2023 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 60 of 85 complaints (70.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 18 | 21.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 17.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 60 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Engine: 60; Power Train: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Electrical System: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 3; Service Brakes: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 74 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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 | 42 |
2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 34; 2026: 42
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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 11492212 · 2022-11-04 (November 4, 2022)
Engine light is on solid. Veichile did stall while driving at Highway and vehicle will shake stop at red light. Noise when vehicle moving.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11541111 · 2023-08-28 (August 28, 2023)
The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that a software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The f…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11541111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520983 · 2023-05-08 (May 8, 2023)
The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while reversing into a parking space, the auto brake engaged sporadically. The contact stated there were no objects nearby to have caused the auto brake system to activate. Additionally, the contact stated the vehicle was turned off and the transmission was inadvertently shifted into neutral (N). The contact stated that after disabling the traction control and stability control features, the function restarted while driving above 20 MPH. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor rep…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,506 miles reported. Look up ODI 11520983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11652761 · 2025-04-04 (April 4, 2025)
[XXX] driving down [XXX] in Delaware at 68mph, with no prior warning my Cadillac Escalade had a total power loss and shifted into neutral in the center lane of a 4 lane highway nearing causing a collision that could of took my life as well as my 3 children. We were stuck in the center lane of a dangerous highway for 2 hours. The dealership (Delaware Cadillac) has notified me that at 36,000 the entire engine has failed with no prior warning or issues. And is going to require a complete engine replacement. This is extremely dangerous. I also own…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11652761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11655634 · 2025-04-19 (April 19, 2025)
my 2023 Cadillac Escalade vehicle broke down while I was driving on the highway this past Wednesday. While driving at highway speeds, the transmission unexpectedly shifted from Drive (D) to Neutral (N), and after that, I was unable to shift back to Drive or start the vehicle. The car was then towed to Cadillac of Silver Spring in Maryland for further inspection. I was informed the engine may be locked, but other technicians suggest it could be an ECM or electrical issue. The vehicle is still under warranty and only has 12000miles.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11655634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11707224 · 2025-12-27 (December 27, 2025)
On December 19, 2023, when pulling out of a parking lot onto the street, pressing the gas vehicle jerked and would not accelerate. No lights on dash. Drove less than 1 minute and turned down a side street, to get out of traffic while going slow/no power. Stopped at stop sign, went thru intersection. Went to next intersection, at stop sign, vehicle shut off, in the middle of traffic. Still no dash lights. Vehicle would not start. Turned on hazard lights. While waiting for tow truck, tried cranking several times. After about 3 hours check engine …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11707224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11636689 · 2025-01-18 (January 18, 2025)
Back in April of 2024 when the truck only had about 16,500 miles on it the engine went out causing steering to become heavy and braking to become very hard. This happened on a highway going about 65-70mph. The should was very narrow causing the truck to kind of protrude into the roadway, almost got hit by several cars, trucks with trailer going by. Called the on star folks and they were very poor to respond quickly, they had the police come, however there was an accident that happened further up and he left to tend to that accident. The eng…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11636689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11660273 · 2025-05-11 (May 11, 2025)
I was driving my vehicle on the highway at approx 55 mph. Without warning my vehicle’s engine failed and the vehicle went into neutral. I had to coast until the emergency shoulder was available as power steering was dwindling. As I pulled into the shoulder the wheel locked. The vehicle’s engine could not be restarted and the vehicle was towed to the Cadillac Dealership. I feared for my life as cars were behind me at 55 mph or higher when my engine went out. I nearly didn’t make it into the shoulder before the vehicle stopped completely.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11660273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11637496 · 2025-01-21 (January 21, 2025)
I was on highway and car all the sudden started slowing down and stopped completely and I wasn’t able to start it back. I had to tow it to closest dealership It happened [XXX] 9/16/2024 car was transferred to another dealership cadillac of Manhattan. And it had been there and as of today 1/21/2025 isn’t fixed. On a top dealership made me pay $440 out the pocket and I’m gonna have to pay $2590 for fuel tank even though car is still under manufacture warranty and should be covered bumper to bumper. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11637496 at NHTSA ↗