2012 Cadillac ESCALADE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
66,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 20 complaints (45.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 15.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
Electrical System: 9; Engine: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Steering: 2; Structure:Body: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10609340 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
ON THE INDICATED DATE MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM DALLAS, TX TO ANN ARBOR, MI. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE ON I-44 APPROX. 20 MILES SOUTH OF ROLLA, MO. AT HIGHWAY SPEED WE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND REPEATED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND RELATED POWER SYSTEMS. THIS WAS EVIDENCED BY DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY CLICKING ON AND OFF, NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILURE, AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE, STABILITRACK FAILURE AND LACK OF POWER STEERING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO ONSTAR AND THE USE OF OUR CELL PHONES WE WERE AB…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024990 · 2017-09-22 (September 22, 2017)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, EVERYTHING AND THE ENGINE UPSHIFTED INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR COMPLETELY ON ITS OWN, THEN REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. THE ELECTRICS WOULD COME BACK ON AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN. THE ELECTRONIC WENT COMPLETELY BERSERK AND PRESENTED A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY WIFE, CHILDREN AND I.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503189 · 2013-03-15 (March 15, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WAS RECALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE VIN W…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287105 · 2019-12-05 (December 5, 2019)
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE (BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR) WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIST, SERVICE ABS ON LED SCREEN, AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WARNING CHIMES. NO PREVIOUS WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS SIGNALING A PROBLEM. HAD SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY FAILING HYBRID BATTERY. AFTER BEING IN FOR SERVICE FOR 52 DAYS, I RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE WITH A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. ONE WEEK LATER, WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BRAKING ISSUE. THIS TIME WHILE THERE WAS SOME BRAKING ABILITY THE PE…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,339 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11327274 · 2020-06-04 (June 4, 2020)
MY 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED.WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. A SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE I WAS ON A TWO LANE DUAL HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A MOTOR THAT IS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN THAT HAS A WEAK SHAFT THAT IS KNOWN TO BREAKAGE. THE VEHICLE IS MORE THAN DIFFICULT TO TRY TO STEER. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND HAS BEEN NOTED TO BE HAPPENING IN QUITE A NUMBER OF THESE LIMITED PRODUCTION VEHICLES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671762 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671762 at NHTSA ↗