2012 Cadillac Escalade problems and recalls

46% of owner complaints on the 2012 Cadillac Escalade related to the Electrical System (12 of 26).

26
Complaints
3
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
64.3
Severity index

Severity index 64.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 64.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 12 complaints (46.2%)12 46%Air BagsAir Bags: 4 complaints (15.4%)4 15%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (15.4%)4 15%Service BrakesService Brakes: 4 complaints (15.4%)4 15%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (11.5%)3 12%StructureStructure: 3 complaints (11.5%)3 12%SteeringSteering: 3 complaints (11.5%)3 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (11.5%)3 12%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1246.2%
AIR BAGS415.4%
ENGINE415.4%
SERVICE BRAKES415.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER311.5%
STRUCTURE311.5%
STEERING311.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL311.5%

Complaints filed per year

0362012: 12013: 22014: 12015: 52017: 22018: 22019: 42020: 62021: 31213141517181920621
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
20132
20141
20155
20172
20182
20194
20206
20213
Filings in 2019 to 2021 ran 1.4x those in 2015 to 2018 (13 against 9).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V05400005/02/2021AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA,
21V05100005/02/2021AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states o
14V82700030/12/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock

Other Cadillac Escalade model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.