What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Typical pattern

4% of complaints about the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (50 complaints), typically at 4.7 yr or about 90,000 miles.

Complaints
100
Median age at failure
4.7 yr
Median mileage
69,608 n=14
Crash / fire / tow
20% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
50 reports · 90,000 mi
4.7 yr
10%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

25V274000 2025-04-24
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

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.

Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

24V797000 2024-10-24
Power train:automatic transmission:control module:software

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

22V827000 2022-11-03
Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

22V617000 2022-08-11
Seat belts:critical fasteners

General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

22V036000 2022-01-27
Power train:driveline:driveshaft

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.

Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V739000 2021-09-23
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump:control/drive module

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

21V455000 2021-06-17
Steering:steering control module

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.

21V421000 2021-06-10
Air bags:srs malfunction warning lamp/light

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

21V190000 2021-03-18
Seat belts

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.

A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

20V811000 2020-12-23
Seat belts

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

In owners’ own words

Engine mileage not reported 11 mo in service
At 3,000 miles on this new car, the motor began to rattle, shake, and then heat up to 240-260 degrees when the dashboard flashed and the vehicle and lights turned off. The brakes were not powered and because I was towing a trailer at night, I nearly crashed. My wife and 5 children were in the car with me. I have since learned that there is a major problem with these new Cadillacs, but if I would have know the motor was going to grenade and then turn off the car, I would not have spent $110,000 on this car.
Engine 33,000 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while her husband was driving 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the electrical system and engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.
Engine mileage not reported 2.3 yr in service
2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO POWERTRAIN FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR WITH NO ETA ON NEEDED PART DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACK ORDER.

Other Escalade ESV model years

2023202220212019

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