Cadillac Escalade Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,716 owner complaints and 52 safety recalls on file for the Cadillac Escalade, across 28 model years (1999–2026). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (230). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Cadillac Escalade years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escalade year: 2002, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2023. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 Escalade: 230 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2023 Escalade: 141 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2008 Escalade: 136 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Escalade: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2020 Escalade: 14 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2006 Escalade: 19 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Cadillac Escalade problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 499 | 24 | 6 |
| Air Bags problems | 327 | 20 | 39 |
| Electrical System problems | 277 | 27 | 10 |
| Power Train problems | 190 | 26 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 96 | 23 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 78 | 18 | 3 |
| Suspension | 73 | 20 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 71 | 18 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 68 | 11 | 10 |
| Steering | 66 | 20 | 8 |
| Structure | 65 | 19 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 55 | 18 | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 52 | 22 | 1 |
| Seats | 51 | 16 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 44 | 15 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 29 | 11 | 5 |
| Wheels | 27 | 14 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 12 | 0 |
| Visibility | 26 | 13 | 0 |
| Tires | 25 | 10 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 12 | 6 |
| Equipment | 21 | 11 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Cadillac Escalade problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Cadillac Escalade model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escalade | 36 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Escalade | 20 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Escalade | 52 | 2 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2023 Escalade | 141 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2022 Escalade | 85 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2021 Escalade | 74 | 9 | 4★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2020 Escalade | 14 | 2 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Escalade | 25 | 0 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Escalade | 21 | 1 | 4★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Escalade | 51 | 2 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2016 Escalade | 89 | 4 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 Escalade | 98 | 9 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Escalade | 20 | 2 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Escalade | 19 | 4 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 Escalade | 20 | 3 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Escalade | 49 | 6 | 4★ | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 Escalade | 38 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Escalade | 58 | 5 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2008 Escalade | 136 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Escalade | 230 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Escalade | 19 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Escalade | 43 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Escalade | 69 | 2 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Escalade | 81 | 4 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Escalade | 115 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Escalade | 3 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2000 Escalade | 71 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Escalade | 39 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Cadillac: all Cadillac models · Cadillac VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Cadillac Escalade years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2002 (115), 2007 (230), 2008 (136), 2015 (98), 2023 (141) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escalade year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Cadillac Escalade?
Engine, with 499 complaints across 24 model years.
How many recalls does the Cadillac Escalade have?
52 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.