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Cadillac · vehicle model

Cadillac Escalade

2,117 NHTSA complaints and 96 safety recalls across model years 1999–2026.

Complaints
2,117
Recalls
96
Model years
28

The verdict

The Cadillac Escalade pairs above-average complaint volume with 96 recalls (heavily recalled).

7th pctile
complaint volume, US models
96
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Cadillac Escalade vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

2,117 Higher than most more complaints than 93% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The Cadillac Escalade appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 2,117 consumer safety complaints and 96 recall campaigns across 28 model years (1999–2026). That averages roughly 76 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 10 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year Complaints
2026 4
2025 16
2024 49
2023 145
2022 79
2021 67
2020 11
2019 24
2018 27
2017 71
2016 113
2015 137
2014 29
2013 22
2012 32
2011 53
2010 44
2009 89
2008 180
2007 317
2006 26
2005 63
2004 99
2003 111
2002 164
2001 3
2000 96
1999 46

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 696 in 2017-2021 to 641 in 2022-2026, a fall of 7.9% . That is the 59th percentile of change across the 763 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

3
’99
24
’00
31
’01
44
’02
48
’03
39
’04
42
’05
39
’06
30
’07
21
’08
36
’09
44
’10
30
’11
37
’12
54
’13
74
’14
92
’15
92
’16
157
’17
130
’18
192
’19
135
’20
82
’21
51
’22
82
’23
76
’24
375
’25
57
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare Cadillac Escalade to Similar Vehicles

Cadillac Escalade vs Volvo Xc90 → Cadillac Escalade vs KIA Telluride → Cadillac Escalade vs Pontiac Vibe → Cadillac Escalade vs Audi A6 →

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

PE24011 Preliminary Evaluation Open 2024-04-11

Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2022-07-22

Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2019-02-01

Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001 EQ Closed 2011-02-07

IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017 Engineering Analysis Closed 2007-12-07

REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
PE07037 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2007-07-17

FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL
EA06001 Engineering Analysis Closed 2006-01-20

SUNROOF GLASS FAILURE
PE04060 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2004-08-17

FAILING SEAT BELT BUCKLES
RQ99013 Recall Query Closed 1999-06-10

CADILLAC COOLANT COOLED ALTERNATOR FIRES
SQ97017 SQ Closed 1997-07-02

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Cadillac Escalade?▼
The Cadillac Escalade has received 2,117 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1999 to 2026, with 96 recalls. That averages about 76 complaints per model year.
What years of Cadillac Escalade are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the Cadillac Escalade from 1999 to 2026 (28 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the Cadillac Escalade have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many Cadillac Escalade model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common Cadillac Escalade complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the Cadillac Escalade are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my Cadillac Escalade has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Cadillac Escalade totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.