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Cadillac Escalade: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Cadillac Escalade problems by model year, from 1,134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2022 (93%, 129 drivetrain complaints), 2023 (90%, 201 drivetrain complaints) and 2020 (85%, 28 drivetrain complaints). 9 of the 12 Cadillac Escalade years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 6 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2011 (14%), 2012 (24%) and 2010 (29%). 2012 and 2010 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2023 drew the most drivetrain complaints (201 of 717 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Cadillac Escalade year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Escalade | no elevated signal | 29% | 5 | 43 | 10/12 | 3 |
| 2011 Escalade | no elevated signal | 14% | 3 | 65 | 12/12 | 6 |
| 2012 Escalade | no elevated signal | 24% | 5 | 26 | 11/12 | 3 |
| 2013 Escalade | too few to score | – | 9 | 22 | – | 4 |
| 2014 Escalade | too few to score | – | 4 | 20 | – | 2 |
| 2015 Escalade | high | 56% | 57 | 106 | 7/12 | 9 |
| 2016 Escalade | high | 54% | 52 | 104 | 8/12 | 4 |
| 2017 Escalade | high | 54% | 46 | 89 | 9/12 | 2 |
| 2018 Escalade | very high | 66% | 21 | 36 | 6/12 | 2 |
| 2019 Escalade | very high | 74% | 42 | 59 | 5/12 | 1 |
| 2020 Escalade | very high | 85% | 28 | 36 | 3/12 | 2 |
| 2021 Escalade | very high | 84% | 128 | 160 | 4/12 | 11 |
| 2022 Escalade | very high | 93% | 129 | 140 | 1/12 | 4 |
| 2023 Escalade | very high | 90% | 201 | 228 | 2/12 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Cadillac Escalade years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Cadillac Escalade engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Cadillac Escalade involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 37 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2014 | 14V007000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system | 2015 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V837000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2020 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V739000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module | 2021 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V036000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2021 |
| Oct 2024 | 24V797000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module: software | 2021 |
| Apr 2025 | 25V274000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021–2023 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V619000 | fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly | 2021 |
| Feb 2026 | 26V085000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module: software | 2022 |
| May 2026 | 26V289000 | power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive) | 2015 |
28 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | 10V643000 | suspension: rear: axle: spindle | 2011 |
| Jan 2011 | 11V007000 | suspension: rear: axle: spindle | 2011 |
| Jun 2011 | 11V339000 | steering: linkages | 2011 |
| May 2014 | 14V259000 | air bags | 2015 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V624000 | air bags | 2015 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V827000 | electrical system: ignition | 2011–2012 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V256000 | suspension: front: control arm | 2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V651000 | air bags: frontal | 2015–2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V437000 | air bags: frontal | 2015–2016 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V586000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2015 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V673000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2018–2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V645000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2015–2017 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V603000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2018 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V811000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V050000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V051000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V053000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V054000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V115000 | tires | 2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V190000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V421000 | air bags: srs malfunction warning lamp/light | 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V455000 | steering: steering control module | 2021 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V617000 | seat belts: critical fasteners | 2021–2022 |
| Nov 2022 | 22V827000 | exterior lighting: lighting control module: software | 2021 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V903000 | exterior lighting: lighting control module: software | 2022–2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V642000 | suspension: rear | 2023 |
| Sep 2024 | 24V674000 | service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp | 2023 |
| May 2026 | 26V329000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Cadillac Escalade
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Cadillac Escalade
What are the worst years for the Cadillac Escalade?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Cadillac Escalade years are the 2022 (93% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2023 (90% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2020 (85% of relevant complaints, very high). 9 of 12 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Cadillac Escalade?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Cadillac Escalade years are the 2011 (14%), the 2012 (24%) and the 2010 (29%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Cadillac Escalade have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 12 scored years, 717 of 985 relevant NHTSA complaints (73%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Cadillac Escalade reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 9 of 12 Cadillac Escalade years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 73% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Cadillac Escalade?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Cadillac Escalade years we track, out of 37 in total: 25V619000 (Sep 2025, 2021), 26V085000 (Feb 2026, 2022), 26V289000 (May 2026, 2015), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.