General Motors V-8 engines, like those before them, have a history of engine lifter defects, with owners of GM V-8 engines experiencing engine failures due to stuck or collapsed lifters for years. Recently GM has been notified of a defect over its valve-lifter issue in Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles equipped with its Small Block V8 engines. Many owners have complained that the active fuel management lifters, dynamic management lifters and valve train systems in their vehicles are defective, causing the lifters to malfunction and fail resulting in engine failures. GM has not issued a recall for the GM engine lifter defect.
The GM engine lifter defect affects both the 2019-2021 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade and GM models below.
- 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V
- 2014-present Chevrolet Silverado
- 2014-present Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- 2014-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2014-2016 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2014-present Chevrolet Suburban
- 2014-present Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2016-present Chevrolet Camaro
- 2014-present Chevrolet Camaro SS
- 2014-2016 Chevrolet Corvette
- 2014 to present GMC Sierra
- 2014 to present GMC Sierra 1500
- 2014-present GMC Yukon
- 2014-present Yukon XL
What is a Lifter?
The lifter consists of a cylinder that sits between a car’s camshaft and the cylinder valves. The lifter opens the internal valves in the engine. There is a separate lifter for each valve in the engine. In vehicles equipped with active fuel management (AFM) or dynamic fuel management (DFM), the lifters will deactivate when they are not in use and not open the valve, resulting in greater fuel efficiency.
Signs of a Engine Lifter Defect
The GM engines, L84 5.3 V-8 and the L87 6.2 liter EcoTec3 V-8, with build dates between September 2020 and March 2021 seem to have the most problems with defective lifters. These engines use the active fuel management (AFM) and dynamic fuel management (DFM), and at times the lifter will get stuck or lock into place. When a lifter gets stuck or fixed in the wrong position it bends the pushrod resulting in engine failure. Signs that a lifter is failing or defective are the following:
- Tapping or ticking sound in the engine
- Knocking or banging noises in the engine
- Misfires, shuddering or low of power
- Complete engine shutdown or failure
- Check Engine Light
Repairing the Engine Lifter Defect
When a lifter fails it results in a major engine failure. The current repair for a defective lifter causing an engine failure is to replace only the affected cylinder head and components, as well as replacing the damaged lifters. Unfortunately, many owners are reporting long delays in repairs due to the shortage of engine and lifter parts. There does not seem to be any repair to prevent the lifters from getting stuck and owners of the affected GM cars and trucks are placed into a position of waiting to see if they will become the victim of a faulty lifter resulting in a major engine failure.
Lemon Law Information for your GM Engine Lifter Defect
If your Chevy or GM truck or car is experiencing defects due to the defective GM Lifters make sure you understand your lemon law rights and what you should do if you have a lemon.
If you’re driving a lemon, let David J. Gorberg & Associates help you. We’re PA Lemon Law, NJ Lemon Law, and NY Lemon Law experts. You don’t need to take GM on by yourself, let us do it for you!
Contact us today and tell us about your lemon!
