2016 Cadillac ESCALADE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
38,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 89 complaints (34.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 19.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 12.4% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 11.2% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 | 31 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
Engine: 31; Power Train: 17; Electrical System: 15; Unknown Or Other: 14; Suspension: 8; Steering: 7; Air Bags: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 44 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 12; 2020: 11; 2021: 9; 2022: 4; 2023: 7; 2024: 5; 2025: 14; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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 10823280 · 2016-01-30 (January 30, 2016)
CAR VIBRATES FROM 35MPH UP TO 80 PLUS. HAD IT TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A VIBRATION. THEY SAID GM SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND GM WAS DESIGNING A FIX . ABOUT 5 CALLS AND THREE WEEK LATER THEY RECEIVED A NEW SPECIAL TORQUE CONVERTER AND AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE. YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THROTTLE, CENTER CONSOLE, FLOOR, AND THE SEAT. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS BEEN VERY POLITE AND HAS GONE OUT OF HIS WAY TO HELP. A GM FIELD SERVICE REP HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966314 · 2017-03-16 (March 16, 2017)
67 DAYS & 1230 MILES AFTER PURCHASING, JUST AFTER STARTING AND MERGING INTO HEAVY, FAST MOVING CITY TRAFFIC, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & SEVERAL OTHERS COME ON. THEN ON STAR TEXT AND EMAIL DIAGNOSTIC ALERT RECEIVED: "SERVICE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY". THE ENGINE WAS ACTING SLUGGISH, ROUGH, JOLTING, NO ACCELERATION, MAX SPEED BARELY 30PMH, A/C STOPS WORKING. ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC REPORT (MONTHLY EMAIL REPORT) AT 1200 MILES WAS PERFECT, 40 MINUTES PRIOR. DEALER SERVICE DIAGNOSED CYLINDER #2 MISFIRES, COMPONENT TESTING …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419359 · 2021-06-02 (June 2, 2021)
The contact owns A 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer replaced the lower engine mount, the lower control arm, and the battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 88,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11419359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442776 · 2021-12-06 (December 6, 2021)
The Escalade radio console keeps shorting out, operating irregularly, and stays "on" after the car has been turned off resulting in a stall and/or battery to drain leading to the car not starting, which has required several battery jumps.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221758 · 2019-06-21 (June 21, 2019)
THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN JERKY AT SLOW SPEEDS FROM ALMOST DAY ONE. BUT AFTER 30,000 MILES IT HAS BECOME WORSE. AT TIME AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING INTO GEAR IT WILL SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY LUNG FORWARD OR REVERSE, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A SLOW SPEED IT WILL STALL ABRUPTLY, TWICE CAUSING AN ENGINE CODE. TWO DEALERS HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT, BUT HAVEN' BEEN ABLE TO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM RELATED TO THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION IN GENERAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315460 · 2020-03-01 (March 1, 2020)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF OUR INITIAL PURCHASE) WE CONTACTED THE ESCALADE DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN, CA INFORMING THEM THAT OUR ESCALADE WOULD STALL UPON ACCELERATION GOING FORWARD OR REVERSE CAUSING IT TO JOLT (KICKBACK) ONCE IT ACCELERATED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED IT AND SAID NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. WE BROUGHT IT BACK MULTIPLE TIMES TO HEAR NO PROBLEM FOUND. THROUGH THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN BUT NOW MORE VIGOROUSLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992105 · 2017-05-30 (May 30, 2017)
MY VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AGGRESSIVELY NONE STOP AND ITS BAD ENOUGH TO WERE YOU TAKE YOUR EYES FOR A SECOND TO LOOK AT THE FUEL GAUGE AND YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OTHER LANE. THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP HAS PERFORMED WORK ON IT AND REPLACED PARTS,IN A FEW WORDS THEY TOLD ME..WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST. AS OF TODAY 5/29/2017 I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH MY STEERING TO KEEP MY VEHICLE IN LANE. THANKS FOR LOOKING INTO THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243715 · 2019-08-13 (August 13, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT PARKED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED MORSE CADILLAC TAMPA (101 E FLETCHER AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612, [phone removed]) FOUR TIMES WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE. DURING THE THIRD VISIT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRES AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. DURING THE FOURTH VISIT, THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 28 DAYS, BUT THE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11256675 · 2019-09-19 (September 19, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND HEADING TOWARDS HIM. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A LARGE ROCK IN A NEARBY LAWN. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. PARTS OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256675 at NHTSA ↗