Cadillac Escalade Complaints

358 consumer complaints on file.

#11760163August 27, 2026
ENGINE
My engine locked up with only 9k miles on it. Left me stranded in 109 degree heat. Had it towed to local dealer over 3 weeks ago they determined engine was bad and ordered new engine from GM but the engine is on back order. I need GM to buy my vehicle back so I can replace it I have nothing to drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759851August 26, 2026
ENGINE
Driving on a major interstate and the vehicle started knocking and losing acceleration, shaking terribly at a slow down/stop, lights on dash engaged, check engine, auto hold, service stabilitrak. Determination was a engine bearing went bad which contaminated the oil and other parts
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759645August 26, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Engine failed while driving down the highway at speed. Just shut off. Very dangerous. No power had to pull over. Vehicle would not start agin. Said low oil pressure. Had it towed to the dealership. Complete engine failure and had to have the motor replaced. After replacement engine still does not feel right and transmission acts up as well. Complete piece of junk for how expensive these vehicles are. Scary, dangerous and do not trust this vehicle anymore. Stuck with an unsafe piece of junk that's unreliable. Please help. New motor is exactly the same as the other one so it's going to fail again. It stays at the dealership instead of my driveway. People are getting screwed. Some kind of compensation needs to be done for us with these issues. Completely unfair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759620August 26, 2026
ENGINE
Complete engine failure in 2026 Cadillac Escalade sport platinum with 3100 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759589August 25, 2026
ENGINE, STEERING
I was driving and no check engine lights were on. I came to a stop sign and the car lost all power. I couldn't get it in park and neither could any of the 3 tow truck drivers. Therefore the car had to be skated onto the tow truck and then shimmied off, causing even more damage. They fixed the motor with the same engine , said there were metal shavings, which will end up doing the same thing and I do not feel safe driving a car i just bought for 72,000. The car only has 48,000 miles on it. I picked up the car after the repair and started to drive it home and when i got up to over 55 it started shaking and pulling to the right. It is not the same car I bought just a year ago and I am still waiting for them to return it back to me after a month of waiting for a power steering replacement. They do not know for sure if that's the problem now, but said they think that this will fix it. I do not feel safe if the mechanic doesn't even know what is wrong now.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759568August 25, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Driving my 2021 Escalade on interstate and engine began emitting sudden, loud metallic tapping. Oil pressure dropped off and a reduced power warning came on HUD. Acceleration dropped off, forcing him to coast dangerously across three lanes of traffic to the shoulder. Coasted to dealership—-somehow the VIN didn’t fall within the 2021-2024 recall despite exhibiting the exact same failure. Catastrophic engine failure needing full engine replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759409August 25, 2026
ENGINE
Re: 2023 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L Engine Recall and Safety Concern. I followed the recall process, had the prescribed remedy performed, and yet the information now available has left me with substantially diminished confidence that the vehicle is protected against the very failure the recall was intended to address (catastrophic engine failure). My concern is reinforced by NHTSA's Engineering Analysis EA26005, which is examining post-remedy engine failures. When cold starting my Escalade, I hear clanging, flapping, and what I perceive to be abnormal noises coming from the engine. Combined with documented post remedy failures now being investigated by NHTSA, I do not believe the recall remedy provides a sufficient margin of safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759379August 25, 2026
ENGINE
The motor started making a ticking noise, then when we came to a stop, the motor died. I was able to get it started and get us home. As we made it home, the noise began to get worse. The next morning I planned to take it to the dealership. The car started and I began to drive. We entered the freeway and as traffic picked up, we came to a stop on the freeway. The engine died again. I was able to start it one more time and cotinued on until we got to the exit the dealership is on. At this point the car died again and we were unable to get it started. It left us stranded on the offramp. Car needed to be towed to dealership where it was discovered the engine had failed. Cadillac replaced the engine with a new one. This happened at 7100 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759377August 25, 2026
ENGINE
6.2L Engine failed while over 400 miles from home. GM (Cadillac) has been zero help in rectifying the expense in travel interruption knowing this issue exists. Took almost 45 days for them to get vehicle repaired. Since repair I have had multiple other issues that I'm pretty sure is 100% related to this replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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

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