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BRAND NEW 2021 Silverado Engine Failure

Tri11
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Tri11 New Member

Tri11

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2021 Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71

•Delivered on 08/02/2021

•Engine Failure on 08/05/2021

•Zero Mods

•136 Miles

 

I was in a restaurant drive-thru when my truck started rumbling/shaking. The entire truck was vibrating. I pulled forward to wait for the food and it had a really hard time going forward, the speedometer and RPM gauge didn’t move. I got out and heard a ticking/clanking noise under the front end. I shut off the truck and tried to start it back up. It wouldn’t start, but the truck was on. It was trying to crank to turn over but just kept fluttering. I turned the auto-stop feature off, tried turning it on via the myChevrolet app and key fob multiple times. The truck was on, Apple CarPlay and radio were working fine. It just wouldn’t turn over. After about 15 minutes of trying different things, the engine light came on. I called a tow service and had it taken to the closest GM dealership. Waited around all day today to hear from the dealership and got the call around dinner time. He isn’t sure what’s all wrong, but said “it’s definitely a significant issue, going to require engine tear down.”

 

I called the salesperson who sold the truck to me, as well as the new vehicle manager. I also gave GM a call and got a case number. The call center worker said they were upgrading my case to “expedited” — being forwarded to a senior advisor who would be contacting me within 2 business days.

 

I have videos of the entire engine failure process, from the rumbling, to clanking, to the failure to start. I began recording to show the service team, as I planned on bringing it in, and ended up catching all of the issues as they unfolded. I am able to share the photos and videos if needed.

 

I’m not sure what my options are. I do not feel comfortable with a truck, with less than 150 miles on it, having engine failure. I’m glad it failed at zero MPH, instead of 70 MPH with my kids in the backseat. If this were your truck, what would you do?

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Transient Senior Enthusiast

Transient

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First off, I've had this happen with a 2007 Tahoe with my wife and kids in the truck at over 70 mph (I-80 eastbound in Laramie, WY in fall 2012).  Therefore, you and your kids would've been fine.

 

Secondly, your engine is likely toast.  Probably a broken valve spring, which led to a broken valve, which has chewed up the bottom of the head, the top of the piston, and the cylinder wall.  You'll get a new engine.  And, your truck will likely not be in the shop long enough to satisfy lemon law requirements.

 

However, you could tell the dealership you bought the truck from that they can have it back, and tear up the contract.  Many states give you 30 days to back out of a contract like this under consumer protection laws.

 

With that said, I bought a truck to last me 15-20 years.  If the replacement engine works, I'd take the truck back and enjoy it (although I'd be wary of this happening again).  It's your decision on what you'll do. 

Edited by Transient
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CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

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What is the build date on the truck??

 

My parents just bought a brand new 2021 Silverado and it was built sometime in March but only made it to the dealership a few weeks ago. It's got less than 100 miles on right now. There was a run of engines built prior to March 4th that were having issues.

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Tri11 New Member

Tri11

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41 minutes ago, Transient said:

First off, I've had this happen with a 2007 Tahoe with my wife and kids in the truck at over 70 mph (I-80 eastbound in Laramie, WY in fall 2012).  Therefore, you and your kids would've been fine.

 

Secondly, your engine is likely toast.  Probably a broken valve spring, which led to a broken valve, which has chewed up the bottom of the head, the top of the piston, and the cylinder wall.  You'll get a new engine.  And, your truck will likely not be in the shop long enough to satisfy lemon law requirements.

 

However, you could tell the dealership you bought the truck from that they can have it back, and tear up the contract.  Many states give you 30 days to back out of a contract like this under consumer protection laws.

 

With that said, I bought a truck to last me 15-20 years.  If the replacement engine works, I'd take the truck back and enjoy it (although I'd be wary of this happening again).  It's your decision on what you'll do. 

Located in WI, our lemon law states 30 days in the first year, among a few other elements.
 

Got $25,000 for my trade in, which was a very good deal. Also received about $4,000 in incentives/discounts. I’m hoping Chevrolet either replaces the truck, or buys it back minus what I financed. It’s ridiculous to be without a vehicle 3 days after purchasing it, brand new. 

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  • 5 months later...
AD80 Enthusiast

AD80

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21 minutes ago, Bender02 said:

My 21 Sierra 1500 just did this. Valve spring last week at 134 miles. Cylinder 4 Exhaust. Not happy. Fixed but I don't feel good about the next several years ahead. 5.3 built 8/21.

Looks like it’s happening to trucks well past the “ bad batch” dates. Also the op’s truck is one of the ones without dfm  activated, and it still happened. Only way I would trust one of these now, is if they completely removed the dfm hardware and started putting standard non dfm  reliable lifters back in them.

Edited by AD80
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Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

Silverado4x4

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14 hours ago, Bender02 said:

My 21 Sierra 1500 just did this. Valve spring last week at 134 miles. Cylinder 4 Exhaust. Not happy. Fixed but I don't feel good about the next several years ahead. 5.3 built 8/21.

Just because your truck was built 8/21 doesn't mean the motor was built the same time, your motor could have been built in the bad run of lifters time frame and was sitting in stock till it was sent to the factory which it probably sat there also. Truck build date means nothing you have to look for the build date of the motor not the truck.

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AD80 Enthusiast

AD80

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Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, Silverado4x4 said:

Just because your truck was built 8/21 doesn't mean the motor was built the same time, your motor could have been built in the bad run of lifters time frame and was sitting in stock till it was sent to the factory which it probably sat there also. Truck build date means nothing you have to look for the build date of the motor not the truck.

But gm or whoever, said the affected trucks were from those build  dates, so they probably took into account which engines went out on those dates. Otherwise they would have went by vin numbers or something if the engines were spread out all over,  im guessing.

Edited by AD80
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WeGone Enthusiast

WeGone

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26 minutes ago, AD80 said:

But gm or whoever, said the affected trucks were from those build  dates, so they probably took into account which engines went out on those dates. Otherwise they would have went by vin numbers or something if the engines were spread out all over,  im guessing.

You can find the engine build date on the sticker on the back of the drivers side head, you have to get under the truck to see it. My truck build date is 3/21/21 engine 2/25/21

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newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

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19 hours ago, AD80 said:

Looks like it’s happening to trucks well past the “ bad batch” dates. Also the op’s truck is one of the ones without dfm  activated, and it still happened. Only way I would trust one of these now, is if they completely removed the dfm hardware and started putting standard non dfm  reliable lifters back in them.

 

 

The "bad batch" for AFM/DFM was lifters not valve springs.  The bad batch valve springs was an even smaller window of 

7/1/2020 to 12/16/2020 and on 6.2 only.

 

Bender02 said bad valve spring and his was built well outside the valve spring date and outside the lifter date as well.  

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Gangly Senior Enthusiast

Gangly

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On 1/18/2022 at 8:59 PM, AD80 said:

Looks like it’s happening to trucks well past the “ bad batch” dates. Also the op’s truck is one of the ones without dfm  activated, and it still happened. Only way I would trust one of these now, is if they completely removed the dfm hardware and started putting standard non dfm  reliable lifters back in them.

I believe you are confusing lifter issues with valve spring issues.  DFM issues have zero affect on the valve spring failure issues.

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