SUV, gasoline, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Feb 25, 2017 to May 27, 2025.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17V-437 | Jul 10, 2017 | While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy… | Airbags | 40,683 | Software update |
| 16V-651 | Sep 8, 2016 | In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test | Airbags | 3,640,162 | Software update |
| 16V-256 | Apr 28, 2016 | Front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushingDo not drive | Suspension | 3,738 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
15 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
NHTSA complaint 11663079The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound worsened and the battery drained immediately. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer Penske Buick GMC Of Cerritos (18400 Studebaker Rd, Cerritos, CA 90703) who informed the contact that the vehicle experienced suspension failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,200.
NHTSA complaint 11519461The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer stated that the passenger's side rear upper control arms had separated from the vehicle and that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V256000 (Suspension). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 71,695.
NHTSA complaint 1151689006/14/2019 I WAS DRIVING MY CADILLAC TO ESCALATE ESV TRAVELING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON DC 95 SOUTH BAND. 12:04 PM MY VEHICLE FLIP OVER. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THAT LEFT THE REAR WHEEL OF THE CAR; COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEEL LOCKS AND AXLE BAR OF THE TIRE CUT OFF AND BROKEN. THIS CAUSED FLIPPING OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint 11221207VACUUM PUMP DETERIORATION OR FAILURE CAUSED REDUCED STOPPING OF VEHICLE. BACKED UP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUMPED BRAKE PETAL SEVERAL TIMES. AND FINALLY STOPPED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SET HAND BRAKE. I CHECKED ACCELERATOR AND STOP PETALS FOR OBSTRUCTION AND FOUND NONE. PLACED VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND SLOWLY MOVED FORWARD. APPLIED BRAKES ABOUT TEN FOOT FROM WALL AND VEHICLE STRUCT BRICK WALL BETWEEN GARAGES. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. DAMAGE TO GARAGE $14,940 AND VEHICLE $4,984.
NHTSA complaint 11219769THE TRANSMISSION HAS MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS. DELAYED SHIFTS, HARD SHIFTS BOTH WHEN SHIFTING UP OR DOWN, VERY LARGE CLUNK OR HARD SHIFT WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO FIRST. VERY UNPLEASANT TRANSMISSION AND MULTIPLE WAYS. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ADAPTIVE TO THE DRIVER AND IT NEEDS TO LEARN HABITS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR. SOUNDS LIKE A COP OUT TO ME. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH GM!
NHTSA complaint 11218272..............
NHTSA complaint 11183583TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 50K MILES. SINCE I AM IN THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE INDUSTRY, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON ESCALADES.
NHTSA complaint 11175833SHUDDER / VIBRATION BETWEEN 45 - 65 MPH. CAUSE WAS TORQUE CONVERTER. 85 - 90% OF VIBRATION WAS MITIGATED. CONTINUE TO HAVE STEADY VIBRATIONS 65 -70MPH AND ABOVE. DEALER ALSO INSTALLED NEW TIRES / WHEELS AND I HAVE HAD A ROAD FORCE BALANCE.
NHTSA complaint 11133497FROM A COLD START, WHEN TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE OR BUCK PRIOR TO APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1/4 OF THE DRIVE TIME. WHEN ACCELERATING AND THEN COMING TO A COAST AND BACK TO ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL BUCK. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1/2 OF THE DRIVE TIME. FROM A COLD START, REVERSE, DRIVE, ACCELERATE TO 1MPH WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BUCKS. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE DRIVE TIME.
NHTSA complaint 11131927TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR COLLISION SENSORS PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FALSE WARNINGS PROVIDED BY THE SENSORS SIGNALED AN IMMINENT CRASH WHEN THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREMONT CADILLAC (5939 AUTO MALL PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538, (510) 686-8969) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE RE-CALIBRATED AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,462.
NHTSA complaint 11121958FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND EATING MY TIRES FROM INSIDE. I WENT TO GET MY ALIGNMENT DONE BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND HE CAN NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT AND THEN I WENT TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS GOOD BECAUSE ON THAT TIME I ALREADY HAD 49,540 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE 50000 MILES SO THEY CAN TELL ME YOU ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
NHTSA complaint 11082368TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARRYS ON THE HILL (819 PATTON AVE, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828) 252-3821) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER A MODULE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA complaint 11074232ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE THAT HAS A KEY FOB WILL SHIFT INTO PARK AND SHUTOFF THE ENGINE IF YOU ARE STOPPED AND PRESS THE ENGINE STOP BUTTON. MY CAR DOES NOT AND I HAVE EXITED MY CAR ON 3 OCCASIONS THINKING IT WAS SHUT OFF (ENGINE IS TOO QUIET) AND MY CAR STARTED DRIVING AWAY WITH NO ONE AT THE WHEEL. THE WORST TIME IS WHEN I PULLED OVER TO HELP A STRANDED MOTORIST AND MY CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION - LUCKILY ANOTHER MOTORIST GOT OUT OF THEIR CAR AND STOPPED MY CAR - AVERTING A MASSIVE ACCIDENT. THIS IS A DEATH MACHINE WAITING FOR A VICTIM. GM PLEASE CORRECT THIS.
NHTSA complaint 11016153THE GEARS SHIFT ABRUPTLY. WHEN TAKING OFF THE GEARS WILL SHIFT HARD THAT IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING HEAVY IS DROPPING IN THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM. TOMORROW WILL BE FOURTH TIME WITH SAME ABRUPT SHIFTING PROBLEM FOR A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. AFTER DEALERSHIP TRIES TO FIX IT IT OPERATES WELL FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS AND THEN THE PROBLEM STARTS AGAIN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER TWICE NOW, BATTERY DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS BLINK QUICKLY, MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO TURN ON. THIS ESCALADE WAS 94,000 TOTAL AND IT IS NOT A QUALITY VEHICLE! ROUGH RIDE WITH TRANSMISSION KICKING IN SO ROUGH!!!
NHTSA complaint 10956879Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.