Cadillac Escalade L87 Engine Recall: What Owners Should Know About Possible Lemon Law Claims

Cadillac Escalade Owners: Do Not Ignore the L87 Engine Recall

If you own or lease a 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade or Escalade ESV equipped with the 6.2L V8 gas engine, RPO L87, your vehicle may be part of a serious General Motors engine recall.

The recall is identified by NHTSA as Recall No. 25V-274 and by GM as Recall No. N252494000. According to GM’s safety recall filing with NHTSA, the recall involves certain GM trucks and SUVs equipped with the L87 engine, including 79,747 Cadillac Escalade vehicles and 46,280 Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles built during the March 1, 2021 through May 31, 2024 suspect production window.

The issue is not minor. GM reported that the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in affected vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. If the engine fails while driving, the vehicle can lose propulsion, which increases the risk of a crash.

What Are the Symptoms of the Escalade L87 Engine Problem?

Escalade owners should pay close attention to any signs of engine trouble, including:

• Knocking, banging, ticking, or other unusual engine noises
• Check-engine light
• Hesitation or lack of power
• High RPMs
• Abnormal shifting
• Reduced propulsion
• No-start condition
• Engine seizure or complete engine failure
• GM’s recall filing specifically identifies knocking or unusual engine noises, check-engine light, hesitation, high RPMs, abnormal shifting, reduced propulsion, and no-start conditions as possible warning signs before failure.

What Is GM’s Recall Remedy?

GM says dealers will inspect affected engines and, as necessary, repair or replace the engine. Vehicles that pass inspection are supposed to receive higher-viscosity oil, a new oil fill cap, an oil filter replacement, and an owner’s manual insert.

But Escalade owners should understand something important: a recall repair does not automatically erase a lemon law claim. If your vehicle has already suffered engine problems, has been at the dealership for an extended period, or continues to have symptoms after the recall work is performed, you may still have rights under California’s lemon law.

In January 2026, NHTSA opened Recall Query RQ26001 to investigate the adequacy of the recall remedy after receiving 36 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires alleging engine failure after the recall remedy had already been completed. NHTSA stated that the complaints alleged failures of both remedy paths: higher-viscosity oil and engine replacement.

Why the L87 Recall May Create Lemon Law Issues

California’s lemon law generally requires a manufacturer to repair warranty-covered defects within a reasonable number of repair attempts. If the manufacturer cannot do so, the manufacturer may be required to replace the vehicle or repurchase it. Civil Code section 1793.2 provides that if a manufacturer or its representative cannot repair a new motor vehicle to conform to the warranty after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must promptly replace the vehicle or make restitution.

For Escalade owners, the L87 recall may create lemon law issues when the vehicle has experienced problems such as:

• Engine failure or engine replacement
• Repeated engine complaints
• Long delays waiting for an engine, parts, or recall inspection
• Multiple visits for engine noise, check-engine light, reduced power, or drivability issues
• A recall repair that did not actually fix the problem
• Loss of confidence in the safety or reliability of the vehicle
• California’s lemon law presumption may apply when, during the applicable early ownership period, the vehicle has been subject to multiple repair attempts or has been out of service for more than 30 cumulative days for warranty repairs. Civil Code section 1793.22 includes a presumption where the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for more than 30 calendar days, among other circumstances.

A Recall Is Not the Same as a Lemon Law Buyback

Many owners assume that because GM issued a recall, they must simply wait for the dealership to perform the recall repair. That may be true for some vehicles. But for others, the recall may be only one part of a much larger warranty history.

A recall means the manufacturer has acknowledged a safety-related defect or noncompliance affecting a group of vehicles. A lemon law claim focuses on what happened to your specific vehicle: how many times it was taken in for repair, how long it was out of service, whether the defect was fixed, and whether the problem substantially impaired the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.

For a luxury SUV like a Cadillac Escalade, an engine defect can be especially significant. Owners pay premium prices for safety, reliability, towing capacity, family transportation, and peace of mind. A vehicle that knocks, hesitates, loses power, fails to start, or needs major engine work may not be performing as promised.

What Escalade Owners Should Do Now

If your Escalade is affected by the L87 recall, consider taking these steps:

1. Check your VIN with GM or NHTSA to confirm whether your vehicle is included.
2. Save every repair order, even if the dealer says “no problem found.”
3. Document symptoms with dates, mileage, photos, and videos when safe to do so.
4. Track days out of service, including time waiting for parts or an engine.
5. Do not assume a completed recall ends the issue if symptoms continue.
6. Get legal advice before accepting a trade-in, low cash offer, or broad release.

You May Be Entitled to a Repurchase, Replacement, or Compensation

If your 2021–2024 Cadillac Escalade or Escalade ESV has experienced L87 engine problems, you may have a California lemon law claim. Depending on the facts, possible remedies may include a vehicle repurchase, replacement, reimbursement, incidental damages, civil penalties, and payment of attorney’s fees and costs.

At Joseph Kaufman & Associates, we represent consumers throughout California in lemon law claims against major vehicle manufacturers, including General Motors and Cadillac.

If your Escalade has had engine noise, check-engine lights, reduced power, no-start issues, engine replacement, or extended downtime related to the L87 recall, contact us for a free case review.

Please fill out the form below including any documentation you have regarding your vehicle’s issues and repairs. A lemon law attorney will review your info and set up a free consultation to let you know if you qualify for lemon law help.

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