NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 170 owner complaints for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Most complaints involve engine (107) and electrical system (24). The EPA rates it 16–23 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2022 and 2024 GMC Yukon vehicles equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine. The original fuel tank may have been replaced with an incorrect fuel tank, which can allow fuel to leak in a rollover crash.
General 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 have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
General 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 valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Escalade model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 44 |
| 2000 | 83 |
| 2002 | 145 |
| 2003 | 112 |
| 2004 | 103 |
| 2005 | 62 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 286 |
| 2008 | 167 |
| 2009 | 61 |
| 2010 | 43 |
| 2011 | 65 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 106 |
| 2016 | 104 |
| 2017 | 89 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2020 | 36 |
| 2021 | 170 |
| 2022 | 146 |
| 2023 | 237 |
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2025 | 40 |
| 2026 | 56 |
| 2027 | 1 |
“There is internal engine failure. Yes it is available for inspection. My safety as well as others were at risk when the engine started to fail, without warning, causing my car to jolt and briefly lose control of steering. If complete engine failure happened while driving, I would not have control over my car. My life and other's lives would severely be at risk. Car has been inspected and confirmed engine failure. Car is unable to be driven as we do not want to put anyone else at risk or make the problem worse. Car will be towed on Monday. There was absolutely no warning of this occurring. The symptoms first appeared while driving and the incident happened shortly after. There was a loud noise followed by my car being jerked traffic. I immediately pulled over until I could get my car safely home. When inspected the car was ticking with brief knocking noises. The ticking continued while the knocking noise became more abrupt and frequent.”
“I own a 2021 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury with approximately 47,000 miles. On Oct 11, 2026, after stopping for gas, I noticed shortly after driving away that my entire digital instrument cluster was black. I had no speedometer, fuel gauge, mileage display, or dashboard warning indicators, although the center infotainment screen worked. I do not know whether the display went black when I restarted the vehicle or while driving; I discovered it while driving. The display worked again after I shut off and restarted the vehicle after a few hours. I scheduled an appointment with Cadillac of Calabasas on Oct 11, but the earliest available appointment was Oct 21, 10 days later. Around Oct 13, my vehicle also displayed a “Service Driver Assist System” warning, which returned on Oct 22. When I brought my vehicle to Cadillac of Calabasas on Oct 20 (trying to drop off a day early), the advisor checked for open recalls and said there were none. He incorrectly stated my warranty expired in July 2025; Cadillac corporate later confirmed my CPO warranty expired July 11, 2026. I was told the dealership was backed up at least another week and everything would be paid out of…”
“Driving my 2021 Escalade on interstate and engine began emitting sudden, loud metallic tapping. Oil pressure dropped off and a reduced power warning came on HUD. Acceleration dropped off, forcing him to coast dangerously across three lanes of traffic to the shoulder. Coasted to dealership—-somehow the VIN didn’t fall within the 2021-2024 recall despite exhibiting the exact same failure. Catastrophic engine failure needing full engine replacement.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade 2WD Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | $4,100 | 437 |
| Escalade 4WD Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | $4,300 | 444 |
| Escalade 2WD Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | $4,550 | 530 |
| Escalade 2WD Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | $4,850 | 552 |
| Escalade 4WD Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start · 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,850 | 558 |
| Escalade 4WD Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI · 4-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 16 | $4,850 | 570 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
11 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 170 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (107), electrical system (24), power train (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2021 Cadillac Escalade at 16–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Cadillac Escalade 4 out of 5 stars overall.