GM Is Reportedly Taking Two Unusual Steps To Make Sure The 2027 Silverado And Sierra Don't Repeat Past Engine Reliability Complaints

GM is finally fixing the reliability concerns of the Silverado and Sierra engines that have hurt owner confidence.

Silverado and Sierra trucks with their engines on the top of their hoods

June 1, 2026 - 4:49PM EDT
By: Armen Hareyan

Note: GM has not publicly stated that these changes are a response to past lifter or valve train concerns.

For years, GM's V8 engines have faced intense scrutiny from truck owners concerned about lifter failures, valve train issues, and long-term reliability. We have covered many of those stories here at TorqueNews, including the alarming case of a well-maintained 88,000-mile GMC Sierra whose lifters failed without warning, proving that even diligent oil-change habits cannot always protect owners from this expensive problem. Now, according to a new report from GM Authority, the automaker is reportedly taking significant steps behind the scenes to improve quality control for the next-generation Gen 6 Small Block engines that will power the redesigned 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. The stakes are high, especially given that some owners have already started scanning their 2026 Silverado VINs to confirm whether the DFM system has been deleted from their engine before they even drive off the lot.

While most truck buyers will never see these manufacturing changes firsthand, they could ultimately have a greater impact on ownership experience than any new touchscreen, styling update, or technology feature.

According to the report, GM is implementing tighter quality-control procedures on several key engine components while also bringing some critical parts and manufacturing processes in-house rather than relying on outside suppliers.

On paper, these may sound like ordinary manufacturing adjustments. In reality, they could represent one of the most important developments yet for buyers considering the next generation of GM's full-size trucks.

Silverado Engine Reliability Has Become One of the Biggest Topics Among Truck Owners

Ask Silverado owners what matters most in a pickup truck, and the conversation usually starts with towing, payload, fuel economy, or capability. But increasingly, discussions have centered around something more fundamental: reliability. The frustration has grown loud enough that some owners who once defended GM are now walking away entirely, as we documented when covering a 2026 GMC Sierra buyer who canceled their order as the 6.2L V8 engine crisis deepened.

Over the past several years, reports involving lifter failures and valve train issues have generated countless discussions across owner forums, social media groups, and dealership service departments. Whether directly affected or not, many truck buyers have become more aware of engine durability concerns than perhaps at any other point in recent memory.

That context makes GM's reported actions particularly noteworthy.

Rather than waiting for problems to emerge after production begins, the company appears to be focusing on manufacturing consistency before the first 2027 Silverado and Sierra models reach customer driveways.

What GM Is Reportedly Changing For The Gen 6 Small Block Engine

According to GM Authority's report, GM is taking two specific steps.

The first involves implementing tighter quality-control procedures on several critical engine components.

Quality control may not sound exciting, but it plays a major role in ensuring that every engine leaving the assembly line is built to the same standard. Small variations in manufacturing can sometimes create larger issues over hundreds of thousands of miles of operation. We have seen exactly this pattern play out in the existing generation, with one report finding that manufacturing variance in lifter pin tolerances on the 2026 GMC Sierra means some engines are effectively delivered with a shorter fuse than others, even on brand-new trucks with only a few thousand miles.

The second reported change involves bringing certain critical parts and manufacturing processes in-house.

By reducing dependence on outside suppliers for some operations, GM could potentially gain greater oversight of how components are produced and how consistently they meet specifications before being installed in customer vehicles.

GM Gen 6 Small Block Engine from GM News

Both initiatives appear aimed at the same objective: reducing variability and improving consistency throughout the manufacturing process.

Why Silverado And Sierra Buyers Should Pay Attention

What makes this development interesting is that GM is reportedly focusing on prevention rather than correction.

Most automakers become known for addressing problems after vehicles have already reached customers. The report suggests GM is attempting to strengthen quality systems before the next-generation trucks enter full production. It is worth noting that GM has already quietly taken steps in that direction with the current generation, with one owner famously discovering that GM officially deleted DFM from his 2026 Silverado, a change one community member described as GM admitting the lifter issues were killing the brand.

For prospective buyers, that's potentially encouraging news.

Manufacturing quality is often one of the least visible parts of vehicle development, yet it can have an enormous effect on long-term ownership satisfaction. A truck that starts every morning, tows reliably, and accumulates high mileage without major surprises is ultimately worth far more to owners than any flashy feature added to a brochure.

That's especially true for Silverado and Sierra buyers who frequently keep their trucks for many years and accumulate significant mileage. We have seen what happens at the other end of that equation, with owners reporting that Chevy Silverado high-mileage engine reliability often falls off sharply after the 100,000-mile mark, a painful reality for owners who bought these trucks expecting decades of service.

The 2027 Silverado And Sierra Have More At Stake Than A Typical Redesign

The upcoming redesign represents more than just a new generation of GM's full-size pickups.

The Silverado and Sierra compete in one of the most fiercely contested segments in the automotive industry, facing established rivals from Ford and Ram while serving a customer base that often values durability above almost everything else. That competitive pressure is very real. The J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study showed the Ram 1500 climbing from fourth place to first in full-size truck dependability, a result that should sharpen GM's focus on getting the 2027 generation right.

Because of that, every decision related to engine quality carries outsized importance.

Truck buyers tend to remember reliability experiences for years. Positive experiences build loyalty. Negative experiences can influence future purchase decisions just as strongly. We have written extensively about how owners across owner communities are openly debating which full-size truck brand is actually the most reliable right now, and the answer has become increasingly complicated for longtime GM loyalists.

If the reported measures succeed in delivering greater manufacturing consistency and improved component quality, they could help strengthen buyer confidence in the next generation of GM trucks.

What We Still Don't Know About The New Silverado Engines

It's important to note that these reported changes remain just one part of a much larger development program.

The ultimate effectiveness of tighter quality controls and increased in-house production won't be fully known until thousands of trucks accumulate millions of miles in real-world driving conditions.

Reliability is measured over years, not months. That is a point we made when one Texas Silverado owner warned that the GM 6.2L and 3.0L engines are experiencing catastrophic failures, with even Consumer Reports increasingly flagging reliability concerns on current-generation V8s. These are the kinds of real-world patterns the Gen 6 engine program will need to leave firmly in the past.

Still, the report provides an interesting early glimpse into how GM appears to be approaching the development of its next-generation truck engines, and it suggests the company understands how important durability and owner confidence have become in today's pickup market.

For Silverado and Sierra buyers who have been watching discussions about engine reliability closely, that alone may be worth paying attention to.

What do you think about GM's reported efforts to improve quality control for the 2027 Silverado and Sierra engines?

Do you believe bringing more manufacturing processes in-house could lead to better long-term reliability, or do you think real-world results are the only thing that matter? Let us know in the comments below.

Now, having said all of this, there is a hidden story behind this. I don't know if you noticed or not. GM's quietest change to the 2027 Silverado and Sierra engine improvements could be its most overlooked one because it goes against the industry standard.

Thanks for reading guys. Come back tomorrow, or check our Torque News Home Page for more interesting automotive news articles.

About The Author

Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque News and an automotive journalist with over 15 years of experience writing car reviews and industry news. Now based in the Charlotte region (Indian Land, SC, he founded Torque News in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News on X, Linkedin, Facebook, and Youtube. Armen holds three Masters Degrees, including an MBA, and has become one of the known voices in the industry, specializing in the landscape of electric vehicles and real-world stories of actual car owners. Armen focuses on providing readers with transparent, data-backed analysis bridging the gap of complex engineering and car buyer practicality. Armen frequently participates in automotive events throughout the United States, national and local car reveals and personally test-drives new vehicles every week. Armen has also been published as an automotive expert in publications like the Transit Tomorrow, discussing how will autonomous vehicles reshape the supply chain, and emerging technologies in vehicle maintenance.