Cadillac Escalade Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years
Own a Cadillac Escalade? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Cadillac Escalade — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Excellent | — | 9 | — | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2025 | Excellent | — | 14 | — | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2024 | Good | 1 | 34 | 1 | 3 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2023 | Good | 1 | 127 | 2 | 1 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2022 | Good | 2 | 79 | 8 | 10 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2021 | Good | 8 | 55 | — | 3 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2020 | Good | 2 | 22 | 9 | 6 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2019 | Excellent | 1 | 27 | — | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2018 | Excellent | 1 | 33 | 3 | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2017 | Good | 1 | 60 | 5 | 8 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2016 | Good | 3 | 80 | 3 | 7 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2015 | Good | 4 | 88 | 6 | 4 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2014 | Excellent | 1 | 22 | 7 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2013 | Excellent | 3 | 16 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2012 | Excellent | 1 | 24 | 4 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2011 | Good | 4 | 38 | — | 1 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2010 | Excellent | 2 | 24 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2009 | Good | 3 | 58 | 1 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2008 | Good | 2 | 112 | 8 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2007Worst | Avoid | 2 | 232 | 11 | 63 | 3 | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2006 | Excellent | 1 | 18 | 1 | 1 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2005 | Good | 2 | 55 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2004 | Good | 2 | 62 | 13 | 31 | — | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2003 | Good | 3 | 76 | 5 | 5 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2002 | Good | 1 | 100 | 5 | 5 | — | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2001Best | Excellent | — | 2 | — | — | — | Fuel System / Gasoline | Full report → |
| 2000 | Good | 1 | 51 | 8 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
27 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Cadillac Escalade Problems
Based on 1,518 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Safety Recalls — Cadillac Escalade (2022–2026)
General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with 10 Speed Transmission with ETRS (Electronic Transmission Range Select). The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252536750. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232415910.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Remedy: The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
Showing 7 recalls from 2022–2026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.
Recent Owner Complaints
Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Cadillac Escalade owners — 2022–2026 model years.
Vehicle died and will not start. Call on star for tow truck 8 hrs no tow truck ! Vehicle is super dangerous and unreliable. It’s going to get somebody killed.
The engine failed my check engine light came on, it was in the middle of traffic on 4/2/2026. the vehicle had a very rough idle it went away and then came back and then rough idle again I had 2 miles to go to reach my home and then it just shut off. I called the dealer immediately and then I call AAA I received a loaner from the dealer, and they said they would set up a meeting with the tech advisor and myself. My 2026 Cadillac escalate only had 3186 miles on it I was told by the dealership that it was a bearing issue.
On Sunday April 19th at approximately 12:00pm. I was driving on NJ’s garden state parkway when the car had catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds. I lost full power, including power steering, and brakes. This SUV could have killed my family and I if I was unable to use brute force to control it into the right lane. While I understand that any vehicle can experience warranty-related issues, a catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds is not a typical or acceptable occurrence. The severity of this incident has significantly impacted my confidence in both the vehicle and the brand. I am particularly concerned about the safety implications associated with the L87 6.2L V8 engine, which has been widely reported as affecting a substantial number of vehicles. Given what occurred, I no longer feel safe operating this Escalade. My wife is unwilling to drive it, and I am not comfortable having my child in the vehicle under any circumstances.
2022 Cadillac Escalade. Had the 6.2 liter engine recall done about 6K miles ago in which the engine was replaced. Now it’s back at the dealer again and needs another 6.2 liter engine. Been at the dealer for a month and GM has given them no update on when they can get another engine for it. This is insane. How am I ever supposed to be able to take my family around in this vehicle if the engines keep failing. Unfortunately I just bought this from the a dealer 6 months ago so I’m stuck with a vehicle that I do not trust… a $111,000 vehicle.
I purchased Used in Jan 2026 When starting the lifters were loud and I thought was normal engine operation. Since 2/17/2026 the engine vibrated or ran rough when idling. The auto/Stop Start feature failed randomly as the engine stalled when trying to start. The car passed the recall for the 6.2 Gm L85 engine issue, but is still having issues. The dealership Val Ward Ft Myers has the car now, and is replacing the lifters. My concern is that the Lower Engine issue was not properly diagnosed.
Hey, Just wanted to let you know that I took my car in for the recall service on the 6.2L engine issues, They determined my engine was fine and changed the oil to the different one. Within 6 months the engine blow while I was driving, they covered it under the recall however it is clear that the oil change is not an appropriate fix for this issue. thanks
The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 69 MPH with the cruise control set, the vehicle started driving sluggishly and failed to maintain the set speed. The vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 62 MPH. The ‘High Oil Temperature” warning light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly to 55 MPH. The vehicle then lost automotive power, stalled, and shut off unexpectedly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with complete engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,400.
Accelerated onto highway and some power was lost. Engine light came on and dash read the following: rear axle system off, service stabilitrak, auto hold unavailable. Lost some power while entering the highway could’ve been put in a bad situation with traffic. Dealer confirmed issue said lifters and potential cam. No warning or lights before issue occurred. Took straight to dealership the next morning. Vehicle at dealership.
Vehicle experienced catastrophic failure while going approximately 45 miles per hour in the middle lane of one of the busiest streets in the city…my [XXX] son was in the vehicle when this occurred….I am a disabled veteran who purchased this vehicle for transportation for son and his team mates to sporting events and tournaments…the vehicle has been at the dealership for 60 days…there was one attempt around the 30th day to replace the engine…that engine was found to be faulty as well…another 30 days have passed and the vehicle has not been fixed…the dealership does not have a loaner vehicle for me…I am concerned about the safety of this vehicle and honestly am not comfortable with my wife and son experiencing additional traumatic incidents INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am filing a safety complaint regarding repeated engine and drivability issues with my vehicle, which began shortly after purchase and have continued despite service visits. I purchased the vehicle on 03/04/2023. Within approximately one month (03/26/2023), I began experiencing abnormal engine behavior, including ticking noises and instances where the vehicle would shut off and require restarting. I immediately brought the vehicle to the dealership. At that time, the issue was not properly diagnosed and I was told after a test drive that the noise was “normal. On 12/18/2025, I was later notified of an engine recall involving the same type of engine problem I had been reporting since 2023. I brought the vehicle in 12/19/2026 and the engine failed 3 times. I was informed that an engine replacement was necessary, and the vehicle was left at the dealership. It was ready for pickup on 01/14/2026 after the engine replacement was completed. On 04/15/2026, the vehicle began making knocking noises and would not shift into drive or reverse. I had to turn the vehicle off and restart it in order to regain drivability. On 04/16/2026, while driving, the vehicle began making a loud revving noise without accelerating and started to slow down and lose power. I was forced to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle would not respond properly until I turned it off and restarted it again in order to continue driving. These ongoing issues present a serious safety concern due to repeated loss of power and drivability while operating the vehicle.
While driving approximately 55 miles per hour vehicle started making loud knocking noise then vehicle shifted to neutral. Vehicle was towed to dealership. Waiting for inspection to confirm engine failure. Vehicle has 32,000 miles.
6.2 liter L87 engine failed on highway at 101363 miles.
360 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 2022–2026. For older model years, see individual year pages.
Escalade Years to Avoid
Best Escalade Years to Buy
Cadillac Escalade Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Cadillac Escalade Reliability
What year Escalade has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2007 Cadillac Escalade had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 232 complaints and 2 safety recalls. See the full 2007 report for specific defects.
Is the Cadillac Escalade reliable?
The Cadillac Escalade has accumulated 1,518 owner-filed complaints and 52 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 3 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2001 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Escalade.
What are the most common Escalade problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Engine (289 reports), Air Bags (219 reports), Electrical System (194 reports), Power Train (106 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Escalade has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Cadillac Escalade VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
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