Cadillac Escalade ESV Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Cadillac Escalade ESV model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2013 drew the fewest (2) and the 2021 the most (71).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 4 | Electrical system | 4★ | 14–16 |
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 3 | Electrical system | 4★ | 14–16 |
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 3 | Air bags | — | 16 |
| 2006 | 5 | 1 | Air bags | — | 13 |
| 2009 | 6 | 5 | Air bags | — | 15 |
| 2015 | 8 | 6 | Electrical system | — | 16–17 |
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
10 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | — |
| 2011 | 13 | 5 | Air bags | — | 14–16 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
13 | 1 | Engine | 5★ | — |
| 2016 | 15 | 3 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2018 | 15 | 1 | Engine | 4★ | — |
| 2008 | 17 | 4 | Air bags | — | 14 |
| 2020 | 22 | 2 | Engine | — | — |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
22 | 2 | Engine | 4★ | — |
| 2019 | 34 | 1 | Engine | — | — |
| 2017 Among the most complaints |
38 | 1 | Service brakes | 4★ | — |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
39 | 4 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2022 | 56 | 4 | Engine | 4★ | — |
| 2021 Among the most complaints |
71 | 10 | Engine | 4★ | — |
| 2023 | 89 | 4 | Engine | 4★ | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Cadillac Escalade ESV years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 71 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 51 (72%); Power train 12 (17%); Electrical system 11 (15%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 69,608 miles. 10 recall campaigns listed.
2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 39 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 14 (36%); Electronic stability control 9 (23%); Engine 8 (21%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 8 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 78,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 38 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 11 (29%); Engine 10 (26%); Power train 9 (24%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 31,278 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Cadillac Escalade ESV years with the fewest complaints
2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (50%); Engine 1 (50%); Engine and engine cooling 1 (50%).
4 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 2 (67%); Air bags 1 (33%); Engine 1 (33%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 4 (100%); Electronic stability control 1 (25%); Suspension 1 (25%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Cadillac Escalade ESV owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 89 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40,000 |
| 2022 | 56 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 71 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 69,608 |
| 2020 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 31,278 |
| 2016 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37,000 |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 78,000 |
| 2006 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls
- Frontal Air Bags May Not Deploy (2015–2017 model years; 3,640,162 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2016; 16V651000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2007–2011 model years; 2,641,272 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2021; 21V050000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2010–2014 model years; 1,778,128 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2021; 21V054000)
- HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER MODULE SHORT CIRCUIT (2007–2009 model years; 1,365,070 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2010; 10V240000)
- HEATED WIPER WASHER SYSTEM (2007–2008 model years; 857,735 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2008; 08V441000)
All 42 Cadillac Escalade ESV recall campaigns · Cadillac Escalade ESV problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Cadillac Escalade ESV years FAQ
Which Cadillac Escalade ESV year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2013 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Cadillac Escalade ESV years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2021, 2007 and 2017 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Cadillac Escalade ESV problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine (257 of 482 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Cadillac Escalade ESV have?
NHTSA lists 42 recall campaigns covering the Cadillac Escalade ESV. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Cadillac Escalade ESV recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.