I purchased this truck new in October of 2017, Z71, LTZ 5.3 engine, I have had the Maintenance done when required, per the manufacture specs. I was driving to work on May 23, 2023, when the check engine light came on and within a minute it started to flash, I shut off the motor and coasted to a stop along the freeway, I had the truck towed to my mechanic, they ran a diagnostic and determined motor was wasted. I asked the cost to fix, I have two options, first is to replace the motor, for $15K, second is replace the head, for what sounds like half of the engine replacement. I am starting to see that I am not the only one who has had engine problems. Granted it is out of warranty, with 128,000 miles. I have taken great care of this truck, the reason being I also had a 2007 Chevrolet Z71, LTZ, which I had 130.000 miles on it when it started to burn a quart of oil less then 500 miles. I have always owned Chevrolet's since I was 16 years old. I never had big issues until I bought my 2007 (new) and my 2017 (new), Does anyone know if Chevrolet has a recall or anything regarding this engine bullshit?

While returning from work at a local paintball field I took a back road. It had been raining earlier in the week so there were several large puddles. I drove through one particularly large puddle ( Approx. 6-8 inches deep) about 100 feet later smoke and steam started pouring out from under my hood and the engine died. I exited my 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that I had leased from Wells River Chevrolet (10 Railroad street Wells River Vermont) and was able to see engine oil coming from my engine and spreading out on the ground. I called Triple A and they said they'd have a flatbed out to me within 3 hours. It was currently almost 7pm. I called my wife to let her know I was going to be late, due to needing a tow truck. She asked me if there was anybody near by I could stay with. I took a video of the surrounding area to show her I was "literally" in the middle of no where. ( This video becomes important later on in the story) Sure enough approx. 3 hours later the flatbed showed up.

They came in from the side of the road my truck was facing. The flatbed had to perform a three point turn so that they could winch my truck up on the flatbed. This was performed with ease and we were on our way to Wells River Chevrolet to drop off my truck. I "had" a friend who worked at Wells River Chevrolet as the Parts Manager. I messaged him to let him know I was dropping off the truck and why. The next day I spoke called Wells River Chevrolet and spoke with Brian who worked in the Service department. Brian told me that he had a 2"x2" chunk of my engine block sitting on his desk. I asked him how this was possible as they had just changed my oil approx. 3 weeks before. Brian told me that it wasn't due to lack of maintenance or abuse sometimes it just happens. Brian went on to tell me he would get a hold of G.M. and they would replace the engine and everything would be taken care of.

I called every day foe the next 4 days trying to get an update. Brian told me every day that G.M. had not returned any calls or emails. On the 4th day I went to Wells River Chevrolet and told Brian that this was not working for me. That my wife and I were sharing her Chevrolet Trax. (Also leased through Wells River Chevrolet) and it was very difficult as we both had jobs with competing hours. When I left the dealership that day Brian gave me a 2019 Trax to use as a loaner and told me that he would have a new engine ordered and put in, and that Wells River Chevrolet would deal with G.M. afterwards. 6 days later I received a message from "my friend" at Wells River Chevrolet asking me to call and ask for Kristen. ( Today it's been 1 month and 3 weeks since my engine blew and I still don't know what Kristen's title is.) I called and Kristen told me that they needed my loaner back as it had been sold.

I brought the loaner back and as I handed Kristen the keys she told me that G.M. was not going to cover my repairs as water had been found in the engine. I told her that I didn't know how water could have gotten into the engine and that Wells River could pay for the fix as it was a lease. She told me they would not be paying for it as I had "Submerged" my truck in a river or lake, and it was my fault. I remembered I had the video I had sent my wife showing the location where it had happened. I showed Kristen the video. I did point out the large mud puddle but there was not a river, pond, or lake anywhere nearby. Kristen told me it didn't matter that they would not pay for my repairs and I should contact my insurance company. Several days later my wife had to bring her Trax to Wells River Chevrolet for an oil change. While we were there Kristen was very cheerful and helped out my wife not knowing she was there with me. Kristen then asked what she could do for me. I told her she could fix my truck and the dealership could pay for it as it was obviously a defect in the part. Kristen told me that they were not paying for it because I had taken the truck down an impassable mountain road and I had destroyed the engine through abuse.

I asked her why if the "impassable mountain road was impassable how did a flat bed get to me, perform a 3-point turn and carry me out? Kristen told me that the tow truck had not done that and I was wrong. As my wife and I left Kristen followed us out to our rental car. A 2019 orange colored G.M. Acadia. As I sat down in the drivers seat I noticed Kristen trying to lean over and look at the mileage. I asked her what she was doing? She said it's standard operating procedure to get the mileage off your car before we change the oil. I told her then she should probably go over and check my silver Trax, and that if she didn't know the difference between a Trax and a Acadia, or silver and orange then she really needed to revaluate her job. When I arrived home that day I posted a Facebook post about what was going on and how angry I was. My father who has a completely different first name as me replied that this was ridiculous, that you'd have to literally drown your truck to get that to happen. He also went on the say that he had tried to tow his boat out of the river many years ago and his truck had gone in. He needed to get a tow truck to get his truck out but it was fine and still ran.

Someone at Wells River Chevrolet had stalked my Facebook page and taken a screen shot of this conversation. When my insurance agent from Geico showed up to look at the truck, Kristen showed them the screen shot and told the adjustor it was me that had posted it. My insurance adjustor took a picture and posted it on my insurance folder to use against me and my claim. Approx. a week later we were able to get ahold of our insurance adjustor. He told us that Wells River Chevrolet had shown them parts with water in them. He told us that Geico was stepping back and not taking any actions at this point. I asked him how water could've gotten in my engine. He told me that Kristen was saying it was because I had removed my air box filter cover. My truck has been locked in a bay where I have no access to it.

I filed with the Better Business Bureau, and was told I needed to get some paperwork from my dealership. When I arrived I asked Kristen for copies of the paperwork. She was very rude and told me I should already have the copies I was requesting. I told her I did, but they were in my truck which they had locked up. Kristen told me it was locked up for my protection so that no one would mess with it. I asked her why anyone would mess with a truck with a blown engine but not the other 100 cars they had for sale on the lot. Kristen would not answer me. I have never seen any of the parts that came from my engine. I have never seen the "water" that was "found" in my engine. I have been able to prove everything they have said is a lie. Finally I contacted the Better Business Bureau. I am currently fighting this but G.M. with all their money is refusing to do anything about this and is taking the side of the dealership. I will let you know as this progresses. Just a note. My truck had 34180 miles on it when the engine blew.