2011 Cadillac Escalade Esv Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Esv, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags529.4%
- Body & structure423.5%
- Other / unspecified211.8%
- Electrical211.8%
- Interior & seats211.8%
- Fuel system15.9%
- Tires & wheels15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY AND PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). MASSEY CADILLAC NORTH ORLANDO (4241 N JOHN YOUNG PKWY, ORLANDO, FL 32804, 1-866-439-5891) WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO ADDRESS PART AVAILABILITY SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL ISSUED 5/2016BY MAIL TO MY HOUSE. NHTSA#: 16V381 RECALL 49151. CALLED HOEHN BUICK CADILLAC IN CARLSBAD, CA. REPLIED THAT GM HADN'T SENT OUT PARTSYET. CALLED AGAIN & WENT TO DEALER ON 11/21/2016 & FINALLY 9/19/2017. SAME STORY. SPOKE TO GM VINCE LOVE. VINCE LOVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR HANDLE FOR ALL DOORS BREAK OFF WITH OR WITHOUT AN MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION. SELF-EXTRACATION FROM VEHICLE IS UNLIKELY WITHOUT REPAIR
THE REAR HATCH WAS OPENED WITH THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON, IT RAISED TO THE OPEN POSITION. AS I WAS PUTTING IN OUR STROLLER THE HATCH FELL AND STRUCK ME IN THE HEAD. I PUSHED THE HATCH UP TO GET FROM UNDERNEATH IT, AND WHEN I LET GO IT FELL WITH NO RESISTANCE. WHILE FALLING SHUT THE HATCH HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BUMPER CUT OUT AND SLIGHTLY BENT THE HATCH AND SCRATCHED THE INSIDE OF THE BUMPER. THE HATCH WOULD NO-LONGER OPEN AFTER THAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FORCED THE DOOR OPEN SO I COULD RETRIEVE ARTICLES FROM THE REAR. I A CHILD OR SHORTER PERSON WAS UNDER THE HATCH IT MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO THEM, DUE TO THE FORCE WITH WHICH THE HATCH CAME DOWN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY. IT COMES DOWNS TO FAST AND DOES NOT RETRACT BACK UP WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING. THE DRIVER HAD NO WARNING THAT A PERSON WAS BEHIND HIM AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL KILL SOMEONE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THE DOOR NEEDS TO BE CHANGE SO THAT IT CANNOT OPEN FROM OVERHEAD. THIS DOOR IS TO LARGE AND HEAVY TO HAVE SOMETHING COMING DOWN FROM THAT DISTANCE. THE IS DOOR SUSPENDER IN AIR ABOVE THE TOP OF THE ESCALADE. THIS IS A VERY VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED ARE LOSE BODY PARTS IF THIS DESIGN IS NOT CHANGED. THIS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND IT SHOULD NEVER BEEN PUT ON AN VEHICLE . *TR
2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT COMES DOWNS IT'S FAST AND DOES NOT RETRACT BACK UP WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING. THE DRIVER HAD NO WARNING THAT A PERSON WAS BEHIND HIM AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD KILL SOMEONE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THIS DOOR SHOULD BE CHANGE SO THAT IT CANNOT OPEN FROM OVERHEAD. THIS DOOR IS TO LARGE AND HEAVY TO HAVE SOMETHING COMING DOWN FROM THAT DISTANCE THAT'S ABOVE THE TOP OF THE ESCALADE. THIS IS A VERY VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED ARE LOOSE BODY PARTS IF THIS DESIGN IS NOT CHANGED. THIS A VERY POOR DESIGN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEATED SEAT MODULE AND WIRING MELTED. FIRE CONCERNS. MANY VEHICLES AFFECTED
CONNECTOR TO SEAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WITHOUT FUSE INTERRUPTION. MELTED CONNECTOR FOUND WHEN HEATED SEAT FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DESCRIBE SAME EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL "FIXES". OTHERS REPORT THIS OVERHEATING IS INITIATED DURING REMOTE STARTING. GM SHOULD RESOLVE THIS CONNECTOR DESIGN PROBLEM AND REPAIR EVEN IF OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEATED SEAT MODULE AND WIRING MELTED. FIRE CONCERNS. MANY VEHICLES AFFECTED
CONNECTOR TO SEAT CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED WITHOUT FUSE INTERRUPTION. MELTED CONNECTOR FOUND WHEN HEATED SEAT FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DESCRIBE SAME EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL "FIXES". OTHERS REPORT THIS OVERHEATING IS INITIATED DURING REMOTE STARTING. GM SHOULD RESOLVE THIS CONNECTOR DESIGN PROBLEM AND REPAIR EVEN IF OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM GETTING ERROR 2135 THROTTLE POSITION THE TRUCK ENGINE INCREASE IN POWER THEN THE REDUCED POWER LIGHTS COMES ON. I SEEN A RECALL # 11273B BUT NOT SURE IF IT IS STILL IN AFFECT HOW WOULD I FIND OUT ALSO HAVE SEEN OTHER RECALLS NOT SURE IF I CAN GET THEM I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR WHEN SOME OF THE RECALLS CAME OUT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Radial X, Tire Size: 285/45/R22, DOT Number: B90L-7LNX4818. The contact stated that after a visual inspection of all tires, he observed delamination and thread separation on the sidewalls and driving surface of the tires. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .