Lifter Fail While Camping

[PHXPHOTOG]

I was camping 50 miles from home with my 30 foot travel trailer last weekend. On Friday morning I did a remote start and heard a very loud sharp CRACK come from the engine. I got in the truck and saw the dreaded alerts everyone gets with lifter failure. Service ESC, service parking brake, check engine light. So the dance with General Motors is on. So far it has not been good. I am a Chevy guy. I have never made a bad post anywhere about this truck. I love my TB, BUT we will see what happens by the time this process is over. I won't even fault them for the broken lifter. At this point it is about how they respond to the problem. So far the answer from my service advisor to every question I ask is "Well, GM decides that." So I wait for answers as the dealership goes through corporate procedures.

I used AAA to tow it to my local dealership because GM roadside assistance will only tow to closest dealership to point of break down. Not dealer of choice. Fortunately I had a friend showing up capable of towing my trailer home.

Cylinder #8 has been diagnosed as broken lifter. I have had multiple conversations with my service advisor explaining this truck will be basically worthless to me if they don't replace both banks of lifters. Now that I know for sure I have a build with a bad batch I can't do what I do with the truck. It is not unusual for me to be 100 miles into back country. This summer I have another Canyonlands NP trip planned into the most remote wilderness in the NPS system. If you break down recoveries go into the thousands of dollars. Not to mention you have to survive the process.

Of course one bank or two is a "GM decision" It's not looking good so far.

I received a text on Friday that said the lifters were ordered and on national backorder. It sounds like they will let me know next week if the parts will arrive in "weeks or months". WTF!

I am really sickened this has happened. We all know it is a risk. I can only hope GM responds appropriately and does not turn a lifetime supporter into a hater.

2021 Silverado Trail Boss LT, 5.3L, 10 Speed, about 22,000 miles.

Steve

 

[Wakinvol]

That sucks. Sorry buddy.

 

[Msr56]

This is awful. My advice is to not be anything but assertive. They know it’s an issue. They are being sued because of it. Your truck is under factory warranty. They fix the entire problem or you file complaints. No way you should accept anything else.

 

[PistolsFiring]

That sucks. Sorry to hear.

 

[Phoenix6]

damn… this makes my water pump issue seem minuscule

 

[Jmzvet]

I have 9 months left on the warranty. I wonder how GM is handling out of warranty claims for the lifter problem?

 

[vezePilot]

Wow, not good news. Thanks for including your truck's total miles driven.
Is it known whether this is an Assembly Plant-specific problem, or a Parts problem regardless of assembly plant?
(edit)
Well ... Accurate Engines in Michigan may not be legit. But a 5.3L GM Silverado engine for $4,000 ... tempting.
Lots of reviews, mostly happy people but not all.

Chevrolet 5.3 Liter Engine Gen IV L83 VLOM 2014+ » Accurate Engines | 100k Mile Worry-Free Warranty

Chevy/GM 5.3L Engine, VIN 'C' application, 2015+ MY vehicles. 100,000 mile warranty, remanufactured in the USA.

accurateengines.com

 

[PHXPHOTOG]

GM has remained 100% mute on this issue as far as I know. No one knows what percentage of trucks are affected except them. I don't even know for sure if the replacement lifters are 100% good. They put bad lifters in this engine for three years. And replacement lifters are still on a national backorder? Who knows what is going on? It is their workhorse engine. Silverados are their best selling vehicle at around 200,000 a year sold. This motor is also in some Cadillacs and Camaros. They are obviously trying hard to avoid a catastrophic recall. This is not a seat belt repair like a lot of recalls. Think about what a loss it would be to recall a million vehicles to repair a major engine failure issue.

 

[JP20TB]

I was camping 50 miles from home with my 30 foot travel trailer last weekend. On Friday morning I did a remote start and heard a very loud sharp CRACK come from the engine. I got in the truck and saw the dreaded alerts everyone gets with lifter failure. Service ESC, service parking brake, check engine light. So the dance with General Motors is on. So far it has not been good. I am a Chevy guy. I have never made a bad post anywhere about this truck. I love my TB, BUT we will see what happens by the time this process is over. I won't even fault them for the broken lifter. At this point it is about how they respond to the problem. So far the answer from my service advisor to every question I ask is "Well, GM decides that." So I wait for answers as the dealership goes through corporate procedures.

I used AAA to tow it to my local dealership because GM roadside assistance will only tow to closest dealership to point of break down. Not dealer of choice. Fortunately I had a friend showing up capable of towing my trailer home.

Cylinder #8 has been diagnosed as broken lifter. I have had multiple conversations with my service advisor explaining this truck will be basically worthless to me if they don't replace both banks of lifters. Now that I know for sure I have a build with a bad batch I can't do what I do with the truck. It is not unusual for me to be 100 miles into back country. This summer I have another Canyonlands NP trip planned into the most remote wilderness in the NPS system. If you break down recoveries go into the thousands of dollars. Not to mention you have to survive the process.

Of course one bank or two is a "GM decision" It's not looking good so far.

I received a text on Friday that said the lifters were ordered and on national backorder. It sounds like they will let me know next week if the parts will arrive in "weeks or months". WTF!

I am really sickened this has happened. We all know it is a risk. I can only hope GM responds appropriately and does not turn a lifetime supporter into a hater.

2021 Silverado Trail Boss LT, 5.3L, 10 Speed, about 22,000 miles.

Steve

Sorry bro , so did they at least provide a loaner vehicle … my 2020 TB 5.3 just hit 36,100 miles and I am I worry about the dreaded lifter collapse….

 

[Ynotturbo]

I was camping 50 miles from home with my 30 foot travel trailer last weekend. On Friday morning I did a remote start and heard a very loud sharp CRACK come from the engine. I got in the truck and saw the dreaded alerts everyone gets with lifter failure. Service ESC, service parking brake, check engine light. So the dance with General Motors is on. So far it has not been good. I am a Chevy guy. I have never made a bad post anywhere about this truck. I love my TB, BUT we will see what happens by the time this process is over. I won't even fault them for the broken lifter. At this point it is about how they respond to the problem. So far the answer from my service advisor to every question I ask is "Well, GM decides that." So I wait for answers as the dealership goes through corporate procedures.

I used AAA to tow it to my local dealership because GM roadside assistance will only tow to closest dealership to point of break down. Not dealer of choice. Fortunately I had a friend showing up capable of towing my trailer home.

Cylinder #8 has been diagnosed as broken lifter. I have had multiple conversations with my service advisor explaining this truck will be basically worthless to me if they don't replace both banks of lifters. Now that I know for sure I have a build with a bad batch I can't do what I do with the truck. It is not unusual for me to be 100 miles into back country. This summer I have another Canyonlands NP trip planned into the most remote wilderness in the NPS system. If you break down recoveries go into the thousands of dollars. Not to mention you have to survive the process.

Of course one bank or two is a "GM decision" It's not looking good so far.

I received a text on Friday that said the lifters were ordered and on national backorder. It sounds like they will let me know next week if the parts will arrive in "weeks or months". WTF!

I am really sickened this has happened. We all know it is a risk. I can only hope GM responds appropriately and does not turn a lifetime supporter into a hater.

2021 Silverado Trail Boss LT, 5.3L, 10 Speed, about 22,000 miles.

Steve

Sorry to hear this. Question, did you install the pulsar lt by chance. I am at 26000 with my 2020 with the 6.2, and these post make me nervous. I have the pulsar, and catch can installed.

 

[PHXPHOTOG]

Im staying pretty quiet until I hear from GM about their decision on my truck. Once I have that, hopefully tomorrow, I will update everything.

I have no pulsar or any mods Chevy will not like. I can tell you they are very serious about voiding warranties. I have all my service and repairs done at dealerships to protect myself. Even my front end level was done by them. I will ask my service advisor if the lifters are still covered out to the 5 year/60 limited powertrain warranty or if it stops at 36/3. It is not safe to assume anything.

My parts came in sooner than they expected. They are tearing it down now. But the jury is still out.

I have a loaner vehicle.

Steve

 

[Ynotturbo]

Im staying pretty quiet until I hear from GM about their decision on my truck. Once I have that, hopefully tomorrow, I will update everything.

I have no pulsar or any mods Chevy will not like. I can tell you they are very serious about voiding warranties. I have all my service and repairs done at dealerships to protect myself. Even my front end level was done by them. I will ask my service advisor if the lifters are still covered out to the 5 year/60 limited powertrain warranty or if it stops at 36/3. It is not safe to assume anything.

My parts came in sooner than they expected. They are tearing it down now. But the jury is still out.

I have a loaner vehicle.

Steve

I hope they replace all the lifters for you. I have done all my own oil changes to my truck and kept the receipts. It has not been in the shop for anything, but a front end alignment when I installed Micky Thompson tires. Same as the original size. I think the pulsar has helped in addition to the oil catch can. I have had 6 Ram 3500’s and one 2019 Ford F-350, and since selling my fifth wheel rv, downsized to the TB. Trail Boss has been the best truck to date.

 

[PHXPHOTOG]

I will get my truck back this week with all lifters replaced on both sides. This has not been a pleasant process. The first word was GM would only replace one side. I had to take the fight to GM National Customer Service. They helped get the decision changed to both banks.

I have 250 posts on this board. Almost all of them positive, I love this truck. I have also detailed a few of my off road adventures here. I spend a lot of time in wilderness backcountry. If GM would not have agreed to replace all of the lifters, I would have no choice but to sell the truck. It would be foolish to do what I do with my rig knowing for sure one bank of lifters was still from a bad batch and could strand me at any moment. Suffice it to say they made it very difficult but are doing the right thing in the end.

Steve

 

[GETGONE]

Is it known whether this is an Assembly Plant-specific problem, or a Parts problem regardless of assembly plant?
(edit)
Well ... Accurate Engines in Michigan may not be legit. But a 5.3L GM Silverado engine for $4,000 ... tempting.
Lots of reviews, mostly happy people but not all.

From what I have found it is a part specific problem from a GM supplier.

Accurate Engines is local to me. I haven't used them but they are a known good business from people in the automotive circle around here.

 

[GETGONE]

I will get my truck back this week with all lifters replaced on both sides. This has not been a pleasant process. The first word was GM would only replace one side. I had to take the fight to GM National Customer Service. They helped get the decision changed to both banks.

I thought there was a GM service bulletin that recommended changing both banks if one failed. I know initially it was just replace one bank, but they revised it to replace both. I don't remember if it was on this board or GM-Trucks that I ran across it.