Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest May 27, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 25, 2017
What this page shows
Our database holds 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Cadillac Escalade Esv. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–15 of 15
Suspension
Filed May 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
NHTSA ID
11663079
Incident
May 27, 2025
Mileage
113,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound worsened and the battery drained immediately. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer Penske Buick GMC Of Cerritos (18400 Studebaker Rd, Cerritos, CA 90703) who informed the contact that the vehicle experienced suspension failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,200.
NHTSA ID
11519461
Incident
Jan 1, 2022
Mileage
80,200 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer stated that the passenger's side rear upper control arms had separated from the vehicle and that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V256000 (Suspension). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 71,695.
NHTSA ID
11516890
Incident
Mar 16, 2023
Mileage
71,695 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 19, 2019
Crash reported2 injuries reported
06/14/2019 I WAS DRIVING MY CADILLAC TO ESCALATE ESV TRAVELING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON DC 95 SOUTH BAND. 12:04 PM MY VEHICLE FLIP OVER. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THAT LEFT THE REAR WHEEL OF THE CAR; COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEEL LOCKS AND AXLE BAR OF THE TIRE CUT OFF AND BROKEN. THIS CAUSED FLIPPING OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
11221207
Incident
Jun 14, 2019
Mileage
45,200 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 13, 2019
Crash reported
VACUUM PUMP DETERIORATION OR FAILURE CAUSED REDUCED STOPPING OF VEHICLE. BACKED UP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUMPED BRAKE PETAL SEVERAL TIMES. AND FINALLY STOPPED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SET HAND BRAKE. I CHECKED ACCELERATOR AND STOP PETALS FOR OBSTRUCTION AND FOUND NONE. PLACED VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND SLOWLY MOVED FORWARD. APPLIED BRAKES ABOUT TEN FOOT FROM WALL AND VEHICLE STRUCT BRICK WALL BETWEEN GARAGES. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. DAMAGE TO GARAGE $14,940 AND VEHICLE $4,984.
NHTSA ID
11219769
Incident
Mar 26, 2019
Mileage
22,851 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 6, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION HAS MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS. DELAYED SHIFTS, HARD SHIFTS BOTH WHEN SHIFTING UP OR DOWN, VERY LARGE CLUNK OR HARD SHIFT WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO FIRST. VERY UNPLEASANT TRANSMISSION AND MULTIPLE WAYS. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ADAPTIVE TO THE DRIVER AND IT NEEDS TO LEARN HABITS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR. SOUNDS LIKE A COP OUT TO ME. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH GM!
NHTSA ID
11218272
Incident
May 1, 2018
Suspension
Filed Mar 2, 2019
..............
NHTSA ID
11183583
Incident
Mar 24, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 9, 2019
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 50K MILES. SINCE I AM IN THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE INDUSTRY, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON ESCALADES.
NHTSA ID
11175833
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 5, 2018
SHUDDER / VIBRATION BETWEEN 45 - 65 MPH. CAUSE WAS TORQUE CONVERTER. 85 - 90% OF VIBRATION WAS MITIGATED. CONTINUE TO HAVE STEADY VIBRATIONS 65 -70MPH AND ABOVE. DEALER ALSO INSTALLED NEW TIRES / WHEELS AND I HAVE HAD A ROAD FORCE BALANCE.
NHTSA ID
11133497
Incident
Oct 5, 2018
Mileage
37,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 27, 2018
FROM A COLD START, WHEN TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE OR BUCK PRIOR TO APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1/4 OF THE DRIVE TIME. WHEN ACCELERATING AND THEN COMING TO A COAST AND BACK TO ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL BUCK. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1/2 OF THE DRIVE TIME. FROM A COLD START, REVERSE, DRIVE, ACCELERATE TO 1MPH WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BUCKS. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE DRIVE TIME.
NHTSA ID
11131927
Incident
Aug 8, 2017
Mileage
16,850 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 23, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR COLLISION SENSORS PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FALSE WARNINGS PROVIDED BY THE SENSORS SIGNALED AN IMMINENT CRASH WHEN THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREMONT CADILLAC (5939 AUTO MALL PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538, (510) 686-8969) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE RE-CALIBRATED AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,462.
NHTSA ID
11121958
Incident
Aug 23, 2018
Mileage
15,462 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 1, 2018
FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND EATING MY TIRES FROM INSIDE. I WENT TO GET MY ALIGNMENT DONE BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND HE CAN NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT AND THEN I WENT TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS GOOD BECAUSE ON THAT TIME I ALREADY HAD 49,540 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE 50000 MILES SO THEY CAN TELL ME YOU ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
NHTSA ID
11082368
Incident
Mar 5, 2018
Mileage
49,540 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 22, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARRYS ON THE HILL (819 PATTON AVE, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828) 252-3821) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER A MODULE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA ID
11074232
Incident
Jan 13, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi
Filed Aug 18, 2017
ALMOST EVERY VEHICLE THAT HAS A KEY FOB WILL SHIFT INTO PARK AND SHUTOFF THE ENGINE IF YOU ARE STOPPED AND PRESS THE ENGINE STOP BUTTON. MY CAR DOES NOT AND I HAVE EXITED MY CAR ON 3 OCCASIONS THINKING IT WAS SHUT OFF (ENGINE IS TOO QUIET) AND MY CAR STARTED DRIVING AWAY WITH NO ONE AT THE WHEEL. THE WORST TIME IS WHEN I PULLED OVER TO HELP A STRANDED MOTORIST AND MY CAR TOOK OFF ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION - LUCKILY ANOTHER MOTORIST GOT OUT OF THEIR CAR AND STOPPED MY CAR - AVERTING A MASSIVE ACCIDENT. THIS IS A DEATH MACHINE WAITING FOR A VICTIM. GM PLEASE CORRECT THIS.
NHTSA ID
11016153
Incident
Jul 18, 2017
Mileage
10,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 25, 2017
THE GEARS SHIFT ABRUPTLY. WHEN TAKING OFF THE GEARS WILL SHIFT HARD THAT IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING HEAVY IS DROPPING IN THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH SAME PROBLEM. TOMORROW WILL BE FOURTH TIME WITH SAME ABRUPT SHIFTING PROBLEM FOR A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. AFTER DEALERSHIP TRIES TO FIX IT IT OPERATES WELL FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS AND THEN THE PROBLEM STARTS AGAIN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER TWICE NOW, BATTERY DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS BLINK QUICKLY, MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO TURN ON. THIS ESCALADE WAS 94,000 TOTAL AND IT IS NOT A QUALITY VEHICLE! ROUGH RIDE WITH TRANSMISSION KICKING IN SO ROUGH!!!
NHTSA ID
10956879
Incident
Feb 17, 2017
Mileage
5,590 mi
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.