Cadillac Escalade 2007–2014
3rd generation (GMT900) · GMT926 (SUV) / GMT936 (ESV)
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026774 complaints, 418 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 56,000 and 121,440 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 11 complaints (2.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 9,000
- 25%
- 56,000
- Median
- 92,627
- 75%
- 121,440
- 90%
- 160,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 47 | 11.2% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 17 | 4.1% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 8 | 1.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 9 | 2.2% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 14 | 3.3% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 17 | 4.1% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 22 | 5.3% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 36 | 8.6% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 29 | 6.9% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 44 | 10.5% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 36 | 8.6% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 30 | 7.2% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 20 | 4.8% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 19 | 4.5% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 6 | 1.4% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 19 | 4.5% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 16 | 3.8% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 8 | 1.9% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 8 | 1.9% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.5% |
| 200,000+ | 11 | 2.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 774 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2014 Cadillac Escalade, and 418 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 56,000 and 121,440 miles. The median is 92,627 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (36.0% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles), the electrical system (12.8% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles), the engine (8.4% of complaints, typically around 133,000 miles).
12 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system100,000median 100,000 miles, middle half 76,000 to 133,000
- Electrical system88,000median 87,500 miles, middle half 56,000 to 115,000
- Engine133,000median 133,000 miles, middle half 92,000 to 160,000
- Problems owners could not categorise96,000median 95,950 miles, middle half 72,000 to 110,000
- Body structure75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 58,000 to 100,000
- Transmission and driveline97,000median 97,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 130,000
- Exterior lighting100,000median 100,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 110,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 279 | 36.0% | 100,000 | 76,000–133,000 |
| Electrical system | 99 | 12.8% | 88,000 | 56,000–115,000 |
| Engine | 65 | 8.4% | 133,000 | 92,000–160,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 34 | 4.4% | 96,000 | 72,000–110,000 |
| Body structure | 34 | 4.4% | 75,000 | 58,000–100,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 33 | 4.3% | 97,000 | 75,000–130,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 27 | 3.5% | 100,000 | 20,000–110,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 25 | 3.2% | 99,000 | 75,000–137,000 |
| Suspension | 22 | 2.8% | 70,000 | 41,000–118,000 |
| Seats | 22 | 2.8% | 107,000 | 70,000–130,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 92,627 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 36.0% of complaints (279 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,000 and 133,000 miles.
A single system taking 36.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 12.8% of complaints (99 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 115,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.4% of complaints (65 reports, 41 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 133,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 92,255 and 160,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 4.4% of complaints (34 reports, 14 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 95,950 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 72,000 and 110,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 4.4% of complaints (34 reports, 27 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 58,400 and 100,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 4.3% of complaints (33 reports, 22 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 130,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 320 complaints — while 2013 drew the fewest at 23. The median year sits at 50.
That makes 2007 an outlier: roughly 6.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), the electrical system (3), the suspension (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 774 complaints filed against this generation, 41 reported a crash; 29 reported a fire; 62 reported an injury; 30 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 5.3% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 56,000 and 121,440 miles, with a median of 92,627. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 87,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine (active Fuel Management) 2010–2014
AFM on the 6.2L L94 drives excessive oil consumption and collapsed or failed valve lifters. A failed lifter causes misfire, ticking and often camshaft lobe damage requiring top-end rebuild. Subject of class action litigation across GM's AFM V8 range. Note the pre-AFM L92 (2007-2009) does not share this failure mode.
Interior (dashboard) 2007–2014
Dashboard top surface cracks and splits, typically radiating from the passenger airbag seam. Extremely widely reported across the generation; GM never issued a recall, treating it as cosmetic.
Airbags (takata Inflator) 2007–2014
GM full-size trucks and SUVs of this generation are part of the Takata inflator recall population.
Transmission 2007–2014
6L80 torque converter shudder and harsh 1-2 shifts, commonly traced to torque converter clutch material degradation and fluid condition.
Fuel System 2007–2014
Fuel level sender failure producing an erratic or stuck fuel gauge, a shared GM full-size truck complaint of the era.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 320 | 170 |
| 2008 | 180 | 96 |
| 2009 | 89 | 52 |
| 2010 | 47 | 19 |
| 2011 | 53 | 20 |
| 2012 | 32 | 27 |
| 2013 | 23 | 17 |
| 2014 | 30 | 17 |
Recalls (12)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V052000 | 2021-09-20 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V054000 | 2021-05-11 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V053000 | 2021-05-11 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V051000 | 2021-05-11 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V050000 | 2021-03-01 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 14V827000 | 2015-02-12 | Electrical System:ignition |
| 14V614000 | 2014-12-26 | Electrical System |
| 13V001000 | 2013-01-17 | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
| 11V339000 | 2011-07-25 | Steering:linkages |
| 11V007000 | 2011-01-11 | Suspension:rear:axle:spindle |
| 10V643000 | 2011-01-11 | Suspension:rear:axle:spindle |
| 10V240000 | 2010-06-11 | Electrical System |
What owners reported
Tl*- the contact stated that upon receiving thec 2007 Cadillac Escalade with 3 failure miles the retractable steps on both sides of the vehicle were not working. The contact heard a humming sound while driving, as if the steps were attempting to slide out. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired, but…
2007 · 3 miles · Body structure
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. When it rained, water would leak around the sunroof. The water leaked into the side curtain air bag. The dealer stated that the drain hose was not originally installed; therefore, they installed the drain hose and replaced the side curtain air bag. While driving 50…
2007 · 3,000 miles · Throttle and speed control
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the air bags suddenly deployed while she was driving 60 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who put the air bags back in place and replaced the instrument panel. The on star safety device indicated that the air bags needed to be…
2007 · 4,500 miles · Airbag system
Takata recall- i called my local dealership to have this remedied and was told gm does not have a fix for this? I have already had my BMW 3 Series and Chrysler 200 airbags fixed so why is gm having issues with replacing them? The electrical system also has enormous amounts of corrosion at all the system connections, i…
2007 · 10,000 miles · Airbag system
Built from 418 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page