Looking at buying a '22 - '24 Yukon Denali or Escalade L87 6.2

[CMoore711]

My wife's 2019 Escalade ESV was totaled by an idiot driver, we need to get a replacement, and don't have a ton of time as we are close to having to start paying out of pocket for our rental vehicle.

I'm fully aware of the recall, remedy, and repair process on with the L87 6.2's. Despite me communicating this to my wife she insists that she does not want another 2019 or 2020 MY, and wants a newer Cadillac Escalade ESV or Yukon Denali Ultimate because she feels the safest in them and our '19 Escalade protected her and my son in the accident.

I even attempted to throw out a '22-'24 Lincoln Navigator Black Label (which I wasn't super excited about as my mechanic is not a fan of the 3.5TT, I've never owned a Ford, but gave brief consideration given the L87 recall) to her and she's not interested, defaults back to feeling the safest in the Escalade and that's what she wants.

I've been searching and searching and I find a lot of them with the L87 recall listed on the CarFax, some not, or not yet.
Some are noted as passing the PICO test with the added special coverage to 150,000 miles.
Some are noted as engine replaced.
Some I have found are not a part of the recall at all.
Most have some original factory warranty left based on mileage and age that we're looking at.
Some have CarBravo warranty on top of the remaining factory warranty; it's an additional 6 months/6,000 miles.
Some are GM CPO vehicles with additional warranty above original factory. It does seem like GM CPO vehicles are fewer and harder to find.

So help me out here my fellow GM SUV enthusiast forum family.
What's the general consensus on buying a '22-'24 GM SUV with the L87 6.2 motor?
Which is the least poisonous poison?

1. Wouldn't touch one with a 10 ft pole.
2. Only if the recall was completed and it has the special extended coverage from GM.
3. Only if the recall was completed and it is a GM CPO vehicle.
4. Only if the recall was completed and the engine replaced.
5. Only if the vehicle VIN is NOT a part of the L87 Recall.
6. Only if you're also going to purchase additional warranty coverage.

It's worth mentioning that I typically keep our vehicles for as long as we can, maintain them as such by always following the "severe" maintenance schedule to push into the 150K to 200K+ plus mile range as long as it makes sense financially. I would much rather continue to spend money on tires, brakes, shocks/struts, and keep up on all fluid/oil changes to get the most life out of a vehicle than continue to buy newer ones more often.

For $75K-$80K you could ALMOST buy (2) used '18-'20 K2XX Escalade ESV's or Denali XL's. Though I very much like the K2XX's, they're coming up on 7-9 years old, pricing still seems high even on ones with 45K-75K miles, 75K-90K miles is when the AFM lifters can show their true colors if they weren't maintained correctly, and I usually try to purchase 2-3 year old vehicles that still have some sort of warranty left on them. Buying slightly used in the 12K-30K mile range when the vehicle is younger in life so that most of the life of the vehicle it's maintained based on me following the severe maintenance schedule. I'm more than ok owning and driving something that I've owned for 10-12+ yrs. with 175-200K+ miles that I've accumulated and maintained. Not so much buying something that already has 75-100K miles on it, not knowing for sure or not how well it was maintained. Which the later is the more common situation for most of the '18-'20 MY out there...

Not usually big on these POLLS but figured might get some input from those members who aren't big on posting and typing much.

Any and all opinions welcome and appreciated!

 

[Stbentoak]

Try to find an Esky with the LM2 in that time frame. Solves potential issues, but is a real unicorn to find.....

 

[Bigburb3500]

I think someone else recently was asking a similar question but was focused on a Yukon Denali. Overall, the engines might make me a bit hesitant, but 1) You like what you like (people still buy Land Rovers knowing their issues) 2) Overall, the “odds” are in you favor for buying a used one that DOESNT have the issue.
If the truck had an engine replaced then I would actually feel better about it. Means you have a reset clock for the issue and can maintain it how you like. I think this goes back to “normal” used car shopping of finding a good car at a fair price being sold by reasonable ppl. Maybe these trucks are a reason to buy the extended warranty? Depends on the coverage/time/cost. If a dealer is willing to sell a 5-10yr 100k (on top of current mileage, not expiring at 100k) warranty for $3-5k it might be worth it.
Either way it’s great you are in a position to be able to buy another Caddy and that the truck did its job and protected the family!

Side Note: The Navigators… absolutely the best interiors on any vehicle sub $150k. If my wife offered to buy me one I would already be in it fiddling with the 30+ way adjustable seats!

 

[CMoore711]

I think someone else recently was asking a similar question but was focused on a Yukon Denali. Overall, the engines might make me a bit hesitant, but 1) You like what you like (people still buy Land Rovers knowing their issues) 2) Overall, the “odds” are in you favor for buying a used one that DOESNT have the issue.
If the truck had an engine replaced then I would actually feel better about it. Means you have a reset clock for the issue and can maintain it how you like. I think this goes back to “normal” used car shopping of finding a good car at a fair price being sold by reasonable ppl. Maybe these trucks are a reason to buy the extended warranty? Depends on the coverage/time/cost. If a dealer is willing to sell a 5-10yr 100k (on top of current mileage, not expiring at 100k) warranty for $3-5k it might be worth it.
Either way it’s great you are in a position to be able to buy another Caddy and that the truck did its job and protected the family!

Side Note: The Navigators… absolutely the best interiors on any vehicle sub $150k. If my wife offered to buy me one I would already be in it fiddling with the 30+ way adjustable seats!

I tried searching for a similar thread, but nothing. I need to find the thread that was more focused on the Yukon Denali, still very much related to the L87 recall.

Most of the warranty options I've bene offered on a $70K-$80K Escalade ESV are in the $6K-$7K range, that also might be the tip tier warranty from whatever given company.

We had a Ford Expedition Max as a rental once on a family vacation; I was impressed with the power of the 3.5TT and the 2nd and 3rd rows were larger for passengers, but the cargo area behind the 3rd road was smaller than the LWB GM SUV's.

 

[Bigburb3500]

I tried searching for a similar thread, but nothing. I need to find the thread that was more focused on the Yukon Denali, still very much related to the L87 recall.

Most of the warranty options I've bene offered on a $70K-$80K Escalade ESV are in the $6K-$7K range, that also might be the tip tier warranty from whatever given company.

We had a Ford Expedition Max as a rental once on a family vacation; I was impressed with the power of the 3.5TT and the 2nd and 3rd rows were larger for passengers, but the cargo area behind the 3rd road was smaller than the LWB GM SUV's.

$6k is a bit on the higher end even for longer term (personal opinion and I do have some market experience). I would discount the CarBravo warranty. I’m not saying it’s “bad” but it’s basically any vehicle GM doesn’t want to give a Certified warranty to (high mileage, non-GM products, etc). It’s also cheaper for dealers to do a CarBravo warranty than a full GM CPO. Someone else might have a different opinion but GM product with qualifying mileage and age not having a GM CPO is suspect.

That’s what turned me onto Lincoln too was a rental Expedition. The Expedition Platinum is pretty nice too but I don’t care for the new tablet screen. We couldn’t/didn’t want to swing $100k for a new Navi and I wanted/needed something a bit more rugged than all that luxury… I care for cars but I tend to use them thoroughly. Would have bought a F250 if I didn’t need the third row.

You are correct. Most of the other threads I mention are Chevy/GMC based a higher % of users here have those vehicles vs the Caddy. Keep us posted on your decision tho!

 

[CMoore711]

@Bigburb3500 Yeah the CarBravo thing is only 6 months/6,000 miles, but it does go into affect AFTER the factory warranty is up.

I do think it's suspect that a GM product that would qualify with mileage and age at a GM dealership, not being CPO is odd.

I'm lookin at one now that is exactly like that.
2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali Ultimate 11,950 miles
CarBravo Certified
Was in the L87 Recall, passed PICO test has special extended GM coverage
Has remaining bumber-to-bumper warranty until 09/15/2026 or 36K miles
additional 6 months/6,000 miles bumper-to-bumper after that
total bumper-to-bumper warranty to 03/15/2027 / 42K miles

But it's not GM CPO and it's at a GM Dealer.
Dealership is trying to tell me that all GM Dealers either do CarBravo or GM CPO, none do both.
I even asked him "So there must be a financial reason why your dealership is choosing to go CarBravo then and not CPO, right?"

If this rig was GM CPO I think I'd pull the trigger. I think my next call to them might just be that.
"I don't want to CarBravo shit, I want GM CPO, GM CPO the vehicle and you have a sale."

 

[Tinman265]

CarBravo is the new GM CPO....... If you look at the benefits of it you get nothing really........ Get them to to drop the price and buy an extended warranty. That's what I did on my 22

 

[Bigburb3500]

CarBravo is the new GM CPO....... If you look at the benefits of it you get nothing really........ Get them to to drop the price and buy an extended warranty. That's what I did on my 22

It’s not really replacing because it’s still less than the GM CPO program. Ford has Ford Gold and Blue CPO program, this is equivalent. Gold is their full CPO and Blue is for everything else (makes, mileage, age, etc). How much of a difference was it? I’m surprised they dropped it considering the inspection and cost was already “incurred” by them for it. We all know it really wasn’t “incurred” lol.

 

[petethepug]

‘21+ will have the new independent rear suspension. That’s allows GM to match what gives Ford more room in 2nd & 3rd rows.

‘21 is also when Esky got super cruise. I’d school up on the warranty advantages of a ‘21 Esky with a motor that’s been replaced.

Glad to hear everyone is ok. Remember, Happy Wife, Happy Life.

 

[Antonm]

The 6.2 recall issue is a problem for sure. But just playing the odds, its not a deal breaker yet IMHO.

GM says the failure rate is 3%, but,,,they're probably low-balling the number some. Some of the pearl clutching click-baiters out there are saying the real number is closer to 6% (which is bad in terms of a recall).

Protect yourself with some extended warranty for sure, but even at a 6% failure rate, that still gives a 94% chance of not having the L87 recall issue. If I were in Vegas, I'd throw a lot of money on the table if I had a 94% win chance. That said, I did buy the GM 100K mile warranty on mine to hedge that bet.
...

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Well, until Monday, I would have said, get one that passed the pico test, has been running the 0W40 oil, and had the recall extended coverage.
My '22 grenaded on Monday, has been completely problem free, passed the recall test in June...44,700 miles. (see this thread)

So, my advice now would be, buy one with an engine manufactured after June 1, 2024.....or one that had its engine replaced after failing the pico test.

 

[CMoore711]

@WalleyeMikeIII I did see your thread and I too came to the same conclusion as you and thanks for sharing. Sorry that happened to you and your vehicle. It does sound like you're working with a good dealer that is supporting you as a customer and from what you have shared so far it seems they're being pretty responsive and have actually made an effort to get you into an equivalent loaner.

 

[vcode]

Well, until Monday, I would have said, get one that passed the pico test, has been running the 0W40 oil, and had the recall extended coverage.
My '22 grenaded on Monday, has been completely problem free, passed the recall test in June...44,700 miles. (see this thread)

So, my advice now would be, buy one with an engine manufactured after June 1, 2024.....or one that had its engine replaced after failing the pico test.

Sounds like 2025's are having issues as well.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Sounds like 2025's are having issues as well.

Haven't seen much on that...got references?

 

[vcode]

Haven't seen much on that...got references?

NHTSA is expanding their investigation into non-recalled years. Just type 2025 L87 engine problems in Google for more.

 

[TChas999]

My wife's 2019 Escalade ESV was totaled by an idiot driver, we need to get a replacement, and don't have a ton of time as we are close to having to start paying out of pocket for our rental vehicle.

I'm fully aware of the recall, remedy, and repair process on with the L87 6.2's. Despite me communicating this to my wife she insists that she does not want another 2019 or 2020 MY, and wants a newer Cadillac Escalade ESV or Yukon Denali Ultimate because she feels the safest in them and our '19 Escalade protected her and my son in the accident.

I even attempted to throw out a '22-'24 Lincoln Navigator Black Label (which I wasn't super excited about as my mechanic is not a fan of the 3.5TT, I've never owned a Ford, but gave brief consideration given the L87 recall) to her and she's not interested, defaults back to feeling the safest in the Escalade and that's what she wants.

I've been searching and searching and I find a lot of them with the L87 recall listed on the CarFax, some not, or not yet.
Some are noted as passing the PICO test with the added special coverage to 150,000 miles.
Some are noted as engine replaced.
Some I have found are not a part of the recall at all.
Most have some original factory warranty left based on mileage and age that we're looking at.
Some have CarBravo warranty on top of the remaining factory warranty; it's an additional 6 months/6,000 miles.
Some are GM CPO vehicles with additional warranty above original factory. It does seem like GM CPO vehicles are fewer and harder to find.

So help me out here my fellow GM SUV enthusiast forum family.
What's the general consensus on buying a '22-'24 GM SUV with the L87 6.2 motor?
Which is the least poisonous poison?

1. Wouldn't touch one with a 10 ft pole.
2. Only if the recall was completed and it has the special extended coverage from GM.
3. Only if the recall was completed and it is a GM CPO vehicle.
4. Only if the recall was completed and the engine replaced.
5. Only if the vehicle VIN is NOT a part of the L87 Recall.
6. Only if you're also going to purchase additional warranty coverage.

It's worth mentioning that I typically keep our vehicles for as long as we can, maintain them as such by always following the "severe" maintenance schedule to push into the 150K to 200K+ plus mile range as long as it makes sense financially. I would much rather continue to spend money on tires, brakes, shocks/struts, and keep up on all fluid/oil changes to get the most life out of a vehicle than continue to buy newer ones more often.

For $75K-$80K you could ALMOST buy (2) used '18-'20 K2XX Escalade ESV's or Denali XL's. Though I very much like the K2XX's, they're coming up on 7-9 years old, pricing still seems high even on ones with 45K-75K miles, 75K-90K miles is when the AFM lifters can show their true colors if they weren't maintained correctly, and I usually try to purchase 2-3 year old vehicles that still have some sort of warranty left on them. Buying slightly used in the 12K-30K mile range when the vehicle is younger in life so that most of the life of the vehicle it's maintained based on me following the severe maintenance schedule. I'm more than ok owning and driving something that I've owned for 10-12+ yrs. with 175-200K+ miles that I've accumulated and maintained. Not so much buying something that already has 75-100K miles on it, not knowing for sure or not how well it was maintained. Which the later is the more common situation for most of the '18-'20 MY out there...

Not usually big on these POLLS but figured might get some input from those members who aren't big on posting and typing much.

Any and all opinions welcome and appreciated!

Why not buy a 2020 Yukon or Escalade? Doesn’t have the 8 speed tranny that was a problem thru 2019 or the engine problems of the 21 thru 24s.

 

[CMoore711]

@TChas999 I think I’ve got the wife convinced a ‘19-‘20 is the better move. So I’ve been on the hunt…

 

[TChas999]

@TChas999 I think I’ve got the wife convinced a ‘19-‘20 is the better move. So I’ve been on the hunt…

Recommend you stay away from the '19 unless it's got a 10 speed transmission. I've replaced 3 of the 8 speeds in my two previous Denai SUVs. A 2008 and a 2016.

 

[ReaperHWK]

I was shopping for either a 22-24 5.3 OR a 25+ 6.2. Not a smart move to buy a recall era 6.2. They are all ticking time bombs. Even if it limps through the warranty period they will fail eventually

 

[CMoore711]

I had the wife semi-convinced that purchasing a low mileage '19-'20 was the smarter move, it wasn't necessarily what she wanted to do, but she was ok with it. That being said, finding a low mileage (<50K Miles) '19-'20 Escalade ESV within any sort of decent distance to us in Ohio proved to be very difficult. I was trying to find one at least within a 300-500 mile radius and was willing to fly into and drive it home or pay to ship it (both of which I've done in the passed for the right vehicle/deal). I'm not a super huge fan of buying a vehicle site unseen, but we've done it before with successful vehicle purchases. I was trading messages and phone calls with (3) dealers at one point on (3) separate vehicles at various dealers, some were more willing to work/communicate than others. Sometimes through interaction you can tell if a dealership is open to selling a vehicle to someone not local and helping coordinate shipping and/or picking up from the airport than others, unfortunately most dealerships were approaching me as though I was being a PITA, which didn't give much of a warm and fuzzy to throw down a non-refundable deposit and finalize a purchase. Maybe because they were plenty busy with in-person buyers at their dealers in December around the Holidays and year-end? There were a hodge-podge of items I would find wrong or missing with most of the vehicles I looked at; Only having (1) working key and fob, not 2. Having either none or only 1 of 2 of the wireless rear headsets for the rear DVD entertainment screens. 3rd row power seats not able to fully fold down and back up under their own power using the buttons in the rear cargo area (known issue for the power 3rd rows in some of the K2XX models). Just to name a few. None of the dealers were willing to make any concessions or adjustment in the price due to any of these factors. Which really surprised me, and had me considering if I was being unrealistic, or had too high of expectations in purchasing a used vehicle. It can be more difficult to negotiate with a dealership over the phone than face-to-face, but honestly, I was getting quite fed up with the process and continuing to strike-out.

Time was not on our side either, our insurance company was acting like they were being so generous by extending their rental car time frame for us, but we turned it back in before the week of Christmas since we were traveling out of the country that week for Christmas. We were either going to make a purchase on the replacement or beg our insurance to get us back into a rental at their "discounted" rental car rate, but it would still be an out of pocket expense.

My wife found a 2025 Yukon XL Denali at a local dealership that although had 23K miles, was CPO and out of the recall. It was what I would call a lower-level Denali, standard side steps (not power), no rear entertainment, and no SuperCruise. We decide to stop by and check it out, at night time about 7pm dealership closes at 8pm, we're in our '13 Escalade ESV and loaded up with our kids. I'm not planning to stay long at all, just see it in person. I park my vehicle right behind the rear passenger corner shining my headlights on it and as soon as my headlights hit it I can tell something is not quite right with the rear passenger door. I head over to the driver side of the vehicle and my wife heads over the passenger side and within about 10 seconds I hear her say "This door is fukked up; Come look at this." So I walk over and the rear passenger door handle is scuffed/scraped, the door has numerous odd patterned scrapes about 6-8" in length down to the metal, and the edge of the side step is cracked and missing pieces. So immediately my wife is no longer interested, but is now looking at the 2023 Yukon XL Denali Ultimate parked right next to it. Of course she likes it, and asks me if this is a part of the recall to which I informed her yes. I had already looked into that vehicle and knew it was a part of the recall and PICO test performed and passed in August of 2024, it had 52K miles, 1 owner and the dealership's price was $69,995. (I knew in my head if she get's inside this Denali Ultimate she's going to want it.) At this point the sales guy has the keys, and we're sitting inside it. I knew the moment my wife got inside she'd love it and the recall wouldn't matter to her one bit. The sales guy at the GM dealership wasn't even sure on the "special coverage" details or the recall, I was playing dumb just to see how much he knew about the vehicle and the recall, which I learned very quickly wasn't much. The vehicle previously belonged to sister in-lay of the Service Manager at the dealership, the sales guy gave me a copy of the service records for the vehicle, which included the recall, and his business card. I told him we'd be in touch and left, this was Monday 12/29/2025.

The next day the sales guy texted me, I responded back inquiring why the vehicle wasn't CPO and if it could be. After a few text message exchanges by the end of the day on Tuesday 12/30/2025 he had agreed to offer the vehicle as a GM CPO and sell for $68,995. We were set to go into the dealership Wednesday morning to finalize the purchase. Later that night on Tuesday 12/30/2025 I get online just to check out what other if any Yukon XL Denali Ultimate's were local. Low and behold I find a 2023 Yukon XL Denali Ultimate similarly optioned that only had 18,4XX miles, significantly less than 52K miles, but the price said "Contact Dealer for Price", it had been traded in there less than a week ago. Based on listings for other Yukon XL Denali Ultimate's with similar mileage I was expecting a number between $78-$81K. I called the dealership first thing Wednesday morning 12/31/2025 to confirm the price of the vehicle and it was $72,995, $4K more for an 18K mile vehicle versus a 52K mile vehicle with the same exact options to me felt like a no-brainer. So I let the dealership know we were in route to look at it. The vehicle was a single owner, purchased new at that dealership, serviced at that dealership, and traded-in at that dealership. The vehicle had also already had a few things done at a local reputable car accessory shop; Front windows tinted to match the rear, tinted visor on front windshield, interior "protection" applied, exterior paint "protection", and underbody rust proofing with a Line-x product (which I had on my old '15 Yukon XL Denali and liked it best since it is close to the factory black wax frame coating).

We purchased a 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali Ultimate
- 18,408 miles
- It is a part of the recall. The recall PICO test was performed on 10/09/2025 and it passed, so it is running the 0W-40 engine oil. Special Coverage to 06/30/2033 or 150K miles
- Onyx Black over Alpine Umber interior
- Super Cruise
- Air Ride Adaptive Suspension
- Magnetic Ride Control
- All Weather Floor mats in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and rear cargo area.
- Black Nameplates
- Purchased an extended bumper-to bumper warranty to 72 months/135,000 miles.

Not the best pics since we did get some snow here in Ohio the day of purchase:



The Yukon XL Denali Ultimate is a badass ride. Though I’m not super thrilled on owning a GM SUV a part of the 6.2 L87 Recall; I’m comfortable with the warranty coverage we have, the dealership we purchased from being local, and the price we paid. It’s the wife’s new daily, she is happy, and beyond thrilled with it so I’m happy.