Last year, General Motors recalled 9451 Australian examples of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 as a part of a huge global recall campaign, after it discovered the 6.2-litre L87 V8 engine powering a large number of vehicles could prematurely fail.
It was found manufacturing damage to the V8’s crankshaft and connecting rods could lead to excessive wear, eventually leading to a complete engine failure, as has been documented in at least 40 instances in the US.
More than 720,000 vehicles were recalled globally, requiring either an inspection and a heavier grade of oil, or a complete engine removal and replacement. Almost a dozen lawsuits against General Motors have been filed in the US regarding the engine failures.
In response to the Australian recall announced in May 2025, a class action lawsuit has now been filed in the Federal Court of Australia by self-professed “complaint solutions service”, Handle My Complaint.
Currently calling on “Over 10,000 Australian drivers” who bought the L87 V8-powered Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Handle My Complaint CEO Jo Ucukalo said the class action has been launched in a bid to provide compensation for owners beyond the process outlined in the recall.
“A recall notice is only the first step,” Ms Ucukalo said in a media release.
“It doesn’t compensate owners for months without their vehicle, the reduction in resale value, or the stress of an engine seizing on a busy highway. This class action is about securing real compensation and extended protection that a recall alone does not provide.
“Australian consumers are entitled to vehicles that are safe, reliable, and fit for purpose. When those expectations are not met, the law provides a pathway to remedy, and we are here to pursue it.
“Owners should register even if they have not experienced any engine problems. The trouble is, GM does not know which engines may fail nor when. All Silverados recalled are potentially affected.”
For context, Handle My Complaint’s calls for more than 10,000 Silverado owners to sign up for the class action is at odds with the 9451 vehicles recalled in Australia. It’s also different to the 8622 examples sold to the end of 2024 since General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) first brought the Silverado 1500 to local showrooms in 2020.
General Motors has previously said the fault and related recall only globally impacts vehicles built between 2021 and 2024, with 2025 onwards vehicles claimed to be unaffected.
The fault doesn’t affect the GMC Yukon which features the same 6.2-litre L87 engine, nor the larger Silverado HD which has an unrelated turbo-diesel V8 engine.
“This class action puts manufacturers on notice,” Ucukalo added.
“They have a duty to comply with Australian Consumer Law and to do the right thing by their customers. These large pick-up utes cost over $100,000 and Silverado owners are frustrated that the issue remains unresolved, with no compensation and with replacement engines failing. We want them to know they are not alone, and that there is a path to real compensation and meaningful protection.”
A spokesperson for General Motors told Torquecafe, “we are aware of the class action but cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
“Our focus is on customers: we have implemented a recall for certain Silverado 1500 vehicles and are inspecting recalled vehicles and, if necessary, repairing affected vehicles at no cost, including engine replacement where required, supported by long-term special coverage for this engine issue.”
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