2017 Cadillac ESCALADE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
29,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 51 complaints (43.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 15.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 13.7% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 13.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.8% |
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 | 22 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Engine: 22; Power Train: 12; Service Brakes: 9; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Structure:Body: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 28 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 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 9; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 11; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10940317 · 2017-01-07 (January 7, 2017)
BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS MOVED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT BEING COMMANDED. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, VEHICLE NOT MOVING AT THE TIME. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY OBSERVED IT. COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, SENT ME AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN AND DEALER ORDERED A SENSOR TO BE INSTALLED WHEN IT COMES IN.
Owner-reported narrative. 845 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101218 · 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VERA CADILLAC (300 S UNIVERSITY DR., PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33025, [phone removed]), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033979 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SHUDDERING AND VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DALE EARNHARDT JR. BUICK/GMC (1850 CAPITAL CIR NE, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED; HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11189745 · 2019-03-18 (March 18, 2019)
WHEN I AM DRIVING ON SMOOTH SURFACE STREETS SOMETIME THERE A FEEL OF INTERMITTENT JUTTERY RIDE WHICH FEELS LIKE YOU ARE RIDING OVER VERY SMALL SPEED BUMPS VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. I WAS TOLD BY TWO (2) MECHANICS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS CAUSING THIS. I STARTED ABOUT TWO (2) MONTHS AGO AND CONTINUE DAILY.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11189745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115279 · 2018-08-02 (August 2, 2018)
ENGINE CEASED RUNNING AT 55 MPH. CHAIN OF FAILURES- ENGINE VALVE STEM FRACTURED (CYLINDER # 2), VALVE DROPPED INTO CYLINDER, PISTON STRUCK VALVE, VALVE DEFORMED TO CYLINDER HEAD, ENGINE CEASED PROPERLY DETONATE FUEL COMPLETELY, MULTIPLE CODES, ENGINE SHUT OFF. NO ADVANCED SIGNAL GIVEN TO DRIVER, NO ALARMS WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES CEASED TO WORK WHILE DRIVING IN 55 MPH ZONE, ON A TURN COMING TO A RED LIGHT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR 5 OCCUPANTS. FAILURE AS SHOWN IN PICTURES BELOW OF THE VALVE COMPONENT ARE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,233 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181516 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
SPORADICALLY WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, TURNING THE WHEEL HARD LEFT OR RIGHT THE MESSAGE WILL FLASH "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION LOCKS, THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN THE CAR SHUTS OFF, AND NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE. THIS LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE THE STEERING UNLOCKS AND VEHICLE CONTROL IS RESTORED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE CENTER FOR OVER A WEEK NOW, AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO RETURN THE CAR TO ME STATING "WE CANNOT RECREATE THE ISSUE SO WE HAVE NO FIX". WE HAVE PHOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11210288 · 2019-05-28 (May 28, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START WHEN THE PUSH START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPSTARTED, BUT IT HAD VERY LITTLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AMESBURY CHEVROLET (103 MACY STREET, AMESBURY, MA 01913) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE FACTORY INSTALLED ANTENNA ON THE ROOF. THE WATER TRAVELED THROUGH THE INTERIOR O…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11210288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11489046 · 2022-10-12 (October 12, 2022)
The side view mirrors will randomly tilt to the sky or ground. Whatever it tilts to also becomes the saved position. The dealership has replaced the seat memory module, battery cables, fuse block and driver mirror. The dealership was unable to correct the issue and says there is nothing else they can do. The problem seems to occur wen the vehicle has been driving for 2 or more hours then goes away if the vehicle has sat for a few days.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11489046 at NHTSA ↗