Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems by Year
NHTSA has 536 owner complaints and 42 safety recalls on file for the Cadillac Escalade ESV, across 24 model years (2003–2026). The 2023 model year has the most complaints (90). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Cadillac Escalade ESV years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escalade ESV year: 2007, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2023 Escalade ESV: 90 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2021 Escalade ESV: 74 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2022 Escalade ESV: 57 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2013 Escalade ESV: 2 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2012 Escalade ESV: 3 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2010 Escalade ESV: 4 complaints, 3 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 ESV problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 266 | 19 | 3 |
| Power Train | 95 | 17 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 83 | 21 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 53 | 13 | 11 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 42 | 13 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 35 | 12 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 26 | 9 | 0 |
| Suspension | 20 | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 18 | 7 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Wheels | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| Steering | 13 | 10 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| Seats | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Tires | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Cadillac Escalade ESV problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Cadillac Escalade ESV model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escalade ESV | 11 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Escalade ESV | 13 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2024 Escalade ESV | 22 | 2 | 4★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2023 Escalade ESV | 90 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2022 Escalade ESV | 57 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2021 Escalade ESV | 74 | 10 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2020 Escalade ESV | 22 | 2 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 Escalade ESV | 34 | 1 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2018 Escalade ESV | 15 | 1 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2017 Escalade ESV | 38 | 1 | 4★ | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Escalade ESV | 15 | 3 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Escalade ESV | 8 | 6 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2014 Escalade ESV | 0 | 2 | 4★ | — | |
| 2013 Escalade ESV | 2 | 4 | 4★ | Electrical System | |
| 2012 Escalade ESV | 3 | 3 | 4★ | Electrical System | |
| 2011 Escalade ESV | 13 | 5 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 Escalade ESV | 4 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 Escalade ESV | 6 | 5 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2008 Escalade ESV | 17 | 4 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2007 Escalade ESV | 39 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Escalade ESV | 5 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2005 Escalade ESV | 14 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Escalade ESV | 22 | 1 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Escalade ESV | 12 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Cadillac: all Cadillac models · Cadillac VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Cadillac Escalade ESV years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (39), 2017 (38), 2019 (34), 2021 (74), 2022 (57), 2023 (90) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Escalade ESV 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 ESV?
Engine, with 266 complaints across 19 model years.
How many recalls does the Cadillac Escalade ESV have?
42 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.