2016 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 2016 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
- Suspension741.2%
- Powertrain (other)529.4%
- Electrical317.6%
- Brakes15.9%
- Other / unspecified15.9%
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
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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!
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 50K MILES. SINCE I AM IN THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE INDUSTRY, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON ESCALADES.
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
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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.
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 .