2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV Engine Problems
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 73% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 80,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “redacted pursuant freedom” (11% of reports).
- 54engine complaints
- 80,500median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $7,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 63%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Redacted pursuant freedom: mentioned in 6 of 54 complaints (11%)
- Loss propulsion: mentioned in 5 of 54 complaints (9%)
- Complete engine: mentioned in 5 of 54 complaints (9%)
- Information act foia: mentioned in 5 of 54 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV at $7,550, and half of them between $6,200 and $11,350.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2025–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 6 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 54 complaints, 1 an injury.
Cadillac Escalade ESV engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escalade ESV | 11 | 100% | — |
| 2025 Escalade ESV | 7 | 54% | 5,200 |
| 2024 Escalade ESV | 14 | 64% | 15,000 |
| 2023 Escalade ESV | 64 | 71% | 42,000 |
| 2022 Escalade ESV | 44 | 77% | 45,765 |
| 2021 Escalade ESV | 54 | 73% | 80,500 |
| 2020 Escalade ESV | 14 | 64% | 115,118 |
| 2019 Escalade ESV | 20 | 59% | 86,025 |
| 2018 Escalade ESV | 9 | 60% | 104,107 |
| 2017 Escalade ESV | 10 | 26% | 72,725 |
| 2015 Escalade ESV | 2 | 25% | 62,107 |
| 2013 Escalade ESV | 1 | 50% | 130,000 |
| 2012 Escalade ESV | 1 | 33% | 93,875 |
| 2009 Escalade ESV | 2 | 33% | 120,600 |
| 2008 Escalade ESV | 1 | 6% | 91,280 |
| 2007 Escalade ESV | 8 | 21% | 128,500 |
| 2006 Escalade ESV | 1 | 20% | 118,000 |
| 2005 Escalade ESV | 1 | 7% | 123,633 |
| 2003 Escalade ESV | 2 | 17% | 139,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV (VIN [XXX]) developed an engine failure after receiving the recall remedy for NHTSA recall 25V-274 (GM 6.2L V8 connecting rod/crankshaft defect). Symptoms: engine misfiring, dashboard warning lights illuminated, engine stalling/misfiring at idle, loss of power on…
Body of what was just sent to GM- this should answer most/all questions: To the GM Executive Resolution Team, I am escalating a critical safety hazard and severe dealer misconduct involving my 2021 Cadillac Escalade (53,700 miles), which is fully covered under the GM Factory Powertrain Warranty and…
I was driving down the interstate going 80 miles an hour and my engine completely shut off. I had to cross four lanes of traffic, on an interstate where the speed limit is 75 miles an hour, to get over on the shoulder while my car was able to accelerate. It was traumatizing and extremely dangerous…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESVs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 54 owner complaints about engine for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV (73% of the 74 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 80,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,550 (half paid between $6,200 and $11,350), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The most frequent phrase is “redacted pursuant freedom”, in 6 of 54 complaints, followed by “loss propulsion” (5).
See all 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems or engine problems across all Escalade ESV years.