2018 Cadillac Escalade Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Escalade years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 21st of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Cadillac Escalade. That ranks 21st out of 28 Escalade model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (10 complaints, 48%), typically at around 70,142 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 21owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Cadillac Escalade problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 48% | 70,142 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 14% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 14% | 48,942 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 10% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 5% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 5% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 5% | 35,290 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Cadillac Escalade recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Problem: 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, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Risk: A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The instrument cluster reset, flashes and the turn signals will stop working while the system is cycling or restting, whilw changing lanes or in a middle of a turn
Had to get cam shaft replaced last year. Now the lifters are going bad
It been twice that I have experienced lifters issues and damage caused to engine because of these. First time I fixed it in a NY mechanic shop because dealer workflow and expecting dates (all lifters, crankshaft, and seals were replaced new), less than 1 year later again the lifters failed (2) but…
I stopped to get gas and put the car in park. Turned the car off and when I started it back up the car thought it was in drive but was in park still. The gas pedal wonât not work and the car is now stuck in park. The Chevy Caddilac dealership said it is a failed TCM. Part is on back order and I…
On Juy7, 2025 while operating my 2018 Cadillac Escalade, which at the time of the incident had an odometer reading of approximately 57,600 miles. felt an immediate loss of power (inability to accelerate efficiently) and shortly thereafter the amber check engine light flashed on and off and I could…
Other Cadillac Escalade years
← 2017 Escalade · 2019 Escalade →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escalade | 36 | 3 |
| 2025 Escalade | 20 | 1 |
| 2024 Escalade | 52 | 2 |
| 2023 Escalade | 141 | 4 |
| 2022 Escalade | 85 | 4 |
| 2021 Escalade | 74 | 9 |
| 2020 Escalade | 14 | 2 |
| 2019 Escalade | 25 | 0 |
| 2018 | 21 | 1 |
| 2017 Escalade | 51 | 2 |
| 2016 Escalade | 89 | 4 |
| 2015 Escalade | 98 | 9 |
| 2014 Escalade | 20 | 2 |
| 2013 Escalade | 19 | 4 |
| 2012 Escalade | 20 | 3 |
| 2011 Escalade | 49 | 6 |
| 2010 Escalade | 38 | 3 |
| 2009 Escalade | 58 | 5 |
| 2008 Escalade | 136 | 4 |
| 2007 Escalade | 230 | 4 |
| 2006 Escalade | 19 | 2 |
| 2005 Escalade | 43 | 2 |
| 2004 Escalade | 69 | 2 |
| 2003 Escalade | 81 | 4 |
| 2002 Escalade | 115 | 1 |
| 2001 Escalade | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 Escalade | 71 | 1 |
| 1999 Escalade | 39 | 2 |
See all Cadillac Escalade problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
Embed this 2018 Cadillac Escalade badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Cadillac Escalade?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Cadillac Escalade?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Cadillac Escalade a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Escalade model years, the 2018 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.