2016 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
37,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 15 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 20.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Suspension: 6; Power Train: 5; Electrical System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Service Brakes: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2023: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10956879 · 2017-02-25 (February 25, 2017)
THE GEARS SHIFT ABRUPTLY. WHEN TAKING OFF THE GEARS WILL SHIFT HARD THAT IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING HEAVY IS DROPPING IN THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM. TOMORROW WILL BE FOURTH TIME WITH SAME ABRUPT SHIFTING PROBLEM FOR A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. AFTER DEALERSHIP TRIES TO FIX IT IT OPERATES WELL FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS AND THEN THE PROBLEM STARTS AGAIN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER TWICE NOW, BATTERY DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS BLINK QUICKLY, MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT DOES NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11016153 · 2017-08-18 (August 18, 2017)
ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE THAT HAS A KEY FOB WILL SHIFT INTO PARK AND SHUTOFF THE ENGINE IF YOU ARE STOPPED AND PRESS THE ENGINE STOP BUTTON. MY CAR DOES NOT AND I HAVE EXITED MY CAR ON 3 OCCASIONS THINKING IT WAS SHUT OFF (ENGINE IS TOO QUIET) AND MY CAR STARTED DRIVING AWAY WITH NO ONE AT THE WHEEL. THE WORST TIME IS WHEN I PULLED OVER TO HELP A STRANDED MOTORIST AND MY CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION - LUCKILY ANOTHER MOTORIST GOT OUT OF THEIR CAR AND STOPPED MY CAR - AVERTING A MASSIVE ACCIDENT. THIS IS A DEATH MACHINE WAITING F…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121958 · 2018-08-23 (August 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR COLLISION SENSORS PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FALSE WARNINGS PROVIDED BY THE SENSORS SIGNALED AN IMMINENT CRASH WHEN THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREMONT CADILLAC (5939 AUTO MALL PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE RE-CALIBRATED AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,462 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11219769 · 2019-06-13 (June 13, 2019)
VACUUM PUMP DETERIORATION OR FAILURE CAUSED REDUCED STOPPING OF VEHICLE. BACKED UP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUMPED BRAKE PETAL SEVERAL TIMES. AND FINALLY STOPPED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SET HAND BRAKE. I CHECKED ACCELERATOR AND STOP PETALS FOR OBSTRUCTION AND FOUND NONE. PLACED VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND SLOWLY MOVED FORWARD. APPLIED BRAKES ABOUT TEN FOOT FROM WALL AND VEHICLE STRUCT BRICK WALL BETWEEN GARAGES. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. DAMAGE TO GARAGE $14,940 AND VEHICLE $4,984.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,851 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219769 at NHTSA ↗