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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 15 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting533.3%
Electrical and battery issues320.0%
Engine operation16.7%
Braking behavior16.7%

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.

Suspension
6
Power Train
5
Electrical System
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Service Brakes
1
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm
1
Wheels
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension6
Power Train5
Electrical System3
Unknown Or Other3
Service Brakes1
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm1
Wheels1

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

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.

2017
2
2018
5
2019
5
2023
2
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20172
20185
20195
20232
20251

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.

Examples from the source records

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 11074232 · 2018-02-22 (February 22, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARRYS ON THE HILL (819 PATTON AVE, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER A MODULE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11074232 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11082368 · 2018-04-01 (April 1, 2018)

FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND EATING MY TIRES FROM INSIDE. I WENT TO GET MY ALIGNMENT DONE BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND HE CAN NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT AND THEN I WENT TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS GOOD BECAUSE ON THAT TIME I ALREADY HAD 49,540 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE 50000 MILES SO THEY CAN TELL ME YOU ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.

Owner-reported narrative. 49,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 11082368 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 11131927 · 2018-09-27 (September 27, 2018)

FROM A COLD START, WHEN TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE OR BUCK PRIOR TO APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1/4 OF THE DRIVE TIME. WHEN ACCELERATING AND THEN COMING TO A COAST AND BACK TO ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL BUCK. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1/2 OF THE DRIVE TIME. FROM A COLD START, REVERSE, DRIVE, ACCELERATE TO 1MPH WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BUCKS. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE DRIVE TIME.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131927 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11133497 · 2018-10-05 (October 5, 2018)

SHUDDER / VIBRATION BETWEEN 45 - 65 MPH. CAUSE WAS TORQUE CONVERTER. 85 - 90% OF VIBRATION WAS MITIGATED. CONTINUE TO HAVE STEADY VIBRATIONS 65 -70MPH AND ABOVE. DEALER ALSO INSTALLED NEW TIRES / WHEELS AND I HAVE HAD A ROAD FORCE BALANCE.

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11133497 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11175833 · 2019-02-09 (February 9, 2019)

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 50K MILES. SINCE I AM IN THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE INDUSTRY, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON ESCALADES.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11175833 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V256000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm

Reported: 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.

Consequence: Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V651000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V437000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2017-07-10 (July 10, 2017)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

NHTSA campaign record ↗