2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems and recalls

66% of owner complaints on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV related to the Engine (58 of 88).

88
Complaints
10
Recalls
3
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
3
Injuries
54.8
Severity index

Severity index 54.8 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 54.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 47 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 49% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 58 complaints (65.9%)58 66%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 14 complaints (15.9%)14 16%Power TrainPower Train: 13 complaints (14.8%)13 15%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 7 complaints (8.0%)7 8%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (8.0%)7 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 6 complaints (6.8%)6 7%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 4 complaints (4.5%)4 5%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 4 complaints (4.5%)4 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE5865.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1415.9%
POWER TRAIN1314.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING78.0%
SERVICE BRAKES78.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM66.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER44.5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE44.5%

Complaints filed per year

017342020: 12021: 92022: 112023: 92024: 32025: 342026: 21 (partial year)2021222324253426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20201
20219
202211
20239
20243
202534
2026 (year to date)21
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (46 against 21).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V45500017/06/2021STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULEGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.
22V03600027/01/2022POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in
20V81100023/12/2020SEAT BELTSGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles
21V73900023/09/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULEGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the eng
21V42100010/06/2021AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHTGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagn
21V19000018/03/2021SEAT BELTSGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechani
22V61700011/08/2022SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERSGeneral Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat b
22V82700003/11/2022EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWAREGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to compl
24V79700024/10/2024POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWAREGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control val
25V27400024/04/2025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may

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 2026-09-02. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.