Cadillac Escalade problems by year
Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT: the ESV is the long-wheelbase Escalade (Edmunds lists a 130.0-inch wheelbase for the 2013 Escalade ESV vs. 116.0 inches for the 2013 Escalade; GM's 2013 Escalade/Escalade ESV owner manual covers both, with regular and extended wheelbase versions). NHTSA lists ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV and, through 2013, the ESCALADE EXT pickup as separate models; these pages combine NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for all three (Escalade Hybrid excluded). NHTSA's 2014 model list omits ESCALADE ESV, but its recall lookup returns 2014 ESV recalls, so they are included. CarComplaints.com lists the ESV separately; owner-report pages here come from its Escalade listing. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Sources: Edmunds: 2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV specs, Edmunds: 2013 Cadillac Escalade specs, GM: 2013 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV owner manual (PDF), NHTSA model list, 2013 Cadillac, NHTSA model list, 2014 Cadillac, CarComplaints.com: Cadillac Escalade ESV.
Escalade vs. Escalade ESV: the ESV is the long-wheelbase Escalade (Edmunds lists a 130.0-inch wheelbase for the 2015 Escalade ESV vs. 116.0 inches for the 2015 Escalade). NHTSA lists ESCALADE and ESCALADE ESV as separate models; these pages combine NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for both. CarComplaints.com lists the ESV separately; owner-report pages here come from its Escalade listing. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Sources: Edmunds: 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV specs, Edmunds: 2015 Cadillac Escalade specs, NHTSA model list, 2015 Cadillac, CarComplaints.com: Cadillac Escalade ESV.
Escalade vs. Escalade ESV: GM describes the 2021 Escalade as available in short- and long-wheelbase versions, the ESV being the long-wheelbase model. NHTSA lists ESCALADE and ESCALADE ESV as separate models; these pages combine NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for both (the electric Escalade IQ, listed separately for 2025, is not included). CarComplaints.com lists the ESV separately; owner-report pages here come from its Escalade listing. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Sources: GM TechLink, December 2020: 2021 Escalade (PDF), NHTSA model list, 2021 Cadillac, NHTSA model list, 2025 Cadillac, CarComplaints.com: Cadillac Escalade ESV.
| Year | Common issues | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 | 1 |
Top NHTSA complaint areas (2010–2025)
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 647 |
| Power Train | 214 |
| Electrical System | 183 |
| Unknown Or Other | 115 |
| Air Bags | 98 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 81 |
| Service Brakes | 77 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 64 |
Source: NHTSA complaints API, per model year (linked on each year’s issue pages).
Cadillac Escalade problems by system (all years)
Systems with sourced problem pages in two or more model years. Pages list NHTSA owner complaints and CarComplaints.com reports for that year.
Engine (13 model years)
- 2025: Engine complaints (20 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: Engine And Engine Cooling complaints (8 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: Engine complaints (58 NHTSA reports)
- 2023: Engine complaints (193 NHTSA reports)
- 2022: Engine complaints (124 NHTSA reports)
- 2021: Engine complaints (124 NHTSA reports)
- 2020: Engine complaints (22 NHTSA reports)
- 2019: Engine complaints (38 NHTSA reports)
- 2018: Engine complaints (19 NHTSA reports)
- 2017: Engine complaints (32 NHTSA reports)
- 2016: Engine complaints (32 NHTSA reports)
- 2015: Engine complaints (31 NHTSA reports)
- 2015: Loud tapping noise
- 2013: Displacement on demand
- 2010: Lifter tick
- 2010: Misfiring
Electrical (12 model years)
- 2025: Electrical System complaints (9 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: Electrical System complaints (9 NHTSA reports)
- 2023: Electrical System complaints (27 NHTSA reports)
- 2022: Electrical System complaints (16 NHTSA reports)
- 2021: Electrical System complaints (23 NHTSA reports)
- 2019: Electrical System complaints (6 NHTSA reports)
- 2018: Electrical System complaints (8 NHTSA reports)
- 2017: Parking sensors go off for no reason
- 2014: Electrical System complaints (8 NHTSA reports)
- 2013: Electrical System complaints (5 NHTSA reports)
- 2012: Electrical System complaints (12 NHTSA reports)
- 2012: Lost power while driving
- 2010: Electrical System complaints (6 NHTSA reports)
Transmission (10 model years)
- 2025: Power Train complaints (6 NHTSA reports)
- 2024: Power Train complaints (13 NHTSA reports)
- 2023: Power Train complaints (41 NHTSA reports)
- 2022: Power Train complaints (29 NHTSA reports)
- 2021: Power Train complaints (23 NHTSA reports)
- 2020: Power Train complaints (5 NHTSA reports)
- 2019: Power Train complaints (10 NHTSA reports)
- 2017: Power Train complaints (21 NHTSA reports)
- 2016: Transmission failure
- 2013: Lunging between 2nd and 3rd gears
Air bags / seat belts (3 model years)
- 2014: Air Bags complaints (5 NHTSA reports)
- 2011: Air Bags complaints (42 NHTSA reports)
- 2010: Air Bags complaints (25 NHTSA reports)
Page last updated .