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U.S. public vehicle records

2021 Cadillac ESCALADE NA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

17 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

514 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 17 complaints (41.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior529.4%
Steering behavior211.8%
Transmission and shifting15.9%
Engine operation15.9%
Electrical and battery issues15.9%

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.

Engine
7
Electrical System
3
Service Brakes
3
Unknown Or Other
2
Air Bags
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights
1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine7
Electrical System3
Service Brakes3
Unknown Or Other2
Air Bags1
Exterior Lighting1
Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control1

Engine: 7; Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 12 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.

2020
1
2021
7
2022
3
2023
6
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20201
20217
20223
20236

2020: 1; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 6

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 11383896 · 2020-12-17 (December 17, 2020)

SERVICE DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM ALERT WHILE DRIVING DEALER IS CONSULTING WITH CADILLAC ENGINEERING, BUT CAN'T FIGURE HOW TO FIX, BECAUSE NO CODE APPEARS - EVEN THOUGHT THE WARNING STILL APPEARS

Owner-reported narrative. 514 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383896 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11394848 · 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN WENT BLANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BAKER MOTOR COMPANY OF CHARLESTON (1513 SAVANNAH HWY SUITE A, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, [phone removed]) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11394848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11415747 · 2021-05-09 (May 9, 2021)

WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY ON ROUTE 476 IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED WAS INEXPLICABLY DISABLED. I WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THE BREAKDOWN LANE. SECONDS AFTER REACHING THE BREAKDOWN LANE, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE ON A FLATBED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOLMAN CADILLAC IN MARLTON NEW JERSEY. I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND NO LOANERS WERE AVAILABLE. I AM REPORTING THIS HAZA…

Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415747 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11422597 · 2021-06-28 (June 28, 2021)

When driving on the city streets of Chicago I approached a movable bridge which spans the Illinois river. The bridge deck was constructed of steel. As I was about to begin crossing the bridge my car brakes locked up completely, sending the vehicle into a short skid. Fortunately, the car behind me was not tailgating me or I most certainly would have been struck in the back of the vehicle. This is a brand new vehicle which I took delivery of on May 14, 2021. There were no warning lights or indications that anything was malfunctioning on the …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11422643 · 2021-06-28 (June 28, 2021)

I recently purchased a 2021 Cadillac Escalade with Supercruise driver assistance system. There have been at least 5 instances where I attempted to turn off the Supercruise function and the system does not allow me to regain control of the vehicle. For example, I will turn off the Supercruise fuction by hitting the Supercruise function on the steering wheel and it will begin to flash red on the steering wheel. I will move the steering wheel slightly to let the system know I am taking control of the vehicle but the vehicle does not recognize m…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11427220 · 2021-07-30 (July 30, 2021)

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the contact heard an abnormal rattling sound and then saw smoke coming from under the hood. Other drivers were honking at the contact and alerted him that there was oil leaking from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the axle rod had detached causing an engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The dea…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11427220 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11438218 · 2021-10-26 (October 26, 2021)

5/19/2021, Engine Vibrating, vehicle stall, 3 days repair. Ignition wiring bad/ replaced 5/28/2021, Engine Vibrating, Vehicle stop running, 3 day repair/electric module burn/temporary repair by Georgia car dealer. 6/3/2021 taken to NY dealer to repair 5/28/2021 problems, 15 Day to repair. 10/12/2021 Engine vibrating, passenger compartment filled with smoke, valve lifter crack, vehicle parked on dealers parking lot for 15 day, has not been repair. Vehicle has spent 35 total days in car dealers for different engine problems. On all occasions d…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11438218 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11441002 · 2021-11-19 (November 19, 2021)

2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE INTENSELY BRIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11441002 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

20V790000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Reported: 2020-12-17 (December 17, 2020)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles. The front passenger seat belt and airbag status telltale lights located in the overhead console in these vehicles may be set to "night mode" when the vehicle is started using remote start or when the vehicle is turned off and re-started after approximately ten minutes without opening the door. In daytime, if night mode is active, the telltale lights may not be visible, and fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: If the telltale lights are not visible, the driver and front passenger may not know that the front passenger is unbuckled or has a deactivated air bag, increasing the risk of passenger injury in a crash.

Remedy: The body control module (BCM) software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319980.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V811000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | Seat Belts

Reported: 2020-12-23 (December 23, 2020)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

Consequence: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V455000 · Steering:Steering Control Module

Reported: 2021-06-17 (June 17, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

Consequence: Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. 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 N212333900.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V739000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump:Control/Drive Module

Reported: 2021-09-23 (September 23, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.

Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. 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 N212332040.

NHTSA campaign record ↗