CADILLAC Complaints

I am filing a safety complaint regarding repeated engine and drivability issues with my vehicle, which began shortly after purchase and have continued despite service visits. I purchased the vehicle on 03/04/2023. Within approximately one month (03/26/2023), I began experiencing abnormal engine behavior, including ticking noises and instances where the vehicle would shut off and require restarting. I immediately brought the vehicle to the dealership. At that time, the issue was not properly diagnosed and I was told after a test drive that the noise was “normal. On 12/18/2025, I was later notified of an engine recall involving the same type of engine problem I had been reporting since 2023. I brought the vehicle in 12/19/2026 and the engine failed 3 times. I was informed that an engine replacement was necessary, and the vehicle was left at the dealership. It was ready for pickup on 01/14/2026 after the engine replacement was completed. On 04/15/2026, the vehicle began making knocking noises and would not shift into drive or reverse. I had to turn the vehicle off and restart it in order to regain drivability. On 04/16/2026, while driving, the vehicle began making a loud revving noise without accelerating and started to slow down and lose power. I was forced to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle would not respond properly until I turned it off and restarted it again in order to continue driving. These ongoing issues present a serious safety concern due to repeated loss of power and drivability while operating the vehicle.

I purchased a used 2021 Cadillac Escalade in May 2025 with approximately 48,000 miles. While driving on Highway 14 near Acton CA at speeds exceeding 60 mph, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure (March 28th - 2026). The engine suddenly lost all power and shut off completely while in motion. Only electrical systems remained operational. At the time of the incident, I had my three children in the vehicle. This created a dangerous situation, as I was forced to maneuver across traffic and safely pull over without engine power. The vehicle could not be restarted and had to be towed to the dealership. The dealership replaced the engine with a refurbished unit April 14th - 2026. I was not informed in advance that the replacement engine would be refurbished rather than new. Immediately following the engine replacement, the vehicle began experiencing additional issues, including electrical malfunctions and air suspension problems, which required further repairs. After retrieving the vehicle, it is still not operating as expected. The vehicle is noticeably slow, sluggish, and noisy, raising concerns about reliability and the potential for another failure. Given the sudden loss of engine power at highway speed and the continued performance issues after repair, I have serious concerns about the safety of this vehicle.

Incident Overview: A Continental Control Contact Sport SRS+ tire (DOT 5323) experienced a catastrophic internal structural failure during normal driving on a wet roadway. The tire had approximately 50% tread remaining and was 1–1.5 years old. Failure Description: Inspection indicates internal belt/carcass separation originating within the tire structure, leading to rapid pressure loss and rupture. No road hazard or external impact was present. Crash Sequence: The failure caused immediate loss of control, vehicle yaw, roadway departure, and multiple impacts (frontal and lateral). The driver airbag deployed, confirming measurable crash force. Injuries: - Aggravation of pre-existing back condition (surgery required) - Hip labral tear and bone spur (surgery required) - Neck and shoulder pain Conclusion: The initiating event was a premature internal structural tire failure, not driver negligence or external hazard.

While driving on a highway, my wife abruptly experienced warning lights, loud rattling from engine and loss of power. Check engine light indicated cylinder misfire. Troubleshooting revealed a bent push rod and later discover broken lifter. While researching the issue it was found to be a very common issues with vehicles using active fuel management. Issue is so widespread parts are replacement parts are unavailable. If more traffic were around situation could resulted in loss of control in traffic and collision.

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving approximately 72 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. The driver discovered that the accelerator pedal adjustment button had been inadvertently depressed by the wallet, causing the pedal position to change and resulting in the unexpected acceleration. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ GM issued a Customer Satisfaction Program (NHTSA ID 11017089, Manufacturer Communication N252492830-01) for 2nd and 3rd row outboard head restraints that may not lock in the upright position on 2025 Escalade IQ vehicles. My vehicle has this exact defect—both the 2nd and 3rd row head restraints were stuck in the down/forward position and could not lock upright. The safety consequence is serious: head restraints that cannot lock upright provide no head or neck support in a rear-end collision for any 2nd or 3rd row passenger. The defect was identified by Chevrolet Cadillac of Santa Fe, NM on Nov 12, 2025 (RO# 0081837). The dealer confirmed the recall applied and ordered replacement parts from GM. The parts were not available. No ETA was provided. I was forced to take the vehicle back with the recall incomplete because the wait was indefinite. The dealer's own notes state: "2nd and 3rd row headrest still malfunctioning." The replacement head restraints did not arrive until late March 2026. The recall was finally completed on March 30, 2026 (RO# 0086689)—over 4 months after the defect was identified and the parts were ordered. For those 4+ months, I had a vehicle with a known safety defect that GM had already acknowledged via a manufacturer communication, but GM could not supply the parts to fix it. Any passengers in the 2nd or 3rd row were at risk of serious head and neck injury in a collision. This is not an isolated parts delay. The same vehicle waited 3.5 months at a body shop (Apr-Jul 2025) for routine OEM bumper and sensor parts, and 2.5 months at a dealer (Nov 2025-Jan 2026) for a radar module. GM appears unable to support the Escalade IQ with replacement parts, leaving owners with vehicles that have known safety defects and no available remedy.

The contact’s father-in-law owns a 2026 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while the owner was driving at an undisclosed speed going uphill, he was blinded by the sunlight and started driving onto the grass. The driver released the accelerator pedal, and within a second, the vehicle started rolling backwards. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle rolled down a steep hill and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the START/STOP was activated during the failure, and it was a programming failure where the vehicle automatically went into neutral with no lights indicating the vehicle was shut off. The contact stated the vehicle was rolling backwards at 35 MPH. The rear floorboard of the back seat was crushed against the rear frame rail, panel, and suspension. The vehicle stopped after crashing into the tree. The contact stated that no air bags had deployed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 700.

While driving approximately 55 miles per hour vehicle started making loud knocking noise then vehicle shifted to neutral. Vehicle was towed to dealership. Waiting for inspection to confirm engine failure. Vehicle has 32,000 miles.

My engine started to make noise so I took it in for service and was told by Cadillac service it was a blown piston rod and it required a full engine replacement.

When driving the whole car shakes and the engine makes a loud sound. It doesn't matter if I am going 10 mph or 75 mph the same shaking happens. The engine smells like burnt rubber. Driving feels like jerking not a smooth ride. I have already had the engine oil leak repaired. My car has been in the shop 3x in 2 months for this same problem. The dealership did a transmission systems update which did not help. When driving downhills the RMPS shoot up and get stuck between 3,000-4,000. The dealership could not find any documentation that downhill assist is a feature on this car. The dealership was not able to replicate these issues. I own a 2023 Cadillac XT5 with 30,859 miles on it.