I Replaced My First 2022 Chevy Tahoe Engine At 15K Miles, Now, 8 Days Later, the Replacement 6.2L Engine Blew Up Again With My Family In the Vehicle

Robert is not happy with GM or his 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe. It's an ongoing problem GM is having with its 6.2-liter engines. Robert has had two engines blow up eight days apart. Both times, his family was in the SUV. Here is Robert's unbelievable story. 

Imagine losing two engines in your 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe just eight days apart. How upset would you be? 

Robert Hendricks, in his @roberthendricks X account, posted an unbelievable story that happened to him this spring. His 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe's engine died with only 15,000 miles on it. Eight days after getting his engine replaced by GM, it blows up again. 

He says, "We got our 2022 Chevy Tahoe back last week. The engine died on March 30 with my family in the car. They were on the highway traveling at 70 mph, which was a safety issue for my wife and kids. Now, eight days later, it happens AGAIN."

Picture yourself in Robert's situation. 

Your family loves the Chevy Tahoe. Your wife and two young boys have enough room for their sports equipment; they can be far enough apart that your boys don't fight, and it has enough power to haul your boat for family outings to Brookville Lake near Cincinnati, Ohio, in the summer.  

He has owned the Tahoe for three years, and it has been a great vehicle. They plan on keeping the sporty SUV and have no intention of trading it in for something else. They only put about 5,000 miles a year on the vehicle, and it looks like new. 

Then, the unexpected and shocking happens.

As his wife is driving the Tahoe with the kids in the vehicle, the engine dies while she's driving on a busy highway at 70 miles per hour. Now, she's stranded on the side of the road, traffic whizzing by, and she calls her husband, frantic and crying. What is she supposed to do now? she asks.

Robert is with a client at lunch and has to step outside and deal with the problem. He calls a tow truck. The Tahoe is towed to the dealer, and now they tell him it needs a new engine. His wife is without the Tahoe for seven weeks. On top of everything, dealing with the Chevrolet dealer has not been a good experience. 

What happens next is unbelievable.

The new engine Chevrolet just put in the Tahoe blows up again, eight days after you get it back, with your wife driving the Tahoe. Robert is livid. He wants Chevrolet to keep the vehicle. He doesn't want it back.  

Let's pick up Robert's story that he posted on his X business account. 

He says, "So, after the engine died, we took the Tahoe to the Chevrolet dealer, and they said we need a new engine. So they replaced the Tahoe's 6.2-liter engine."

The Chevrolet dealer had Robert's Tahoe for seven weeks. 

"It took us seven weeks to get back. I was told it was as good as new. The dealer told me I also got a free car wash and to be grateful."

Eight days later, it happened again.

"My wife was driving the Tahoe this morning with my two little boys, and the second replacement 6.2L engine blew up. AGAIN."

"She called me sobbing. "I'm not kidding, GM. I was so upset that I told the Chevrolet customer service people I didn't want my Tahoe back. They can keep it. I need a reliable vehicle for my family." 

"I told them the first time the engine blew up that it wasn't safe. They told me they fixed it under warranty, and I had no recourse. It was a brand-new engine. It was fine." 

"It's NOT FINE." 

"This is a life safety issue. My wife and children could have been in an accident because of this vehicle. It's on me for taking this Tahoe back. You can bet I'll never buy a Chevrolet again." 

You can hear the frustration in Robert's voice as he says, "Remember, this is a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe with 15,000 miles. It's not some 2007 Tahoe with 790,000 miles that ran forever on oil changes."

Robert isn't the only Tahoe owner experiencing issues with GM's 6.2-liter engine.

In a previous report, I wrote about Christi Eller (@medicmom494) and her husband, who owns a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country with 41,000 miles. It's been unreliable. She has had the family vehicle towed to the Chevrolet dealer twice after it left her stranded, and now she's afraid to drive the top-of-the-line SUV.  

She says in a TikTok clip, "Our 2023 Chevy Tahoe was at the dealer for six weeks, they put in a new engine, and they still don't know if that's going to fix the issue."

The Chevrolet Tahoe SUV is experiencing reliability issues, particularly with the 6.2-liter V8 engine that comes in the High Country trim level that Christi owns. Check out Christi's entire story here. 

Another Chevrolet Tahoe Owner, Erica Kate (@ericakate_/), urgently warns GM buyers in her TikTok clip. Her experience with the 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2025 GMC Yukon has been nothing short of a nightmare.

She says, "I have the least success with vehicles, and I'm trying hard not to crash out. I had a Chevy Tahoe, and I loved the car; it was beautiful and fun to drive. But guess what? It left me on the side of the road. The Tahoe almost killed my entire family."

Erica says, "Beware of these newer high-priced SUVs. Especially the Tahoes and now potentially the Yukons too."

Erica is done with the Tahoe.

"So, now, it's back to the Chevy dealer. You know what? This is ridiculous. I'm not doing this. So, I traded in the Tahoe. I told the dealer that it was a piece of crap and you're going to take it back, and they did. Check out her unbelievable story here and see why the GMC Yukon she traded it in for is not any better.” 

What is the Problem With GM's 6.2-liter engine?

There is a known issue with the GM 6.2-liter V8 engines, specifically the L87 model found in trucks and SUVs from 2019 to 2024. These engines have been experiencing failures, including bearing failures, which can result in engine seizure or damage to the engine block. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• NHTSA Investigation: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into these failures, affecting over 877,000 vehicles.
• Recall: GM has issued a recall for vehicles with the affected engine, and dealers are being instructed to scan for specific fault codes.
• Symptoms: Owners have reported various issues, including sudden engine failures, engine seizing, loss of power, and loud noises.
• Class Action Lawsuit: Additionally, class-action lawsuits have been filed against GM, alleging that the engines are "dangerously defective."
• Impact on Owners: Engine failures can result in substantial repair costs and prolonged downtime for affected vehicles.  

Which Vehicles Are Involved?

The affected vehicles include the 2019-2024 Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and Yukon. 

Conclusion:

Robert concludes, "GM has a crisis on its hands. It took eight days for the new engine to shut down. We planned on running the Tahoe into the ground. I didn't expect the ground to come at 18,000 miles, though."

It's Your Turn

Do you own a 2021-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Cadillac Escalade, or GMC Yukon? Have you experienced an issue with your vehicle's engine? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe story: My Customer Just Traded in Her 2025 Chevy Tahoe With Only 98 Miles, It’s the 2nd Worst Trade I’ve Ever Seen

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl