaints mention complete engine failure or a replaced engine, 5.7% of all 11,531 Silverado complaints.
• Most complaints cover model years 2019 to 2024. The 2021 trucks have the most reports (142), then 2022 (109) and 2019 (100).
• Recall 25V274000 (2025-04-24): 2021-2024 Silverado 1500 with the 6.2L V8. NHTSA lists the defect as connecting rod and/or crankshaft components that may have manufacturing defects, leading to engine damage and engine failure.
• The recall remedy: dealers inspect the engine and, as necessary, repair or replace it. Repairs are free of charge.
• 4 reports mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. The reports list 2 injuries in total.
• The engine is named in 602 of the reports and the power train in 103.

Which Chevrolet Silverado years have the most engine failure complaints?

The model years 2021 to 2026 stand out on share: engine failure makes up between 11.1% and 18.5% of all complaints for each of them, against 3% or less for 2012 to 2018. The 2019 and 2020 trucks sit in between at 8.3% and 6.6%.

The 2025 and 2026 trucks have the highest shares, but only 31 and 23 reports each. They have had the least time on the road, so those counts may still grow. The 2021 model year has the most reports in absolute terms.

What do Silverado owners describe?

The owners describe several different situations, so I will not lump them into one story. What follows is what they wrote, not a diagnosis.

Failure that ends in a new engine. Several owners say the dealer or a mechanic told them the engine needed replacing. A 2020 owner wrote: "I was driving down the highway doing 70mph when my check engine light started flashing." The dealer then said there was "a misfire on the entire driver side of the engine" (complaint 11768583). A 2025 owner reported "Metal shavings in oil and oil filter during routine maintenance" and that the truck "Needs entire engine replaced" (complaint 11775105).

Repeat failures after repair. A 2024 owner wrote that the truck had been at a dealer since 9/29/2026 for "the same 6.2L engine failure (recall 25V-274)" and that "This is the third engine installed in the vehicle" (complaint 11775362). The same owner says the vehicle "remains undriveable".

Questions about the recall remedy. A 2022 owner wrote that the truck was "covered by Recall 25V-274" and that "It passed, and the oil was changed to 0W-40" (complaint 11772008). The owner says they doubt the remedy makes the truck safe. I cannot judge that, and I am only reporting what the complaint says.

Seizing. A 2019 owner wrote that the truck "would not start" an hour after parking, and then "engine seized" (complaint 11776047). A 2026 owner wrote "Engine Seized. Truck wouldn’t shift to neutral to be towed" (complaint 11775777).

Lifter and cylinder deactivation complaints on older trucks. Owners of older trucks often name lifters. A 2018 owner wrote that the "engine dropped 3 lifters at just a little over 70k miles" and that the truck "lost power" in heavy traffic (complaint 11698549). A 2015 owner described a "collapsed/failed lifter" diagnosed by a local mechanic at about 200k miles (complaint 11764555). A 2016 owner wrote that two valve lifters were bad at 41,786 miles, with the problem returning at 46,000 and 59,000 miles (complaint 11725275). Owners also tie these failures to Active Fuel Management, but that link is their own belief, not a finding.

The components named across the reports are Engine (602), Power Train (103), Electrical System (37), Fuel/Propulsion System (33), Engine And Engine Cooling (26) and Service Brakes (9). Only 4 reports mention a crash and 2 mention a fire.

Some owners put numbers on the bills. One 2020 owner wrote "$11,000 if not covered under warranty" (complaint 11768583). A 2019 owner wrote that an estimated engine replacement cost is "15-20,000.00" (complaint 11776047). These are single owner statements, not typical prices.

Is there a recall for engine failure on the Silverado?

Yes, for part of the range. NHTSA campaign 25V274000, dated 2025-04-24, covers certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles with a 6.2L V8 gas engine.

• Defect: the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
• Risk: engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
• Remedy: dealers will inspect the engine and, as necessary, repair or replace it. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install an oil fill cap, replace the oil filter and update the owner's manual. Repairs are free of charge.
• Do not drive or park outside: the recall does not carry either instruction.

The recall covers 2021-2024 model years and the 6.2L V8 only. Reports for other model years and engines may describe different problems, and a recall for a different part may still apply to your truck. The model page lists the other recalls: Silverado problem report.

What should you do if your Silverado has engine trouble?

• Check open recalls for your exact truck by VIN at NHTSA recalls.
• If you have a 2021-2024 Silverado 1500 with the 6.2L V8, ask a dealer whether recall 25V274000 is open or already done on your truck.
• Write down dates, mileage, warning messages, and the conditions when it happens (speed, cold start, towing).
• Keep every invoice and dealer note. One owner wrote that GM told them to pay a diagnostic fee at the dealer, so records matter.
• Ask the dealer to check for other open recalls and manufacturer service bulletins.
• If the truck loses power in traffic, I would get off the road as soon as it is safe, stop driving and call for help.
• Report the problem at NHTSA: report a vehicle safety problem.

For a used Silverado, I would run the VIN through the recall check before viewing and ask for the service history, especially for 2019 and later trucks with the 6.2L V8. You can also browse a specific model year in the problem lookup.

How this guide was made

The data comes from owner complaints filed with NHTSA and recalls published by NHTSA, with the data pulled on 2026-11-09. A complaint is counted when the owner's own text describes complete engine failure or a replaced engine. A complaint is an owner's account, not a confirmed defect. Read how the numbers are built in the methodology.