Cadillac Escalade Complaints

358 consumer complaints on file.

#11645242February 27, 2025
ENGINE
Engine Bearings went bad per the dealer at 14K miles; the Car was purchased 13 months prior. New engine required. The car has been in the shop and is unusable. no warning lights ever displayed. The engine died without notice. The dealer has given us a loaner, smaller than said vehicle, and we have had to spend 5k renting cars so far.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645050February 26, 2025
ENGINE
Twice during eight months of vehicle ownership, the vehicle experienced catastrophic engine failure resulting in danger to the health/welfare of the driver. In both cases, the engine has to be totally replaced. The service manager at the dealer acknowledges that Cadillac is selling hazardous/defective products but hopes the vehicle will not experience catastrophic engine failure in the future.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11644365February 23, 2025
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Driving home going 60-70 miles an hour I lost power in the middle of the highway and cruised off to the emergency lane. Engine completely shut off out of nowhere. Spedeometer went down even though i was pressing the accelerator . Starter burned out as well. Dealership says there was metal in the engine. Ordered a new engine and that engine was also defected. Now going into my third engine. In less than 2 months. If traffic would have been worse the possibility of safely maneuvering to a emergency lane could be fatal. Also one of the day running lights on multiple 2021 escalades go off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11644348February 23, 2025
ENGINE
2024 [XXX], Engine failure on [XXX] ) Car shifted automatically in neutral, telling me to turn off the vehicle and restart it on the dash. I pull over to restart it and it does not come back on. Fast-forward 9 months later, another engine failure [XXX] At what point will Cadillac be responsible for these defective vehicles coming from manufacturing. I spent over $120,000 on this vehicle and to have two engine failures before 45,000 miles is absolutely unacceptable. 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
#11644260February 22, 2025
ENGINE
I am expressing my complaint on engine problem with my vehicle. I have an engine knocking or clicking noise that started last week. I had it evaluated by my mechanic, and we were told metal fragments were found in the oil pan…Indicating internal engine failure. I am angry now seeing all the info online about the failure of these 6.2 liter engines. My mechanic said he wouldn’t drive it for safety reasons because it will definitely get worse. I called the GM hotline. They were not very helpful. They said I needed to schedule with a dealer to have it diagnosed. She didn’t offer any more information. Shame on GM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11644022February 20, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Complete engine failure while driving. Vehicle is brand new with only 6,700 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643885February 20, 2025
ENGINE
Engine failure while driving on the highway resulting in the vehicle being towed to the dealership and requiring a brand new engine. Being advised by the dealership that this will likely take 3+ months to replace as they have 2 other Escalades in the service department still waiting on a new engine and have been there for over 2+ months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643643February 19, 2025
ENGINE
The vehicle has approx. 28,000 miles on the odometer. Always serviced at Cadillac on a regular maintenance interval called for by the vehicle and manufacturer. At highway speeds, the vehicle lost all power and came to a stop in moving lanes of traffic putting my family at risk of being rear-ended on a highway at highway speeds (greater than 65 mph). The vehicle was later towed by OnStar / roadside assistance. The Cadillac dealership that received the Escalade determined this was a failed motor. The Service Advisor at the Cadillac dealership mentioned this was a common issue on L87 blocks / engines. They've already seen a few at their dealership and GM had confirmed to them this is a known issue (motor failure on the 6.2 liter V8 L87s). There were no warning lights or other symptoms leading up to the motor failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643299February 18, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident #1 - exiting a parking garage and the vehicle shut off. My wife was able to pull into a parking spot. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the resolution was a faulty fuel pump module. Incident #2 - My wife was at highway speed 65mph during rush hour 4 lanes of traffic when without warning the truck engine shut off and the vehicle shifted to neutral. I dont know how but she was able to wrestle the vehicle to the side of the highway where we spent 6 hours on the shoulder which was as wide as the vehicle. This could have ended in a fatality either while getting the vehicle to the side of the road or while waiting for the dealer to have our vehicle towed. --- End result was that the engine locked up. We have been waiting 1 month already for a new engine and per the dealer it may be several months more.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643215February 17, 2025
ENGINE
Complete engine failure without warning. Left my family and I stranded on the side of a very busy highway. Dealership confirmed engine failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11642093February 11, 2025
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
Our 2021 Cadillac Escalade has experienced multiple ongoing issues. The “driver airbag warning” light has been a major concern, with the dealership stating that the airbag could malfunction at any moment. When we took the vehicle in for repairs, they determined that a previous maintenance job on the driver’s airbag was done incorrectly, which was causing the warning light to activate. Additionally, the vehicle intermittently displays warnings for the “service system restraint system,” “service power steering column,” “reducing features to save battery,” and “service driver assist system.” Despite multiple visits to the dealership, we are consistently told that their diagnostic computers do not populate any error codes, leaving them uncertain about the cause of these warnings. Another major issue is battery drainage. We replaced the original battery two years ago, yet we have needed Cadillac roadside assistance twice because the vehicle wouldn’t start. Each time, the battery tested as healthy, but the car remained inoperable due to a drained battery. Lastly, we have had to replace the remote key batteries every 2-3 months, which seems excessive for a relatively new vehicle. Safety Risks: The driver airbag warning light indicates that the airbag could malfunction at any moment, which poses a serious safety risk in the event of an accident. The service system restraint system warning suggests potential failure in critical safety components. Issues with the service power steering column could lead to steering difficulties while driving, increasing the risk of an accident. The reducing features to save battery warning and service driver assist system warning suggest possible electrical failures that could impact vehicle performance and safety. The other issues, including system warnings and battery drainage, have been repeatedly reported to the dealership, but they have been unable to confirm the cause as their diagnostic system does not register error codes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11641731February 10, 2025
ENGINE
Complete engine shutdown without warning. Vehicle at Cadillac of Las Vegas in Nevada for inspection purposes. Vehicle came to stop in 45 to 50 mph traffic with strong possibility of rear end collision. Vehicle was being driven in inner lane of four lane highway with no way to get to far right lane. No shoulders on [XXX] and close to [XXX] to get off of highway. Rush hour traffic with rear end collision possibility. Onstar called Las Vegas Metro police department for assistance. Policemen parked there squad vehicle behind ours with their lights flashing to prevent a rear end collision. Vehicle has been diagnosed by dealer with a seized engine. New engine ordered on January 13 2025. Engine on back order with no expected delivery date. No warning lights or messages that engine was malfunctioning in any manner prior to shut down. 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
#11641124February 6, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact noticed a loud roaring sound and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled over to the shoulder of the road. In addition, there were several warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving out of state and towing a trailer. The vehicle was towed 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 manufacturer was made of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640875February 5, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2024 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the contact heard a loud ticking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640754February 4, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While my wife was driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, her vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. Since there was no shoulder, she had to coast to find a safe place to pull over. All the dashboard lights came on, indicating what appeared to be an electrical issue. She attempted to restart the vehicle several times, but only received a message stating, “Battery low, needs charge.” She contacted OnStar, expecting prompt assistance, but the experience was far from what’s advertised. She waited a total of 45 minutes just to speak with someone, only to be transferred to another representative. Despite having paid for OnStar services when we purchased the vehicle, they refused to cover the towing charges because she was on a private highway, forcing her to pay out of pocket for a service we had already purchased. During this time, it was extremely cold and windy. My 5-year-old daughter and wife waited about an hour and a half for the tow truck to arrive, and then an additional two hours while the driver secured the vehicle onto the flatbed. Since the car was completely dead, they had no heat the entire time. When they stepped out of the car so the tow truck driver could load it, they discovered they couldn’t get back inside—the doors wouldn’t open due to the lack of power. This entire ordeal was not only frustrating but incredibly unsafe for them. Having the vehicle shut down without warning on a busy highway, especially with our young child in the car, was terrifying for them. After our vehicle was at the dealership for a week, we were informed that the engine needs to be replaced. We were shocked to learn that this is a common issue with GM’s 6.2 engines. To make matters worse, there is no estimated timeframe for the repair because the engine is on backorder. For reference, the truck only has 24,000 miles on it and has been exclusively serviced by authorized Cadillac dealers. This experience has been both disappointing and deeply concerning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640220February 2, 2025
ENGINE
pulled up to a gate and was waiting for it to open, no warning at all, the engine died while in drive. I restarted it, pulled up to a stop sign, waited my turn, the engine died again. I was on my way to get my daughter from school, but didn't feel like my Escalade would have made it. so I drove it to the shop to check the battery. It wasn't the battery so we took it to the dealership. So thankful it didn't happen while I was driving in traffic, without any warning, it could have ended badly. took it to the delearship, same thing happened to the mechanic when he was test driving it. He said it is a problem with the engine, and we will have to wait for at least a month for a complete engine replacement. No warnings at all before this happened. This incident happened on 1/29/25. The escalade has approximately 16k miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11639890January 31, 2025
ENGINE
I own a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. I was traveling on Interstate 75 to Tampa from Naples on Wednesday evening (01/29/25) when, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the check engine warning light illuminated. My vehicle suddenly lost power in the middle of the interstate and decelerated quickly. Thankfully, I was able to safely maneuver my vehicle from the fast lane to the shoulder of the interstate. I tried to re-start my vehicle as speeding traffic zoomed passed me. I was stuck on the interstate and afraid to get out of my vehicle for fear of being struck in the darkness. There were no warnings. My vehicle just shut off. I had my vehicle towed to a local Cadillac dealership. The mechanic who diagnosed my vehicle determined the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The local dealership stated the replacement engine is on backorder, and it may take weeks before my vehicle can be repaired. I now have a rental vehicle while I await for my vehicle to be repaired. Upon researching this issue online, I found NHTSA Investigation PE25001, where the manufacturer is investigating this engine failure issue. My vehicle mileage is approximately 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11639702January 30, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver's side front door failed to unlock as intended. The contact stated that the driver's side front door failed to unlock from inside or outside the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the key fob was inside the vehicle at the time of the failure. The contact crawled to the front passenger's side to exit the vehicle. The contact stated that because of the failure, the contact had been locked inside and outside the vehicle several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11639670January 30, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
We are experiencing the error code "Rear Axle System Off" multiple times per day with this vehicle. The code will appear and then disappear and the car will make beeps consistent with those heard when there is a fault code or error message with the vehicle. The "Rear Axle System Off" code does not stay on permanently. When this occurs, it can delay the acceleration of the vehicle, cause shaking, etc. which could result in an accident as a result therefore putting the driver, passengers and other drivers on the road at risk. This has been an ongoing issue with the vehicle and it has been taken in for service three (3) or four (4) times for this issue which cannot seem to be resolved. We have notified GM Corporate of such as well and they opened a case number on it when last in service. That is GM case #[XXX] for your reference. I have previously filed a report to the NHTSA for this due to GM's inability to fix this issue after multiple attempts. The issue number assigned by the NHSTA was #11621174 for your reference. We have taken the vehicle to the dealer on multiple occasions and they have not been able to correct this issue. The dealer is Ed Morse Cadillac in Delray Beach, FL. The dealer claims that there have been no codes stored in the system when taken in previously and/or have not been able to replicate the issue. We find this hard to believe given that it happens many times per day without much driving. We potentially drive approximately 20-25 miles per day and it generally happens anywhere between 6 - 10 times per day. The dealer referenced above (Ed Morse in Delray Beach, FL) has admitted to seeing or replicating the code in the past during one of the prior visits. We have our next appointment scheduled for Monday, [XXX] to try and resolve this recurring issue as the dealer did not have any availability prior to this date. 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
#11639361January 29, 2025
ENGINE
Engine start to make tick tick noise. Dealership diagnosed it with Main bearing failure. Replace the LT4 engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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