2016 Cadillac ESCALADE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10818140 · 2016-01-05 (January 5, 2016)
BUFFETING SOUND AND EAR PRESSURE LIKE THE REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN, BUT OCCURS ALL THE TIME AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. BOOMING SOUND AT SLOW SPEED. CAN FEEL STRANGE EAR PRESSURE LIKE THE STEREO SUBWOOFER IS PLAYING OVER MOST SMALL ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. THE WHOLE BODY "BOOMS" EXHAUST DROANING SOUND AND EAR PRESSURE. WHEN SUV SWITCHES INTO V4 MODE EXHAUST CREATES A DROANING BACK PRESSURE SOUND WHICH ALSO CREATES PRESSURE IN OCCUPANTS EARS RIDING IN VEHICLE. NOTE* GM BOUGHT BACK OUR 2015 YUKON AND 2015 ESCALADE FOR THESE EXACT PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818140 at NHTSA ↗
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 10823774 · 2016-02-02 (February 2, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AS THE SPEED INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876798 · 2016-06-27 (June 27, 2016)
VEHICLE EXHIBITS A CONSTANT VIBRATION AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 75 MPH. VIBRATION IS NOT ROAD RELATED, IT IS A CONSTANT, STEADY VIBRATION REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS, BEST DESCRIBED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING OVER CORDUROY. THERE IS ALSO A STEADY "BUFFETING" NOISE COMING FROM THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 MPH AND 70MPH. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP (BY ME) TO HAVE WHEELS AND TIRES ROAD FORCE BALANCED. REPORT WAS PROVIDED, ALL IN SPEC AND VIBRATION IS STILL PRESENT. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A "OPEN TICKET" …
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897993 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED, WHICH WOULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING IN THE INVENT OF A CRASH. THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927792 · 2016-11-25 (November 25, 2016)
THE LIGHT ON THE DASH TELL ME THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER SHOULD THERE,BE A HEAD ON COLLISION
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10927792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10934924 · 2016-12-13 (December 13, 2016)
IN THE EARLY HOURS OF AUGUST 15TH 2016 MY CADILLAC ESCALADE 2016, VIN [XXX], CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STAYING PARKED (STATIONARY) ALL NIGHT. AS PER THE PICTURES TAKEN BY THE NEIGHBORS, THE ESCALADE TUNED INTO A HUGE FIRE BALL AND BURNED THE TRUCK DOWN TO ASHES. IT ALSO BURNED DOWN TWO OTHER CARS PARKED BEHIND IT AND THE ADJACENT HOUSE ON FIRE. AS PER THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MARYLAND) FIRE DEPARTMENT, ARSON WAS RULED OUT AND MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY INTERNAL MECHANICAL ISSUES. (FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT NUMBER [XXX]). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10934924 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 ↗
Recall history
4 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 ↗19V645000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2019-09-06 (September 6, 2019)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Consequence: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
NHTSA campaign record ↗