2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE Complaints

Bought vehicle brand new in 2021 took delivery in 2022. Had to have a full transmission replacement and radiator that was cracked replaced at 30,000 miles. Over the next few years have had fuel delivery issues due to fuel pump. This fuel pump was not fixed. As of this year 2026 i've had the vehicle in the shop just shy of every single month. I have had a thermostat sensor that caused the engine fan to go into high RPM causing limp mode on the freeway with a family of 5 in the vehicle. Ive had breaks replaced and not mounted correctly. Additionally, being told the radiator is cracked again in the exact same spot from the initial replacement. Most recently i had a "exhaust pressure back flow valve replaced" that also caused the vehicle to go into limp mode. The following week was another pressure back flow valve issue from the install requiring 2 forced regen's. Approximately 4 days later (08/14/26) from getting the vehicle back from the dealership i have a new check engine light recommending a new catalytic converter. These issues predominately and without warning putting the car into limp mode on the highway is causing major safety concerns for my family with 3 little girls. The vehicle continues to be assessed at the dealership and we have been treated as more of a nuisance than a customer with major vehicle concerns

2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV equipped with L87 6.2L V8, subject to NHTSA Recall 25V-274 / GM N252494000. The recall inspection was completed and the vehicle passed, so GM performed the 0W-40 higher-viscosity-oil remedy rather than engine replacement. The vehicle has a history of unexplained oil loss with no obvious external leak, including a prior low-oil warning. At a recent oil change after approximately 5,000 miles, no oil registered on the dipstick before service. The engine was then filled to the full mark. Using the same repeatable checking method, the level was approximately 3/4 at 227 miles and approximately 1/2 at 1,300 miles. I am concerned that a progressive internal engine condition may not have been detected by the recall inspection and that the oil-only remedy may be inadequate. NHTSA currently has Recall Query RQ26001 open regarding engine failures after Recall 25V-274 remedies. I am also concerned because GM Special Coverage N252494003 excludes an engine presenting with low/no oil as neglect even if unresolved mechanical oil consumption caused the low level. I am requesting this complaint be associated with Recall 25V-274 and RQ26001. Please advise. I just bought the car less than a year ago and can’t a new engine.

My 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV with the 6.2L L87 engine received the remedy for Safety Recall 25V-274 (GM recall number N252494001) on July 30, 2025. The dealer inspected the engine, passed it, and performed the higher viscosity oil remedy. The engine was not repaired or replaced. On [DATE], while driving, the vehicle hesitated and lost power under acceleration. Engine noise then increased progressively until I pulled over on the side of the road. The engine stopped running and would not restart. The dash displayed a message to press the start button again. The check engine light illuminated at the time of failure. There were no warning lights prior to that day. My family, including my children, were in the vehicle when it lost power. We were stranded on the roadside until the vehicle could be towed. The battery and electrical system are functioning normally, but the engine would not start. The vehicle was towed to a Cadillac dealership. At the dealership, a start attempt produced a loud knocking noise from the engine along with a fuel/oil odor. I believe the connecting rod bearings have failed. These symptoms — hesitation, loss of power, and knocking noise — are the exact pre-failure indicators GM identified in Recall 25V-274. This was a loss of motive power while driving on a public roadway, creating a serious crash risk for my family and surrounding traffic. The recall remedy performed on this vehicle was inadequate. GM inspected this engine, passed it, and it failed approximately one year later in exactly the manner the recall was intended to prevent. Date of incident: 08/08/2026 Mileage at failure: 66,000 Recall remedy completed: July 30, 2025 Vehicle was towed. No crash, fire, or injury occurred.

On 7/14/26, I scheduled Escalade to be serviced at local dealership (MT) when A/C went out on drivers/middle vents and I noticed a faint ticking noise under hood. Was told engine lifters were damaged & needed to be replaced. Service was completed 7/21 and I picked it up that evening. On [XXX] my husband and I departed for San Diego; stayed overnight in St George UT. On [XXX] around [XXX] pm, I was driving in second from left lane on [XXX] San Bernadino area. I braked quickly as traffic from far left lane merged right to avoid debris from a refrigerator that had shattered all over the highway. The Escalade engine failed and shut off without warning or any indicators. I tried several times & could not restart the vehicle; therefore I could not shift the vehicle into Neutral so it could at least be pushed off the highway. My husband immediately called 9-1-1 and requested assistance. I frantically searched the internet for a way to shift to neutral when there is no power to the vehicle, and discovered the manual neutral override is under the vehicle. It was impossible for us to attempt that in this situation. All we could do was sit in the middle of the freeway with our hazard lights on and pray while we waited for law enforcement to arrive while heavy fast-moving traffic flew around us, honking and cursing at us to "get out of the way". This was a very perilous situation and our lives were endangered. We were helpless until CHP officers arrived on scene, followed by a tow company. The vehicle was towed to the closest dealer service center. We were told four days later that the entire engine needed to be replaced. It remains at the CA dealership while we fight with GM Warranty to have it shipped to MT. If the engine failure recall was dealt with appropriately as promised by GM, this would have been avoided altogether. **Note: Escalade passed engine recall inspection 10/9/25; was 'upgraded' to 40W oil. Regular service/oil changes completed 1/23/26 and 6/8/26. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while approaching a red light and slowing down, there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was immediately driven to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 40,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with Special Coverage Program: N252494003 (Engine Loss of Propulsion); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Accelerated onto a 4-lane major highway and lost most engine power and many warning lights came on. I lost most vehicle power merging onto a 4 lane highway around other vehicles. I was able to get the car stopped car safely on side of the road and cut off for one minute. There was a noticeable rattlling noise in the engine compartment and severly reduced power. No lights regarding engine were previously available. Got the vehicle to dealer service center. Below is their report. "engine misfire detected. checked misfire data, all cylinder has recorded misfires with cylinder #4 being the most at 23,316. will have to remove bank 2 valve cover for inspection of rocker arms along with push rods. after removing valve cover no visible issues. started vehicle and the scraping/ticking noise is very audible. all rocker arms are moving. when touching cylinder #4 exhaust valve rocker arm can feel the roughness of the noise. which is indication of failed valve lifter or camshaft lobe. estimate provided. labor op 4067490 engine replacement 18.4 add 1.2 evacuate and recharge r1234yf a/c system. old engine #N1203011CU8X0269. new engine #19420611 007507775 1110000000000X. service completed."

Following a recent oil change, I started the vehicle back up to drive approximately an hour to another city and the engine was making a horrible “knocking” sound. Took the vehicle back to the dealership and it was confirmed catastrophic engine failure which fell under GM’s known 6.2L engine issues. My safety and my children’s safety were put at risk because had I not drove directly to the dealership instead of getting on the highway as planned, the vehicle could have died at highway speeds posing a serious safety risk. No warning signs, no engine light, nothing prior to the failure.

When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the backup camera intermittently does not display an image. Instead, the screen shows a blue hourglass, leaving me without rear visibility while backing up. This creates a safety risk because I may not be able to see pedestrians, children, vehicles, or objects behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. GM has issued Service Bulletin 23-NA-084 for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, titled “Blue Hourglass and No Gridlines on Radio Rear View Camera Display While in Reverse.” The bulletin identifies software anomalies in the Video Processing Module and instructs dealers to reprogram the module. My concern is that this is a safety-related rear visibility failure, not merely a convenience or display issue. I also understand GM/NHTSA Campaign 22V709 involved rear-view camera failures on other GM vehicles, including certain Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, and GMC Acadia models. Although my Escalade is not included in that recall, the safety consequence is similar: intermittent loss of rear-view camera visibility while reversing. The issue occurs intermittently when shifting into reverse. The vehicle has not been included in a recall for this condition. I respectfully request that NHTSA review whether the 2021 Cadillac Escalade should be included in an existing or expanded safety investigation/recall, or whether a separate defect investigation is warranted for intermittent rear-view camera failures in this model.

I purchased a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV and shortly thereafter experienced an engine malfunction. The vehicle developed a misfire, rough idle, loss of power, and produced significant blue/white exhaust smoke. The check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began running abnormally. An independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and reported oil-related issues affecting a cylinder and spark plug. The repair facility also observed excessive exhaust smoke during diagnosis. The condition raises concerns about potential engine failure while driving, which could result in loss of power and create a safety hazard in traffic. The vehicle is currently undergoing diagnostic testing, including a leak-down test, to determine the cause of the failure. The problem has been confirmed by a repair facility and occurred shortly after purchase.