Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Cadillac Escalade problems

Owners filed 43 complaints about the 2010 Cadillac Escalade with NHTSA between Feb 2010 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (25).

Complaints
43
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags25
  2. Electrical system6
  3. Engine3
  4. Exterior lighting2
  5. Service brakes2
  6. Tires2
  7. Power train2
  8. Equipment2
  9. Wheels2
  10. Forward collision avoidance1
  11. Suspension1
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  13. Seats1
  14. Vehicle speed control1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20101
20111
20121
20130
20141
20154
20164
201711
20184
20196
20204
20213
20220
20232
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

25 reports3 related recalls
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V050000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED IMPERIAL VALLEY CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (602 WAKE AVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEITHER HAD THE TOOLS NOR THE PROCEDURE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER NUMBER HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2021Air bags, Power train, EquipmentODI 11404990

Electrical system

6 reports
“My son was driving home from work down Highway 288 in Houston and the car just died and did not start. The door locks were going up and down like it was trying to reset and lock the car. I had it fixed and they said it was the fuel pump was out. We had the fuel pump fixed and a new battery put in. Would this cause it to loose power immediately and the door locks to go crazy?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2023Electrical systemODI 11560641

Engine

3 reports
“The contact owns a 2010 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated with an abnormal sound. The contact changed the spark plugs, wires and coils however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the lifters to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2021EngineODI 11418274

Exterior lighting

2 reports
“Tubo problema en k a lus derecha delantera l”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2026Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11724236

Service brakes

2 reports
“SOMETIMES WHILE BRAKING IT NEEDS MUCH MORE FORCE, MEANING I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN. ALSO IT FEELS LIKE THEY STICK AT TIMES. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2015-2018 FOR THIS ISSUE BUT IT MAY GO BACK FURTHER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2020Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11378411

Tires

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2010 Cadillac Escalade equipped with Uniroyal Tires, Tire Line: PAW Touring, Tire Size: 285/45/R22, DOT Number: (Unavailable). The contact stated that upon inspection, it was discovered that all four tires had experienced tread separation and the steel belts were exposed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 9,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2023TiresODI 11530836
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.