2017 Cadillac ESCALADE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 11033012 · 2017-10-12 (October 12, 2017)
WHY ARE THE HEADLIGHTS ON NEW CADILLACS, ESPECIALLY ESCALADES, SO BLINDING? IT'S LIKE THESE VEHICLES HAVE THEIR HEADLAMPS PERMANENTLY ON BRIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11033012 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 11065721 · 2018-01-29 (January 29, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. HOVE NISSAN (1405 N KINZIE AVE, BOURBONNAIS, IL) WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065721 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 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 11182490 · 2019-02-26 (February 26, 2019)
IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES , WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH WHILE MAKING A TURN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON... THE ENGINE RESTARTED IN ABOUT 5 SECONDS... I CONTACTED CADILLAC MAIN OFFICE LAWANDA [phone removed] EX 5911833 AND SENT A EMAIL TO MARY BARRA CEO... THEY GAVE ME A CASE #[XXX] THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECALLED OVER ONE MILLION VEHICLE BUT MY VIN NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN ADDED YET.. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT TILL GM ADDS MY VIN TO THE NATIONAL RECALL #18289... I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182490 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 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 ↗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 ↗