Cadillac Escalade Complaints

1,865 consumer complaints on file.

#11733938April 27, 2026
ENGINE
My family and I were returning from a trip, and the engine just died in the middle of the street at 2 AM. No noises from engine or anything, but it just stopped out of the blue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733767April 25, 2026
ENGINE
Engine misfire, AFM lifter collapse, defective AFM/DOD lifter technology. The three diagnosis I have had done to check for multiple opinions have all come back the same with a collapsed AFM lifter causing camshaft damage, overall failure of an AFM/DOD deactiviating lifter in the 6.2L L86 engine leading to engine damage. It is available for inspection. The problem has been confirmed by multiple independent service providers and confirmed to be an issue in ongoing litigation against GM. It was initially diagnosed by a mobile mechanic and then taken to a independent service mechanic who confirmed the initial diagnosis. It was then confirmed again by a third party independent mechanic. The engine light did not appear until the noise started and what I now know as when the lifters failed, at which after my vehicle alerted me with the engine light. When the problem first occurred, I was driving around 35 MPH down a public road, I had to immediately slow down and pull over. I then limped the vehicle to a safe destination where the mobile mechanic was able to check it out. Luckily, I was not going high speeds and the public road I was driving on was not busy so I was able to pull over safely upon the issue the start of the warning lamp flashing. The engine component failure would have been a much higher safety risk for myself and others if I was driving on a busy road or highway. I have spoke with both GM and Cadillac, they are aware of this defect, yet refuse to provide relief. I have been quoted $13,000-$17,000 to begin repairs to the engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733688April 24, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicle doesn’t even have 66k miles on it and the lifters have gone bad. The check engine came on and the vehicle has stopped working.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733711April 24, 2026
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733281April 23, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733122April 22, 2026
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732689April 21, 2026
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732620April 21, 2026
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732591April 20, 2026
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732550April 20, 2026
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11732045April 18, 2026
ENGINE
On 4/17/2026 in Tomball Texas I experienced a sudden loss of engine propulsion while driving on a 4 lane road. The battery had voltage, hazard lights and radio worked normally. The car rolled to a stop in a traffic lane as this road has no shoulder and was put into park. The push button ignition was pressed but no restart of engine. The car was towed to the dealer that same day and told me the engine was "seized" and they have seen many of the same engines with the same problem. This car is not under the current recall for the L87 but those a few months to years from the recall lot have a current NHTSA investigation ongoing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731992April 17, 2026
ENGINE
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)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731616April 16, 2026
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731075April 14, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving approximately 72 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. The driver discovered that the accelerator pedal adjustment button had been inadvertently depressed by the wallet, causing the pedal position to change and resulting in the unexpected acceleration. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730314April 10, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Dealership stated they fixed recall ref# N252494000 on 9/24/25. But on 4/9/26 noticed engine noise (knocking), then a lose of power and then vehicle stalled on the highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729944April 8, 2026
ENGINE
While driving in rush hour traffic, engine completely stopped. We were stranded in traffic for 2 hours until the police came to help push us out of the street. It was 20 degrees and we sat for 4 hours to get towed. After much ado, the dealership stated the following; "Checked and found engine wouldn't crank over, towed vehicle into the shop. Removed inspection cover to access torque convertor bolts, removed bolts engine still will not turn over. Checked oil in engine full of metal. Engine crank seized will need engine replacement." Upon further investigation, the recall for this vehicle only covers 2021-2025 however this is the same problem that is happening under the recalled years.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729538April 6, 2026
ENGINE
Purchased the vehicle 1 year ago and immediately it had oil consumption problems. Got low oil alarm after 2000 miles from the dealers oil change. Dealer told us it was within “specs”. 6 months ago we were told the 6.2 engine had a recall and a different type oil will be used. 1 month ago the engine locked up and it is now at the dealer waiting for an engine. Asked another car dealership about trading it in and they would not accept it as a trade-in because it currently has a stop sale issued. This means the vehicle is now worth nothing! Well, I have to hire Attorney to get anything for this vehicle? We paid $75,000 for it a year ago
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729042April 3, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and failed to respond as needed, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure had recurred on several occasions, and the contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle became difficult to operate. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle posed a safety hazard and was unsafe to continue driving. The approximate failure mileage was 60,645.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728563April 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving my 2021 Cadillac Escalade on an interstate highway at approximately 70 mph with my family, including two minor children, the vehicle suddenly and without warning lost propulsion, shut off, and shifted into neutral. This occurred in active traffic and created an immediate safety hazard. A warning message appeared instructing me to restart the vehicle. After several minutes navigating traffic, I was able to restart the vehicle briefly and exit the highway. Shortly thereafter, additional dashboard alerts appeared indicating critical engine and transmission failure. After exiting the highway, the vehicle shut down completely at a traffic signal and failed to restart. The vehicle was immobilized in an active roadway until police assistance arrived to prevent a rear‑end collision and a flatbed tow was arranged. The sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed placed vehicle occupants and surrounding motorists at serious risk. The vehicle is available for inspection and was diagnosed as having a seized engine on March 9, 2026, by Diamond Cadillac in [XXX] . This failure did not occur without warning. Prior to this incident, I repeatedly reported excessive oil consumption to the selling dealer, Otto Cadillac, from whom I purchased the vehicle in April 2025 as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. On two separate service visits, I reported oil consumption exceeding two quarts between recommended service intervals and requested that this be documented. I was advised that the consumption was “within tolerance” and was later informed—incorrectly—that this tolerance applied to my engine configuration. Otto Cadillac performed a recall-related inspection and implemented the manufacturer-directed remedy consisting of an oil cap replacement and a change in oil viscosity to SAE 40. No mechanical repair or deeper diagnostic action was taken. The subsequent engine seizure confirms that these mitigation measures did not resolve the underlying defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728413March 31, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds - 2023 Escalade. We easily could have been killed. I drive a 2023 Cadillac Escalade that I purchased from Motor Werks Cadillac in [XXX] . It was very expensive. The car has under 33k miles on it, off memory.I informed the dealer I would be taking the car on a family vacation road trip from [XXX] to [XXX] (for spring break), and requested they perform any necessary preventative service on it to ensure it was in perfect shape to make the trip. They performed the service (basic air filter change etc) and returned the car to me two days before I packed my family [XXX] and [XXX] daughters and wife) into the car and began the journey. After driving less than three hours, the engine completely and suddenly died, without warning, while we were traveling at 75 miles an hour on the highway in the left lane in the middle of rural [XXX] . At the same time all of the electronics in the vehicle died as well. It was an extremely dangerous situation because the road is heavily trafficked by semi trucks, which I was barely able to avoid as I attempted to coast across all the lanes of traffic to get onto the shoulder of the road on the right hand side. Because the car was without propulsion, I was not able to get fully onto the shoulder, but mostly. This left the car in a precarious position because the semi's that we're driving by could easily have hit the car had they not been careful and veered slightly to the left. We easily could have been killed. There's more to the story, like the dealer telling me Cadillac is aware that catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds is a known issue impacting Escalades around the country, and including significant mental trauma that my children experienced by being stranded on the side of the road for several hours in the dark in a car that had no engine, no electronics and no heat. 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

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