The worst Chevrolet Silverado engine issues of the past 15 years share one thing: they hit V8s that shut cylinders off to save fuel. The 6.2L recall, the lifter lawsuit and the 5.3L oil-burning settlement all involve those engines, though GM blames supplier debris, not deactivation, for the 6.2L. If you’re shopping used, the safest Silverados are the ones that never switch cylinders off.
Quick answer: The biggest Chevrolet Silverado engine issues are bearing failures in the 2021–2024 6.2L V8, lifter failures in AFM and DFM V8s, oil burning in 2011–2014 5.3L engines, and lash adjuster ticking in 2025–2026 2.7L turbos. Trucks built without cylinder deactivation from March 2021 and 2023-on 3.0L Duramax trucks carry the fewest known risks.
Last updated: October 30, 2026
Which Chevrolet Silverado engine issues matter most?
Here are the documented problems, by engine and model year, with the source that confirms each one:
| Engine | Model years | Problem | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2L V8 (L87) | 2021–2024 (probe covers to 2026) | Rod and crank bearing failure | Recall 25V-274; NHTSA engineering analysis open |
| 5.3L and 6.2L with AFM or DFM | 2019 on (L84, L87) | Lifter failure, misfires, ticking | Class action pending since December 2021 |
| 5.3L V8 (LC9) | 2011–2014 | Oil consumption from piston rings | $150 million settlement, three states only |
| 2.7L TurboMax (L3B) | 2025–2026 | Top-end ticking from debris in lash adjusters | GM bulletin PIP6101, February 2026 |
| 3.0L Duramax (LM2, LZ0) | 2019 on | Long crank on early LM2; oil pump belt service | Belt interval raised to 200,000 miles |
The 6.2L is the one that can leave you stranded. GM’s own recall filing counted 28,102 US complaints tied to crankshaft, connecting rod or bearing failure, and NHTSA is now investigating failures after the fix. Our full report on the GM 6.2L V8 Silverado recall covers which trucks are in it and what the oil change remedy does.
Why does cylinder deactivation cause Silverado engine problems?
It’s in the lifters. GM’s service bulletin 20-NA-038, filed with NHTSA, explains that Active Fuel Management shuts down cylinders 1, 7, 6 and 4 by collapsing their valve lifters with oil pressure. Dynamic Fuel Management, on the 5.3L L84 and 6.2L L87, can switch off any cylinder in rotating patterns. Each switch adds a job that a conventional lifter never does.
When a lifter sticks or collapses, the valve stops opening properly. You get a tick, then a misfire, and if the roller starts skidding it chews the cam lobe. The plaintiffs in the lifter suit, consolidated in federal court in Michigan, argue that replacement lifters carry the same flaw, Pickup Truck + SUV Talk reported on March 6, 2026. A judge refused to split AFM and DFM trucks into separate cases that month, so there’s no ruling on the defect itself yet.
What are the most reliable Silverado engine years?
Our picks follow the hardware, not the badge. These are judgments from the documented problem record above, not from a reliability survey of each engine.
2021 trucks with RPO code YK9
This is the one most buyers miss. GM’s bulletin says that from March 2021, most Silverado 1500s with the 5.3L L82 or L84 were built with cylinder deactivation switched off in the software. Those trucks carry RPO code YK9, “Not Equipped with Cylinder Deactivation,” on the Service Parts Identification label in the glovebox. The deactivating lifters are still fitted, but the software never switches them off. A 2021 5.3L with YK9 is the modern Silverado we’d buy first.
2023–2026 trucks with the 3.0L Duramax
The second-generation LZ0 diesel arrived for 2023 with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft. GM assistant chief engineer John Barta told Pickup Truck + SUV Talk that about a quarter of the engine was redesigned, including steel pistons and longer rods, and GM raised the oil pump belt interval from 150,000 to 200,000 miles. The caveat: PUTT also reported a thrust bearing failure issue on the diesel in 2025, with no recall.
1999–2007 trucks with the 5.3L LM7
On a budget, the Gen III iron-block 5.3L has no AFM at all. Summit Racing’s OnAllCylinders lists it at 270–295 hp in the 1999–2007 Silverado 1500. Age, rust and mileage are your risks here, not design. For the heavy-duty side of that era, see our 6.0 LS and Vortec engine guide.
How does Silverado reliability compare with the F-150 and Ram 1500?
In survey terms, better than its engine headlines suggest. In J.D. Power’s 2026 US Vehicle Dependability Study, which counts problems on three-year-old vehicles, the Ram 1500 ranked first among large light-duty pickups, the Silverado second, and the Ford F-150 third, tied with the GMC Sierra, according to Ford Authority’s February 2026 report. Stellantis said the Ram climbed from fourth by improving 13 points.
Long-term data is less kind to all three. In iSeeCars’ 2026 study of which vehicles are most likely to pass 250,000 miles, reported by TFLcar on September 15, 2026, the Toyota Tundra scored 25.0%. The only GM full-size model in the top 25 was the Chevrolet Suburban at 11.6%. Neither the Silverado nor the F-150 made the list.
Are GMC trucks reliable? Mechanically, a Sierra is a Silverado, with the same engines and the same recalls. The Sierra tied the F-150 in its segment, but the GMC brand as a whole scored below Ford’s 228 problems per 100 vehicles in the same study, against an industry average of 204.
What changes for the 2027 Silverado engines?
GM is replacing both V8s. According to GM’s 2027 Silverado 1500 release, the new 5.7L L76 makes 402 hp and 428 lb-ft, and the 6.6L L78 makes 481 hp and 501 lb-ft, both with direct and port injection. The 2.7L TurboMax (350 hp) and 3.0L Duramax (305 hp) carry over.
Two details matter at the pump and in the driveway. Autoevolution reported that the 2027 owner’s manual recommends 91-octane fuel for the 6.6L, and that neither V8 has an oil dipstick, relying on an electronic level sensor instead. The eighth VIN character tells you the engine: M is the 5.7L and N is the 6.6L.
These engines have no owner history yet, so nobody can call them reliable or unreliable. GM’s eyes-off driving plans for trucks, covered in our GM eyes-off driving report, are further out still. If you need a diesel instead, our 6.7 Cummins buyer’s guide covers the heavy-duty alternative.
Silverado engine questions buyers ask
What year Silverado has the most engine problems?
The 2021–2024 Silverado 1500 with the 6.2L L87 V8 has the most serious documented problem: bearing failures that led to recall 25V-274 and an NHTSA engineering analysis covering trucks through 2026. The 2011–2014 5.3L LC9 trucks are known for oil consumption, and 2019-on V8s with DFM face a lifter lawsuit.
Which Silverado engine is the most reliable?
Based on the problem record, a Silverado 1500 built from March 2021 with the 5.3L and RPO code YK9, which disables cylinder deactivation, sidesteps the lifter issue. The 2023-and-newer 3.0L Duramax is another strong choice. On a budget, the 1999–2007 5.3L LM7 has no Active Fuel Management at all.
Are GMC trucks reliable?
GMC Sierra pickups share engines, recalls and lawsuits with the Silverado, so their engine record is the same. In J.D. Power’s 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study, the Sierra tied the Ford F-150 for third among large light-duty pickups, behind the Ram 1500 and Silverado, while the GMC brand as a whole scored below the industry average.
Read the glovebox label first
Before you test-drive a used Silverado, open the glovebox and find the Service Parts Identification label. A YK9 code on a 2021 5.3L truck takes the lifter risk, one of the most litigated Chevrolet Silverado engine issues, off the table, and it costs nothing to check.