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Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020 problems by year and mileage

4th generation (K2XX) · GM K2XX (K2UG)

NHTSA data through 24 September 2026429 complaints, 188 with mileageMethod

A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade

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Median failure report
57,000 mi
Complaints filed
105
Recalls naming this year
9

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2015

  1. Engine29 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline28 reports
  3. Problems owners could not categorise19 reports

9 recall campaigns name the 2015: Air bags — frontal; Power train — transfer case (4-wheel drive); Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2016 Cadillac Escalade

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Median failure report
38,000 mi
Complaints filed
104
Recalls naming this year
4

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2016

  1. Engine31 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline22 reports
  3. Electrical system18 reports

4 recall campaigns name the 2016: Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist; Seat belts — pretensioner; Suspension — front. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2017 Cadillac Escalade

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Median failure report
30,000 mi
Complaints filed
89
Recalls naming this year
2

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2017

  1. Engine32 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline21 reports
  3. Brakes20 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2017: Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist; Seat belts — pretensioner. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
36
Recalls naming this year
2

Most reported on the 2018

  1. Engine19 reports
  2. Electrical system8 reports
  3. Transmission and driveline4 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2018: Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist; Seat belts — rear/other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2019 Cadillac Escalade

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
59
Recalls naming this year
1

Most reported on the 2019

  1. Engine37 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline10 reports
  3. Problems owners could not categorise7 reports

1 recall campaign names the 2019: Seat belts — rear/other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2020 Cadillac Escalade

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
36
Recalls naming this year
2

Most reported on the 2020

  1. Engine20 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline5 reports
  3. Airbag system4 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2020: Tires; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2015 reports latest and the 2017 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2015 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 3 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.

The short answer

“Is the 2015–2020 Cadillac Escalade reliable?”

Median of reported failures
46,000 mi
90% of reports came by
125,000 mi
Reports with mileage
188
Recalls
14

At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported

  1. Engine39.2% of complaints · median 69,000 mi
  2. Transmission and driveline21.0% of complaints · median 41,000 mi
  3. Electrical system14.9% of complaints · median 38,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 429 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2020 Cadillac Escalade; the engine leads with 39.2% of them, and half of the 188 that record an odometer reading came by 46,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 18,000 and 88,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2015–2020 Cadillac Escalade last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2015–2020 Cadillac Escalade, half of the 188 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 46,000 miles and 90% by 125,000 miles.

7 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 4 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Escalade reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020 · 188 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

Complaints per 20,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 50 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020Histogram of 188 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 20,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 0 to 20,000 miles with 50 complaints, 26.6 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 18,000 and 88,000 miles. A further 4 complaints, 2.1 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 46,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 4 complaints (2.1%), plotted separately
10%
2,600
25%
18,000
Median
46,000
75%
88,000
90%
125,236

Tallest bin: 50 complaints between 0 and 20,000 miles. Based on 188 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 20,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–20,0005026.6%
20,000–40,0003317.6%
40,000–60,0003820.2%
60,000–80,000168.5%
80,000–100,000189.6%
100,000–120,000147.4%
120,000–140,00084.3%
140,000–160,00042.1%
160,000–180,00031.6%
200,000+42.1%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.

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.

Common Escalade problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020

When each system fails

Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.

  1. Brakes39 reports16,00010,000–35,000Brakes: 39 reports, median 16,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 35,000 miles.
  2. Problems owners could not categorise56 reports34,00014,000–56,000Problems owners could not categorise: 56 reports, median 34,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 56,000 miles.
  3. Electrical system64 reports38,00015,000–100,000Electrical system: 64 reports, median 38,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 100,000 miles.
  4. Transmission and driveline90 reports41,00023,000–55,000Transmission and driveline: 90 reports, median 41,000 miles, middle half 23,000 to 55,000 miles.
  5. Suspension34 reports50,00037,000–60,000Suspension: 34 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 37,000 to 60,000 miles.
  6. Engine168 reports69,00023,000–104,000Engine: 168 reports, median 69,000 miles, middle half 23,000 to 104,000 miles.
  7. Steering23 reports75,00019,000–88,000Steering: 23 reports, median 75,000 miles, middle half 19,000 to 88,000 miles.
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

All systems in a table
Complaints by vehicle system
SystemComplaintsShareMedian25–75%
Engine16839.2%69,00023,000–104,000
Transmission and driveline9021.0%41,00023,000–55,000
Electrical system6414.9%38,00015,000–100,000
Problems owners could not categorise5613.1%34,00014,000–56,000
Brakes399.1%16,00010,000–35,000
Suspension347.9%50,00037,000–60,000
Steering235.4%75,00019,000–88,000
Body structure184.2%17,0002,500–50,000
Fuel and propulsion system174.0%——
Airbag system143.3%——
System by system, in words

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 46,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 39.2% of complaints (168 reports, 43 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 69,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 104,000 miles.

A single system taking 39.2% 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 transmission and driveline accounts for 21.0% of complaints (90 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 41,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 55,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 14.9% of complaints (64 reports, 27 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 100,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 13.1% of complaints (56 reports, 32 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 34,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,000 and 56,000 miles.

The brakes account for 9.1% of complaints (39 reports, 22 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 16,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 35,000 miles.

The suspension accounts for 7.9% of complaints (34 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 60,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2015–2020 Escalade

Transmission (8L90 8-Speed) 2016–2017

Affected: 8–speed only

Torque converter shudder and harsh, clunking shifts on the 8L90, traced to degradation of the factory Dexron VI fluid interacting with the torque converter clutch. GM's service remedy was a full fluid flush and refill with Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP. Subject of class action litigation across GM's 8-speed range.

Engine (active Fuel Management) 2015–2020

L86 AFM valve lifter collapse and excessive oil consumption, same mechanism as the prior generation's L94 - misfire, ticking and potential camshaft damage.

Steering 2015–2016

Electric power steering assist can be lost momentarily, particularly at low speed, increasing steering effort without warning; NHTSA recall on affected early vehicles.

Interior (dashboard) 2015–2016

Dashboard cracking continued to be reported into the early years of this generation.

Before you buy a 2015–2020 Escalade: the 3-minute check

Generated from 188 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at an authorized dealer.
  2. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  3. Check transmission (8L90 8-Speed) on 2016–2017 (8–speed only) cars. Torque converter shudder and harsh, clunking shifts on the 8L90, traced to degradation of the factory Dexron VI fluid interacting with the torque converter clutch. GM's service remedy was a full fluid flush and refill…
  4. Check engine (active fuel management) on 2015–2020 cars. L86 AFM valve lifter collapse and excessive oil consumption, same mechanism as the prior generation's L94 - misfire, ticking and potential camshaft damage.
  5. Check steering on 2015–2016 cars. Electric power steering assist can be lost momentarily, particularly at low speed, increasing steering effort without warning; NHTSA recall on affected early vehicles.
  6. End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 18,000 and 88,000 miles, with a median of 46,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the engine and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 41,000, 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.

Escalade problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.

earlier most reports on that system came below this mileage — ask for repair records. in window this mileage sits inside the middle half of its reports. later most reports came above it. That describes reports, not your odds.

Where each system’s reports sit against common odometer readings
SystemMiddle half of reports, miAt 60k mi64% belowAt 90k mi77% belowAt 120k mi90% belowAt 150k mi96% belowAt 200k mi98% below
Engine23,000–104,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Transmission and driveline23,000–55,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Electrical system15,000–100,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise14,000–56,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Brakes10,000–35,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Suspension37,000–60,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Steering19,000–88,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020 · 188 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.

Cumulative share of reports by mileage, Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020Of 188 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 20,000-mile bin edge. 64 percent below 60,000 miles. 90 percent below 120,000 miles. 98 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 46,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 64% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 90% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 2.1% of reports (4) came above 200,000 miles.

Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2015–2020 Cadillac Escalade recalls (14)

NHTSA records 14 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.

2 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.

The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (3), the seat belts (3), the hydraulic brake circuit (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.

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.

Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer, for any owner. Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. May 2026 · 2015 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in…

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

    What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free fix. Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy…

    NHTSA campaign 26V-329 (2026-05-21).

  2. May 2026 · 2015 · Power Train do not driveFront or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020…

    What can happen. Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters…

    NHTSA campaign 26V-289 (2026-05-07).

  3. Feb 2021 · 2020 · TiresOver cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC…

    What can happen. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle…

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-115 (2021-02-25).

  4. Oct 2020 · 2018 · Service Brakes, HydraulicA decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time…

    What can happen. A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559…

    NHTSA campaign 20V-603 (2020-10-01).

  5. Nov 2019 · 2020 · Fuel System, GasolineOver-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for…

    What can happen. Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-837 (2019-11-21).

  6. Sep 2019 · 2015–2017 · Service Brakes, HydraulicAs the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

    What can happen. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-645 (2019-09-06).

  7. Sep 2018 · 2018–2019 · Seat BeltsIf the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully…

    What can happen. If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-673 (2018-09-26).

  8. Sep 2018 · 2015 · SteeringIf EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.

    What can happen. If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-586 (2018-09-07).

  9. Jul 2017 · 2015–2016 · Seat BeltsA failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and…

    What can happen. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-437 (2017-07-10).

  10. Sep 2016 · 2015–2017 · Seat BeltsA failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet…

    What can happen. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-651 (2016-09-08).

  11. Apr 2016 · 2016 · Suspension do not driveInadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms…

    What can happen. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-256 (2016-04-28).

  12. Oct 2014 · 2015 · Air BagsInconsistent air bag deployment increases the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash necessitating…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel top cover on the affected vehicles may have been manufactured using an incorrect spacer fabric, causing a reduction…

    What can happen. Inconsistent air bag deployment increases the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel top cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-624 (2014-10-06).

  13. May 2014 · 2015 · Air BagsIn the event of an accident, an air bag that only partially deploys increases the risk of occupant injury.

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles manufactured April 6, 2014, through May 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the air bag module is secured to a chute adhered to the backside of the…

    What can happen. In the event of an accident, an air bag that only partially deploys increases the risk of occupant injury.

    The free fix. GM sent the owners an interim notification letter on May 16, 2014 to advise owners of the recall, and will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. When the parts are available…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-259 (2014-05-16).

  14. Jan 2014 · 2015 · Engine and Engine CoolingThe overheated exhaust components may melt nearby plastic parts and may result in an engine fire.

    The defect. General Motors is recalling certain 2014 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, and 2015 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado HD; and GMC Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL, equipped with a 4.3L engine or…

    What can happen. The overheated exhaust components may melt nearby plastic parts and may result in an engine fire.

    The free fix. General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall began on January 16, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-007 (2014-01-13).

Some of these 14 campaigns also cover GMC Yukon 2015–2020 (10 of them), Chevrolet Suburban 2015–2020 (9 of them), Chevrolet Tahoe 2015–2020 (9 of them) and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2014–2018 (7 of them): the same campaign number appears in NHTSA’s file against both, which means the same defect and the same free repair. 3 of the 14 are specific to this vehicle alone.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 429 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
23 (5.4%)
Fires
13
Injury reports
19
Fatality reports
0

These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.

Escalade problems by model year

The 2015 drew the most complaints of this generation, 105, most of them about the engine, and the 2018 the fewest, 36. A typical year drew about 74.

Complaints by model year
YearComplaintsWith mileageMedian milesMost reportedRecalls
20151056757,000†Engine (29)9
20161045838,000†Engine (31)4
2017894030,000†Engine (32)2
2018367under 30 reportsEngine (19)2
2019599under 30 reportsEngine (37)1
2020367under 30 reportsEngine (20)2

† At least 40% of this year’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. Its median rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

What Escalade owners reported

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving through a conveyor car wash with child occupants in the rear seats, the vehicle was placed in neutral (N). The vehicle was then shifted into drive (D) as instructed but accelerated independently. The contact added that the vehicle barely…

2015 · 130,000 miles · Transmission and driveline

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while his wife was driving the vehicle, after arriving at a parking lot, a bystander informed her that the vehicle was leaking a significant amount of fuel. The vehicle was driven to the residence and turned off, and the vehicle continued to leak fuel.…

2015 · 160,000 miles · Fuel system

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear wheels locked up and the vehicle stopped moving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the vehicle was not driven. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a…

2019 · 127,000 miles · Transmission and driveline

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV on November 5, 2025, from a private dealer. The contact stated that upon having a State Inspection performed on the vehicle, the vehicle failed the inspection. The mechanic stated that the amount of mechanical work needed to repair the vehicle did not…

2019 · 237,000 miles · Electrical system

Built from 188 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built

Other Escalade generations

Other full-size SUVs from the same years