2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems and recalls

53% of owner complaints on the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV related to the Engine (19 of 36).

36
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
0
Injuries
61.0
Severity index

Severity index 61.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 61.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 19 complaints (52.8%)19 53%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (22.2%)8 22%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (11.1%)4 11%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (8.3%)3 8%SuspensionSuspension: 3 complaints (8.3%)3 8%Service BrakesService Brakes: 3 complaints (8.3%)3 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 2 complaints (5.6%)2 6%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 2 complaints (5.6%)2 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE1952.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM822.2%
POWER TRAIN411.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER38.3%
SUSPENSION38.3%
SERVICE BRAKES38.3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING25.6%
SEAT BELTS25.6%

Complaints filed per year

010192018: 12019: 32020: 12021: 22022: 12023: 12024: 22025: 192026: 6 (partial year)18192021222324251926
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20181
20193
20201
20212
20221
20231
20242
202519
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 5.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (22 against 4).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V67300026/09/2018SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHERGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the ret

Other Cadillac Escalade ESV model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 9 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-28. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.