Cadillac Escalade Complaints

1,865 consumer complaints on file.

#11756417August 12, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving and the vehicle stopped accelerating and the gear was in neutral. I pulled over and turned the car off then attempted to turn it on, but it would not turn over. All electrical was on, but the car would not start. This same thing happened two days prior twice within 10 min. of each other, but I was able to start the car those times. Due to the speed suddenly declining and being unable to accelerate on a two lane road with cars behind me; it could have caused a serious accident. It has not yet been confirmed by a dealer, but this is a known recall for this vehicle that was listed as complete prior. There was no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. The first noted incident happened on 8/10/26.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755964August 10, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
While driving on a family road trip, our vehicle check engine light came in and put the vehicle in limp mode. This happened a couple of times but luckily we were close enough to our home we were able to make it home safely. The code received was indicative of a Coolant Control Valve Failure. In discussions with the dealer, there is currently a special coverage out for this component failing but that our VIN was not covered under this special coverage. After some research, we are not the only ones who are having this problem. I believe this issue is more wide spread than the dealer would like to admit. The special coverage is N252508341.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755197August 6, 2026
AIR BAGS
The check air bag light stays on and will not go off. The light stays on with the seatbelt on or off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754806August 4, 2026
ENGINE
On 7/14/26, I scheduled Escalade to be serviced at local dealership (MT) when A/C went out on drivers/middle vents and I noticed a faint ticking noise under hood. Was told engine lifters were damaged & needed to be replaced. Service was completed 7/21 and I picked it up that evening. On [XXX] my husband and I departed for San Diego; stayed overnight in St George UT. On [XXX] around [XXX] pm, I was driving in second from left lane on [XXX] San Bernadino area. I braked quickly as traffic from far left lane merged right to avoid debris from a refrigerator that had shattered all over the highway. The Escalade engine failed and shut off without warning or any indicators. I tried several times & could not restart the vehicle; therefore I could not shift the vehicle into Neutral so it could at least be pushed off the highway. My husband immediately called 9-1-1 and requested assistance. I frantically searched the internet for a way to shift to neutral when there is no power to the vehicle, and discovered the manual neutral override is under the vehicle. It was impossible for us to attempt that in this situation. All we could do was sit in the middle of the freeway with our hazard lights on and pray while we waited for law enforcement to arrive while heavy fast-moving traffic flew around us, honking and cursing at us to "get out of the way". This was a very perilous situation and our lives were endangered. We were helpless until CHP officers arrived on scene, followed by a tow company. The vehicle was towed to the closest dealer service center. We were told four days later that the entire engine needed to be replaced. It remains at the CA dealership while we fight with GM Warranty to have it shipped to MT. If the engine failure recall was dealt with appropriately as promised by GM, this would have been avoided altogether. **Note: Escalade passed engine recall inspection 10/9/25; was 'upgraded' to 40W oil. Regular service/oil changes completed 1/23/26 and 6/8/26. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754001July 31, 2026
ENGINE
All of a sudden the car just died while driving it on the road at speed. There was no warning or indication of an issue. It just shook and then died. It would not restart. This is an egregious safety issue and should not happen on a vehicle with only this many miles. We could have been killed if we were on a highway. A quick google search shows this is a KNOWN issue. The mechanic said this is a know issue with this engine - Please get a recall out for 2019 before someone dies!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754077July 31, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2023 Cadillac Escalade, 6.2L V8 (RPO L87). Subject of Recall 25V-274 and NHTSA investigation RQ26-001. Over the past year, this vehicle has been out of the shop only about 90 days total. The rest of the year it has been in dealer service at GM/Cadillac dealerships for a recurring, undiagnosed loss-of-power defect. It is currently in dealer service. FAILURE: The vehicle has suddenly lost all motive power on three separate occasions. Engine runs, vehicle loses all drive power, will not restart. Two events occurred at approximately 80 mph on an interstate highway. One occurred with children in the vehicle. The only warning is a “service rear axle” message that appears just before power loss. No diagnostic trouble code has isolated the fault. Root cause has not been diagnosed. REPAIR PATTERN: Six dealer visits across two Cadillac dealerships in one year. Interventions have included two battery replacements, a full engine replacement under Recall 25V-274, an approximately $1,500 charge categorized as diagnostic with no repair labor documented, and most recently a “wiring harness manipulation / re-wrap” performed over approximately 90 days. Dealer personnel described the fix as “manipulation fixed it” — which is not a diagnosed repair. On at least one return of the vehicle, dealer personnel stated in the presence of a witness that they were not certain the defect had been fixed. The “service rear axle” warning returned within three days of the most recent repair. POST-RECALL: The engine was replaced under Recall 25V-274 and the loss-of-power failures continued afterward. This is directly relevant to RQ26-001, examining post-recall-remedy failures.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753781July 30, 2026
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, there was an area where the pavement was incomplete and caused the vehicle to go off-road and into the woods, and the vehicle crashed into the trees, where it came to a stop. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The steering wheel and driver’s seat air bag had not deployed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact was taken to a hospital and was treated for a fractured fibula and sternum and was receiving physical rehabilitation for the injuries. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11753678July 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle randomly stalls and shuts down. This can happen while pulling out in traffic. It has happened 5 times or more.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753574July 29, 2026
ENGINE
Our engine failed with only 18k miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753366July 28, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle started making a horrendous noise, knock and squeeling noise while on the highway. Approximately 2 minutes later the check engine light came on and we completely lost power. Went from 70 to zero dead on the side of the NY Thruway rapidly. Vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that an engine replacement was necessary. Engine previously passed PICO test and update to the oil cap was completed. Oil changes every 5k miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753111July 27, 2026
ENGINE
November 19, 2025 I brought my Cadillac Escalade to the dealership under their voluntary recall on the engine. My vehicle passed the pico compression test. The dealership then changed my current oil to a heavier oil and changed the oil cap to match the oil they put in. July 2nd 2026 my husband was driving about 55 mph and I was a passenger the we heard loud knocking and the engine quit. We had vehicles behind us my husband was shocked I instantly hit my emergency 4 way light button so we didn’t get rear ended. We coasted to the shoulder of the road thankful that we didn’t get hit by the vehicles behind us.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752889July 26, 2026
ENGINE
My 2022 Cadillac Escalade received the remedy for Recall 25V-274 (L87 6.2L V8 loss of propulsion) on July 22nd at the dealer. The vehicle passed inspection and was given the higher-viscosity 0W-40 oil change remedy rather than an engine replacement. Since that service, the engine has begun stalling. It stalls when the vehicle is stopped. This symptom was not present before the recall service was performed. I consider this a loss-of-propulsion safety concern consistent with the defect the recall was meant to address, and I am concerned the oil-change remedy did not correct the underlying condition. The vehicle currently has approximately 144,969 miles. I am taking it to the dealer for diagnosis and am requesting a check for diagnostic trouble code P0016 and an oil filter inspection for metal debris.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752581July 24, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2026 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. Later, while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated unexpectedly in the middle of highway traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted off the road and parked in a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,099.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752185July 22, 2026
ENGINE
At highway speed, the engine lifters associated with the Active Fuel Management system failed and caused catastrophic damage throughout the engine. The sudden loss of power on the highway almost caused vehicles traveling behind me to collide.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751916July 21, 2026
ENGINE
Engine stopped running while driving without any prior notifications, lights, or warnings. Car was stationary in the roadway while my wife tried repeatedly to restart the engine. After several tries the engine started and ran long enough to pull car off roadway. Car was inspected last year and procedures per recall notice where performed and was then deemed safe and reliable. Recall corrections did not fix the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751902July 21, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On June 14, 2026, while driving approximately 70 mph on a Michigan freeway, the 6.2L V8 engine began shaking violently. The vehicle lost oil pressure, warning messages appeared on the dashboard, and the vehicle completely lost propulsion and shut down while still in motion. My spouse and child were inside the vehicle. The sudden loss of power at highway speed created a serious risk of a collision, although I was able to bring the vehicle to safety. No collision, bodily injury, fire, or property damage occurred during this incident. An OnStar/Cadillac notification reported a critical engine and transmission system problem and diagnostic trouble code P0016. The vehicle was towed directly to an authorized Cadillac dealership. The dealership opened the repair order on June 15, 2026, at approximately 46,640 miles. The dealership determined that the vehicle required a replacement engine. The replacement engine later arrived, but additional required parts, including a seal kit and gasket, were still outstanding. General Motors advised in writing that there was no estimated arrival date for those parts and no confirmed repair-completion date. The vehicle and failed engine components have been in the possession of the authorized Cadillac dealership and should be available for inspection. General Motors confirmed that the engine failure and repairs are covered under warranty. I am reporting this incident because the engine failure caused a complete and unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speed, placing the vehicle occupants and surrounding motorists at risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751731July 21, 2026
ENGINE
While driving my 2026 Cadillac Escalade with approximately 15,000 miles, I experienced a sudden loss of engine power. I was able to safely move the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road. The vehicle would not continue operating and required towing. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle with a catastrophic internal engine failure requiring complete engine replacement. The engine is the 6.2L V8. There were no prior indications that the engine was about to fail.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751711July 21, 2026
ENGINE
2026 CADILLAC ESCALATE WITH 4900 STARTED KNOCKING TOOK TO DEALER TOLD ME IT HAD SPUN A MAIN BEARING REPLACED ENGINE NOW NEW ENGINE SOUNDS THE SAME TAKING BACK TO DEALER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751665July 20, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Failed the inspection in texas. No details.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751066July 17, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while approaching a red light and slowing down, there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was immediately driven to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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