Cadillac Escalade Complaints

1,865 consumer complaints on file.

#11759349August 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Transmission control module went out of the blue, caused limp mode on the highway and barely got off. Damaged the Transmission, had to replace by cadillac. 2 weeks later after i got the car back, blew 3 fuses and the starter while driving. Had to get towed back over 100 miles. 3 days later the engine completely blew and they had to replace it. this was the second time this happened, first since ive owned it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759325August 25, 2026
ENGINE
1.) When traveling down a (4) lane back road (without a median or adequite shoulder) the engine of the vehicle suddenly stalled. I pulled over to the side of the road and went to restart the vehilcle and that is when I noticed a burning electrical smell. After that the vehicle was not responsive to any request. 2.) Sudden uncontrol failure of drive train/ vehicle propultion. Unable to move car to safe location. Stuck on side of (4) lane back road. 3.) The vehicle was taken to service and it was confirmed that the engine had seized. 4.) The dealership inspected the engine and noted the mechanical failure. 5.)No there were not and when accessing my "cadillac app" it noted the the vehicle was in good condtion and there were no problems to report. Notes: Vehicle was purchased with 71,642 miles on 2/28/2026 and failed on 3/8/2026 with 71,975 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759323August 25, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle was sent the dealership 4 times since 2024 for leaking oil. Was told it was a rear main seal each time. Dealership said they replaced it and 2 weeks later the vehicle leaks again. It is now at the dealership and they tell us the crankshaft failed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759296August 24, 2026
ENGINE
On XXX, I was driving a 2025 Cadillac Escalade equipped with the 6.2L L87 V8 engine westbound on [XXX] in [XXX] at approximately 35 mph in normal traffic. Without any warning, noise, or dashboard indication, the engine shut down and the vehicle lost all motive power while in a travel lane. I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop, but the loss of power occurred in moving traffic and created a serious risk of a rear-end collision. The vehicle had approximately 24,000 miles at the time of failure. It has been maintained according to the manufacturer's schedule and has had no prior engine repairs. The vehicle was purchased new in XXX. GM Roadside Assistance was contacted and towed the vehicle to Pepe Cadillac for diagnosis. As of this filing, the cause has not been reported to me. I am aware of NHTSA recall 25V-274 and Engineering Analysis EA26005 concerning L87 6.2L V8 engine failures involving connecting rod and crankshaft defects. My vehicle is a 2025 model year, outside the original recall production period but within the population covered by EA26005. This is my second L87 engine failure. My previous vehicle, a 2021 Cadillac Escalade with the same 6.2L L87 engine, suffered engine failure in 2024 and received a replacement engine under warranty. I purchased the 2025 vehicle new in XXX after that experience. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759271August 24, 2026
ENGINE
The engine in our escalade is starting to fail. Our cadillac dealer did their voluntary recall on our escalade at around 15,000 miles. This included a "Pico" listening forgot knock, and once it passed that test they drained the previously factory recommended 0w-20, and re filled with the now recommended 0w-40 with a filter change, and oil fill cap replacement that has 0w-40 printed in it. At around 20,000 miles, on August 16th my father in law and I performed the next oil change. My father in law has been a master technician owning his own automotive shop for almost 40 years. I used to work as a machinist, machining, building and dynoing engines. I cut open the oil filter after the oil change to inspect it, and there were flakes of bearing material throughout the filter media. I packaged all the parts of the oil filter up in a ziploc bag, and took it to my cadillac dealer the next day august 17th. I talked to, and showed a few people there the bearing material in the filter, ending in the service manager. The service manager agreed that there is something wrong with the engine, and that there shouldnt be metal in the oil filter. But he stated that the voluntary recall that they have for the engine only comes into effect if it fails the Pico test, or the engine fails, not if the engine is beginning to fail. He said he would talk to his boss, and an engineer attached to the recall, to see if there was anything else they could do. He said he would call me later in the day. He called me later and said that both people he talked to said there was nothing that cadillac could do until it has outward symptoms of a failing engine (knock) or it totally fails. Now we have a new vehicle that my wife is afraid to take anywhere because its failing cadillac knows about it, and won't do anything about it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759141August 24, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving on 35 mph road and first got a notification to service charging system, vehicle may stall, with the battery light on. Less than a mile after an alarm went off non stop stating engine overheating shut vehicle down immediately. Roadside mechanic came and discovered the serpentine belt failed. I have 1,100 miles on this car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759076August 24, 2026
ENGINE
Complete engine failure at 75MPH. Vehicle only has 5000 miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758924August 23, 2026
ENGINE
Catastrophic engine failure. Main bearing lock up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758886August 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The night vision does not work. I told it to the dealer on 17 July they claimed they don’t know how to fix it. They blow it off and say that it’s because of the temperature but it’s not true. It wasn’t working at night when it was nice and cool. It wasn’t working during the day. It doesn’t work at all. They have a history of failing and general motors does not have a solid fix. They had this in their shop for six weeks and they still couldn’t figure out how to fix it. It still doesn’t work to this day. The temperatures have dropped at night, especially in the rain and that is not the problem. They lack of experience with night vision camera cameras is the problem and they are unable to fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758831August 23, 2026
ENGINE
Catastrophic Engine Failure while driving with 2,500 miles, leaving me stranded on the highway in the dead of night. Cadillac towed it in for repairs, yet refused to install a new engine, instead swapping out block with a rebuilt one and moving all other components over from the blown engine. As this was a “V” model which is equipped with an 6.2 LT4 engine, I was told that this would not be subject to the constant failures that plague the 6.2 L87. So I agreed to purchase the considerably more expensive V at a cost of $200,000 and I was still placed in the same danger that I was in with the less expensive models. This vehicle was not on any recall list and I was offered no compensation whatsoever for having a rebuilt engine which is now part of its permanent record at both Cadillac and Carfax. Same thing happened to my 2023 Escalade while my daughter was driving, total loss of power, engine seized, she barely made it to the shoulder safely from the left lane. I had to get rid of it after that as I felt my family’s safety was in jeopardy had we continued to drive it. The buyer I sold it to just notified me that the replacement engine blew up just like the original one and needed a to have third engine replaced. VIN of the 2023: [XXX]. Cadillac is repairing/replacing these defective engines with the same defective parts, so of course they will continue to fail again and again. Recommendation of upgrading oil viscosity is a complete joke and has done nothing to resolve this dangerous issue. This is a massive problem, just about everyone I speak with who has a Cadillac Escalade has experienced the same fate. I am aware of injuries associated with this situation, GM and Cadillac need to be brought to task here before someone gets killed if that hasn’t already happened. I can provide any other information should you require including pictures and videos of these cars being towed away as well as repair tickets if needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758778August 22, 2026
ENGINE
On 06/23/2026 at approximately 62,745 miles, I brought my 2023 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD equipped with the 6.2L L87 V8 engine to a Cadillac dealership because of excessive engine oil consumption. The vehicle has been consuming approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 2,000 miles, or roughly 1 quart every 650-700 miles. The dealership began an oil-consumption test to document the condition, and the vehicle is currently still at the dealership undergoing evaluation. This vehicle is equipped with the 6.2L L87 engine involved in NHTSA Safety Recall 25V-274 / GM Recall N252494000 concerning internal engine damage and possible loss of propulsion. I do not know whether the excessive oil consumption is directly related to the recall defect, but I am concerned that this level of oil consumption may indicate an internal engine problem that could lead to inadequate lubrication, engine damage, stalling, seizure, or sudden loss of propulsion. The vehicle is available for inspection at the Cadillac dealership. The dealer has service records and oil-consumption-test documentation associated with this condition. I am filing this complaint so the excessive oil consumption on this L87-equipped vehicle is formally documented with NHTSA and can be considered along with other reported L87 engine concerns.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758776August 22, 2026
ENGINE
Bought a 2021 Escalade and at 50,000 miles it turned off at the middle of intersection while riding with my kids taking them to basketball. I had it towed to Cadillac they said it needed a new battery I left with new battery and broke down on the interstate while trying to pick up kids from school. I then had the car towed back to shop where they then said two days later I needed a new motor and that my warranty would not cover that and I’d have to pay 25,000-30….even though I just bought the car for 100,000….i towed it to RK Chevrolet where I waited for Over a YEAR. I had to buy a used car because I was never offered or able to use a loaner. My Cadilliac then got hit at the shop by a uber driver and the whole front in had to be fixed. I got my car back in November 2025 it’s now August 2026 9 months later it is back in the shop for motor and transmission issues with check engine light on. I am a hard working mother and I have spent more money on a car in my life. As a mother with kids to not have a car is a problem but the worst is the lack of help I have received. I would love any help in what I should do as this has been a nightmare. Please send or give me any advice I would greatly appreciate it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758736August 22, 2026
ENGINE
On the day I was driving my 2021 Escalade had completely stopped in the middle of traffic , the vehicle was looked over by a certified mechanic and stated that it was at the full level of oil 0w-20 as stated to be put in by gm on the oil cap he stated that the motor L87 which is in my vehicle is under recall for this reason it the motor has put I and my child in complete danger in the middle of a busy street with the vehicle unable to move at all I stay on top of all vehicle maintenance and all recalls and was not informed that this motor was under recall for seizure I would like for the NHSTA to place this vehicle motor and others that are not informed of this information to please notify and rectify the issue because this has put me and my child and me being a pregnant mom in complete danger due to GM .i had no symptoms or problems or lights messages on my dash board the vehicle just abruptly stopped and scared me and my child .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758672August 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The engine/powertrain malfunctioned on my 2023 Cadillac Escalade at approximately 29,434 miles, ultimately requiring complete engine replacement. During the engine repair, the Cadillac technician also discovered that the transmission cooler lines were leaking fluid. The dealership replaced all of the affected transmission cooler lines as part of the repair.The original failed engine was removed by the Cadillac dealership, so I do not know whether GM/Cadillac retained it. The failure involved the vehicle’s engine and created concern about the possibility of sudden loss of propulsion or engine failure while driving. Because this is a large vehicle routinely operated on public roads and highways, an unexpected loss of engine power could significantly reduce my ability to safely accelerate, merge, or move the vehicle out of traffic. Fortunately, I brought the vehicle in for service after noticing the abnormal engine noise before a complete failure occurred while driving. Yes. Heritage Cadillac inspected and diagnosed the vehicle. The dealership documented my complaint of a “weird noise on start up” that continued until approximately 10 MPH. The technician removed the valve covers and inspected the rocker arms and pushrods. The dealership ultimately determined that an engine replacement was necessary and replaced the engine under warranty. Yes. The vehicle was inspected and repaired by Heritage Cadillac, an authorized Cadillac dealership. The dealership diagnosed the engine issue and replaced the complete engine. During the repair process, the technician also discovered leaking transmission cooler lines. I did not receive a warning lamp or dashboard message alerting me to an engine problem. The primary symptom was an abnormal engine noise shortly after startup that continued during initial acceleration to approximately 10 MPH. This prompted me to bring the vehicle to Heritage Cadillac for inspection. The dealer documented this symptom on the repair order.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758533August 21, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758436August 21, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2026 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal ticking sound that progressed into a knocking sound coming from the engine while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the vehicle surged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven only six times prior to the engine replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered monetary compensation. The failure mileage was approximately 300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757412August 17, 2026
ENGINE
On Monday XXX, I was on my way to the dealer for my first oil change. I was driving through a toll both, also under construction just outside [XXX], when the engine lost power without warning and just stopped. While scrambling to find a tow truck I finally got the vehicle started and limped it to the dealer, Patrick Cadillac in Schaumburg, IL,. Nearly a week later, a technician informed me that the engine is unrepairable and needs to be completely replaced. He also informed me that engines are on back-order and no ETA is available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757087August 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission has experienced ongoing shifting problems, including extremely hard shifts at low speeds and difficulty shifting properly at higher/highway speeds. The hard shifting could cause the vehicle to jerk unexpectedly, and the difficulty shifting at higher speeds caused concern about the vehicle’s ability to accelerate and maintain predictable power while driving. Because of the ongoing shifting problems, we paid to have the vehicle tuned in an attempt to improve the shifting, but the transmission problems continued. More recently, after routine transmission fluid service, the transmission became significantly worse and the vehicle would not properly move in either Drive or Reverse. The vehicle has not been diagnosed or repaired by a dealership. The transmission is currently being inspected and repaired privately, and components can be retained if needed. The shifting problems were present before the recent transmission fluid service.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757093August 15, 2026
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY
I purchased a new 2026 Cadillac Escalade from AutoNation Cadillac West Palm Beach on July 27, 2026. At only approximately 375 miles, the vehicle developed serious engine/drivability problems and front/rear bumper alignment defects. The Escalade began shaking/stuttering, hesitating, experiencing inconsistent power, and making an abnormal knocking-type noise. The check-engine light illuminated. I took the vehicle to Delray Cadillac, where technicians found a cylinder 4 misfire and ultimately determined the problem involved the cylinder 4 lifter system. The repair required substantial internal engine work on an essentially brand-new vehicle. Cadillac replaced eight lifters, along with associated gaskets, bolts, guides, and related components. The engine was opened for the repair, and the technician inspected the camshaft/cam lobes and related valvetrain components before reassembly and testing. After receiving the vehicle back, I still notice abnormal power delivery. At approximately 45–55 mph, the engine intermittently hesitates and feels as though it struggles to maintain steady power, even though the check-engine light is currently off. This concerns me because major internal engine work was already required at only about 375 miles. The vehicle also has visible front and rear bumper alignment problems. The rear bumper protrudes outward instead of sitting flush with the body, and the front bumper also appears misaligned. These issues were reported to Cadillac. I am reporting this because a new vehicle requiring major valvetrain/engine repair at approximately 375 miles, followed by continued hesitation and inconsistent power, may present a safety risk during acceleration, merging, or highway driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756846August 13, 2026
ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE.CONFIRMED BY DEALER AFTER IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ONLY WARNING LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS: REDUCED ACCELERATION DRIVE WITH CARE. THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOLLOWED BY ENGINE NOISE AND A BAD SMELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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