failed lifters 2015 6.2 - JUNK motor

JimCost2014 · January 28, 2020

11 minutes ago, eccan said:

2016 Yukon XL Denali 6.2 liter 65K miles had a bent push rod and rocker arm (just out of powertrain warranty) Now at 72K miles I collapsed lifters and a dead cam. Over $4,000 to repair, but GM will cover 25% of that because I am a "loyal" customer (This is my 10th consecutive Suburban/Yukon XL). Anyone know how to convince the GM cost assistance rep that this is a lousy offer?

Tell them this is your last GM vehicle you will ever own.

Embellish a story of how you have already looked at a new Ford, and really like the new Toyota's.

They do not like to knowingly loose customers to the competition, at this point you can only gain money on the repair. Also, if you do not already have a claim, open one and really stress how unhappy your are at this point.

eccan · January 29, 2020

I've already been looking at other rides. Traded my wife's Equinox (with the oil consumption issue) last summer for a new Hyundai Santa Fe. It has all the same safety features that my Yukon has,, and is a quarter of the price. My dealer hates it, but I have been stopping by daily for the last 3 weeks while they are trying to find parts to fix my GMC, and park the Hyundai right out front.

Maybe this picture of my Hyundai starting my Denali after the battery was toast at 62,000 miles will help.

I have been looking at the Palisades, sharp vehicle, great warranty, I could buy a new one every year and be better off than buying another GMC.

JimCost2014 · January 29, 2020

10 minutes ago, eccan said:

I've already been looking at other rides. Traded my wife's Equinox (with the oil consumption issue) last summer for a new Hyundai Santa Fe. It has all the same safety features that my Yukon has,, and is a quarter of the price. My dealer hates it, but I have been stopping by daily for the last 3 weeks while they are trying to find parts to fix my GMC, and park the Hyundai right out front.

Maybe this picture of my Hyundai starting my Denali after the battery was toast at 62,000 miles will help.

I have been looking at the Palisades, sharp vehicle, great warranty, I could buy a new one every year and be better off than buying another GMC.

Picture couldn't hurt at this point.

Is your dealer stand alone GMC, or do they have other brands also?

You could also see what they would cash you out for, then take the money and buy what you want.

It is a good looking rig, they would have no problems selling it after it is fixed.

9c1fanatic · February 18, 2020

I also feel for those who have experienced these (common on the forums) failures. To offer this from a severe use fleet perspective where problems are almost universally encountered well before normal retail vehicles are, I can say this, I work for a police department in Texas with over 100 police vehicles in its fleet. Various makes and models from the big 3. All of them have common failures we see across the fleet with a particular make/model. I'm not going to go into these because its not relevant to this discussion. But in regards to the issues discussed in this thread we have not really seen in our GM products. We have GMT 900 Silverado's 5.3L/4L65E and GMT 900 Tahoes with the 5.3L 6L80E combo, we have many Chevrolet Caprice 9C1s with the 6.0L/6L80E, and also have K2XX Tahoes 5.3L Ecotec/6L80E and T1 Silverados with the 5.3L/8L90E. Exactly NONE of these vehicles have had any issues with engine failure, AFM related problems, lifters etc and they range in age of 1 year old to 12 years old.

Its true that as vehicles become more complex with government and consumer driven "enhancements" reliability goes down. There are hundreds of things than can fail on a new vehicle of any make or model that didn't even exist 20 years ago. The government is pushing for more fuel economy and us consumers have to have all the ridiculous technology in the vehicles and the car companies put it in so they don't fall behind the competition. This is one reason why I cant muster up the courage to depart with my 1991 Chevrolet C1500 5.7L/5 speed truck. It will outlast all of these vehicles and when something does break, the repair bill is always under $200. Hell, you can disconnect almost any sensor you want and it still runs where as a new silverado, a loose BCM ground wreaks havoc on the whole truck.

Edited February 18, 2020 by 9c1fanatic

Been lied to in Iowa · April 10, 2020

On 1/12/2018 at 1:49 PM, crushNchowda said:

Well....I'm pretty much done for the time being w/ GM...at least when it comes to their gas engines and/or anything w/ AFM, & pretty much done w/ their 1/2 tons in general or any SUV related to them.

I have been a die hard GM guy, I've defended them even when I shouldn't & they keep letting me down. This is my 3rd 2014+ GM truck - all had issues. I attached pics of the RO - a near $60k vehicle w/ 46k miles on the clock & the engine nearly blows? If I didn't take it in & took it up to VT like I had planned to do it would have left me stranded AGAIN (first time was a failed starter coming back from a vacation 100s of miles from my home - oh, and that was w/ less than 40k on the clock!!), this is after I've already had it in for a leaking 3rd brake light that stained the headliner....and yeah, it shakes too, just not as bad as the previous 2.

A whole bank of lifters gone bad? Why wouldn't they replace the other side??!! Not like they're not going to fail either. The tech even notes "had difficulty removing fuel rail cover due to corrosion" - & replaced 2 injectors too!!!! WTF!?!??! I have 2 years & 3 months left on the note, planned on keeping it another couple years payment free - how on earth could I bank on that w/ this stuff happening @ 46k??

I mean its astonishing really - these things are piles of junk....I mean I KNOW there are issues w/ the torque converter, yoke & pinion, & the tranny as well - just not as bad as some other examples out there, I'm just lucky as hell I have a '15 w/ the 100k powertrain warranty vs. '16+....Genius move on GM's part though reducing it to 36k, basically they're selling everyone trucks w/ a 50-50 chance they'll get 'em on the hook for new crate motors & trannies @ the 50k mark

I joke...but really its just sad...and I don't wanna hear from all the diehard fan boys "it's just 1 example, all you hear on forums is complaints, every make has issues" blah blah - cuz guess what? I WAS IN THAT GROUP OF DEFENDERS!!!! I have a flawless trouble free '03 Z06 in my garage which I love. I've owned a G8 GT, Grand prix, & between me & my father 8 GM trucks....4 of which have been the '14+ model & they have ALL been crap.

So unless you have owned 2x2014's & 2x2015's don't even bother commenting on this defending GM & saying its an isolated incident,.

Cheers.

Been lied to in Iowa · April 10, 2020

On 1/12/2018 at 1:49 PM, crushNchowda said:

Well....I'm pretty much done for the time being w/ GM...at least when it comes to their gas engines and/or anything w/ AFM, & pretty much done w/ their 1/2 tons in general or any SUV related to them.

I have been a die hard GM guy, I've defended them even when I shouldn't & they keep letting me down. This is my 3rd 2014+ GM truck - all had issues. I attached pics of the RO - a near $60k vehicle w/ 46k miles on the clock & the engine nearly blows? If I didn't take it in & took it up to VT like I had planned to do it would have left me stranded AGAIN (first time was a failed starter coming back from a vacation 100s of miles from my home - oh, and that was w/ less than 40k on the clock!!), this is after I've already had it in for a leaking 3rd brake light that stained the headliner....and yeah, it shakes too, just not as bad as the previous 2.

A whole bank of lifters gone bad? Why wouldn't they replace the other side??!! Not like they're not going to fail either. The tech even notes "had difficulty removing fuel rail cover due to corrosion" - & replaced 2 injectors too!!!! WTF!?!??! I have 2 years & 3 months left on the note, planned on keeping it another couple years payment free - how on earth could I bank on that w/ this stuff happening @ 46k??

I mean its astonishing really - these things are piles of junk....I mean I KNOW there are issues w/ the torque converter, yoke & pinion, & the tranny as well - just not as bad as some other examples out there, I'm just lucky as hell I have a '15 w/ the 100k powertrain warranty vs. '16+....Genius move on GM's part though reducing it to 36k, basically they're selling everyone trucks w/ a 50-50 chance they'll get 'em on the hook for new crate motors & trannies @ the 50k mark

I joke...but really its just sad...and I don't wanna hear from all the diehard fan boys "it's just 1 example, all you hear on forums is complaints, every make has issues" blah blah - cuz guess what? I WAS IN THAT GROUP OF DEFENDERS!!!! I have a flawless trouble free '03 Z06 in my garage which I love. I've owned a G8 GT, Grand prix, & between me & my father 8 GM trucks....4 of which have been the '14+ model & they have ALL been crap.

So unless you have owned 2x2014's & 2x2015's don't even bother commenting on this defending GM & saying its an isolated incident,.

I have a 2016 Silverado LTZ, Z71 1500 6.2 Vortec. I bought it with 41,000 miles it in 2018. I had rocker arms and two push rods on the right bank replaced 8 months ago and I just took it in with 53,000 miles on it. I was just informed that they will be replacing the rocker arms and all the push rods on the right bank. They tell me the cam is in good shape. But, at this point, I have trouble believing anything they tell me since the bulletin to replace all push rods on one side if two or more need replaced, existed last time they "fixed" the issue and did not comply then. Plus, when I asked, they replied that they did not know what caused the pushrods to go bad in the first place.

I, too, have been a GM guy for quite sometime as well (1987 1500, 1999 Z71 (new), 2003 Z71 (new), 2016 Z71 LTZ) The 2016 has the 6.2 Vortec, the other were 5.3 (or comparable). The 5.3 was a rock solid engine and the only reason I went to a 6.2 was due to purchasing a small camper and wanted more power to pull it through the mountains. With all the problems I am having with it, I don't trust the engine enough to eventuate any of those trips.

I need some advice... once it is fixed this time, can I trust that this is not going to continue to reoccur, or should I just bite the bullet and trade it odd on another brand...but like has been mentioned, the Tundra is about the only brand that is holding up and I'm not convinced that is what I should do.

Been lied to enough in Iowa

Quote

jlong1984 · April 10, 2020

On 10/7/2019 at 2:42 PM, BigBadSierra said:

Search cam phaser failure Ford or Ram.

The governments want fuel efficient engines.

This is just how it is.

They use high tech solutions this adds parts and increase the potential for issue.

Rams do not seem to have widespread cam phaser issues, that's a Ford deal. In fact, the HEMI with DOD has a lot of the same problems as AFM equipped GMs, like collapsed lifters, etc.

eccan · April 12, 2020

So after the bent push rod and rocker arm on # 8 cylinder at 65K , then the new cam and a couple new lifters at 75K miles that GM graciously paid $1,000 towards, I had the knock came back at 76K miles. Dealer said it was a bent push rod on # 7 cylinder now, (other side of the engine) fixed it and took care of the bill themselves. They were embarrassed by the GM response too. I know all the manufactures are doing everything they can to squeeze fuel mileage out of their engines for government numbers, just disappointed the GM rep said their $1000 off to help repairs was more than fair (on a $80,000 vehicle).

Trading the Denali this weekend. After owning GMs since my first one when I was 17 (43 years) I will now only own my first one - a 68 Camaro. It's active fuel management uses my right foot, and I decide if I want to get 8 or 12 mpg (2 or 4 barrels open!)

carpendj · July 8, 2020

Ugh. Wish I'd seen this thread before I purchased a brand new 2019 GMC AT4 with the 6.2 and 10-speed just 6 months ago. Heard a ticking noise some time ago but with COVID-19 impacting many businesses, I figured I would wait until the first service. My 7500 mile truck has been sitting at the dealer for almost a week. They told me today it has a failed lifter spring. WTF. This truck is brand new. I will know more when I get it back and check out the work they did. 5 years with a RAM and never had one single issue. I love this AT4 but will have to make sure I get rid of this before the powertrain warranty expires. Sucks.

sshanks · April 14, 2021

I have a 2021 suburban bought new in January for 70k. Been in the shop for 12 days. The engine basically blew the first time I Hauled a boat at 5,000 miles., It was clunking, knocking, misfiring and all alerts going off while I was trying to get home from a long trip. Took to shop. Lifters stuck, push road bent, after those were replaced, it sounded even worse, its now been in the shop for an alternator, water pump, coolant leak, the list goes on. I haven't had the car for 12 days. GM is stumped now on what to try next and is tearing the engine back down. I will not accept the car back, working with GM on a repurchase. There is no reason this should have happened at 5,000 miles, brand new....

2015 GMC Sierra 6.2 · April 15, 2021

On 1/18/2018 at 11:04 AM, crushNchowda said:

I really have no idea why you seem to be defending this crap. I've owned a G8 GT that had this AFM crap too - had to end up swapping it out for a DOD delete kit (baby cam) because the lifter tick kept getting worse....also the 6L80E tranny in that had all kinds of issues, a "harsh/flare shift TSB" along w/ a mechanical issue they ended up figuring out later in the product life cycle, something w/ the 2-3 ring seals installed backwards requiring a new tranny clutch cover kit & a whole other TSB on that one.

These motors are great once you yank the AFM hardware out & tune the ECM/TCM to behave like a NORMAL V8 truck. Of course that voids the warranty, which is ironic because if you start experiencing these drivetrain issues and DONT do this it WILL end up in mechanical issues/failure.

Also - not sure why in the world you think the engine wouldn't get destroyed if you just drive around w/ stuck/failing lifters - inevitably they will break, drop & damage the corresponding lobe of the camshaft...keep driving after that wipe out the rest of the cam, & if its still driving after that....well then you WILL BLOW it up, by all accounts if the lobes are damaged enough its an engine swap anyhow on GM's dime.

2015 GMC Sierra 6.2 · April 15, 2021

On 1/18/2018 at 11:04 AM, crushNchowda said:

I really have no idea why you seem to be defending this crap. I've owned a G8 GT that had this AFM crap too - had to end up swapping it out for a DOD delete kit (baby cam) because the lifter tick kept getting worse....also the 6L80E tranny in that had all kinds of issues, a "harsh/flare shift TSB" along w/ a mechanical issue they ended up figuring out later in the product life cycle, something w/ the 2-3 ring seals installed backwards requiring a new tranny clutch cover kit & a whole other TSB on that one.

These motors are great once you yank the AFM hardware out & tune the ECM/TCM to behave like a NORMAL V8 truck. Of course that voids the warranty, which is ironic because if you start experiencing these drivetrain issues and DONT do this it WILL end up in mechanical issues/failure.

Also - not sure why in the world you think the engine wouldn't get destroyed if you just drive around w/ stuck/failing lifters - inevitably they will break, drop & damage the corresponding lobe of the camshaft...keep driving after that wipe out the rest of the cam, & if its still driving after that....well then you WILL BLOW it up, by all accounts if the lobes are damaged enough its an engine swap anyhow on GM's dime.

I have found the solution - SWAMPS MOTORSPORTS in Murfreesboro TN..... They not only fixed my issue with the lifters failing along with that causing it to bend and break a rod.... They vastly improved the performance of my truck!

Long story short - bought 2015 gmc slt 4x4 with 6.2 with 67k miles from Walker Chevrolet in Franklin TN

Truck ticked at time of purchase (manager told me the noise was "normal" and from the high pressure injection system) - 1st lie

Within 2 months and less than 2000 miles check engine flashing and truck running terrible.

Immediately eased the truck to Swamps Motorsports

Computer reads - misfire on cylinder 7

Called dealer - run around - zero help - encouraged me to bring it in and pay up to 10 grand depending on what they found. Service manger actually told me I would be better off letting swamps fix it as the dealership could ONLY repair it to stock - and then told me it would more than likely happen again within 30-40 thousand miles

It is noteworthy to mention here that I have still not received my tags at this point. - After calling the dealership's title clerk I was told the paperwork was mailed to Rutherford county a month prior and they were just slow. - 2nd lie

Swamps removes engine and tears it down

Dropped lifter - broken rod -

Swamps installs DOD - AFM delete along with new and improved lifters and some custom mods to completely remove system. Also installed a stage 2 cam ....

RESULT - Faster - smoother - better running truck that is actually performing like a v8 truck with no noticeable gas mileage changes. All of this for HALF of the price the dealer would have charged to repair the truck back to stock.

Interesting to mention that I got a text from the salesman (while my truck was sitting without the motor) that accounting had called him and the reason I hadn't received my tags was because my truck had never gone through emissions .... pretty sure it wouldn't pass and they reset the check engine light and then sold me the truck...... that is another story and will deal with them in court.