2017 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
31,278 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 37 complaints (29.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 35.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Service Brakes: 11; Engine: 9; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Structure:Body: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (7). 20 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 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 8; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10979234 · 2017-04-19 (April 19, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A POLICE OFFICER ABRUPTLY MADE A LEFT TURN CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION CRASH OF FOUR VEHICLES. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING AND THE DEALER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076112 · 2018-03-03 (March 3, 2018)
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE NEWER ESCALADES SEEM MUCH TOO BRIGHT. IT REALLY HURTS THE EYES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11076112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090388 · 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE APR 9TH BETWEEN 6PM AND 6:30 PM IN HOUSTON TEXAS DUE TO SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY FEEDER ROAD WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR.VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW LESS THAN 30 DAYS AGO FROM RON CARTER CADILLAC OF FRIENDSWOOD
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139240 · 2018-10-09 (October 9, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NOT TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CITY CADILLAC [phone removed], LOCATED AT 43-60 NORTHERN BLVD, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED FUEL AND DAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11254820 · 2019-09-11 (September 11, 2019)
THE FIRST TIME I PUSHED MY BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES DID NOT EMPLOY GOT A FEW SECONDS. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED LAFONTAINE CADILLAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TOW THE CAR. THE CAR DASH DISPLAYED A POWER ASSIST PROBLEM. THEY PICKED UP THE CAR AND REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE BRAKES WERE PUSHED AND THE CAR BRAKES DID NOT DEPLOY FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS SKIDDING ON ICE WHEN NO ICE EXISTED ON THE ROADS. IT WAS WARM OUTSIDE. THE CAR AG…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11254820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11256794 · 2019-09-20 (September 20, 2019)
CAR IS VIBRATING WHEN YOU STOP IN TRAFFIC LIGHTS IT FILLS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE . I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND 2ND PROBLEM IS STEERING WHEEL IT GIVES METAL KNOCKIN NOISE ON THE ROAD BUMPS
Owner-reported narrative. 42,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11267568 · 2019-10-10 (October 10, 2019)
EVERY TIME THAT I AXELARATE, THERE'S A FUNNY NOISE THAT I'M HEARING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE THAT BATTERED MY EARS AND THE NOISE KEPT ON GOING LOUDER AS I AXELARATE. EVEN MORE NOISE ON THE HIGHWAYS
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11267568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286284 · 2019-12-02 (December 2, 2019)
IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK BOTTOM OF THE KEY FOB WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND CAUSE THE MIRRORS TO FOLD. THIS FEATURE SHOULD BE DISABLED AT THE VERY LEAST WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY I ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED THE KEYFOB WHILE IT WAS IN MY POCKET AND THE THE PRESS CAUSED THE MIRRORS TO FOLD IN WHILE I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286284 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗