CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2014 Cadillac Escalade

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

20

Complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Cadillac Escalade have filed 20 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2014 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 8 of them (40%). The typical failure was reported at 40,500 miles, the median across the 10 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (2)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

21V054000 · February 5, 2021

The defect
General 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, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

General Motors, LLC · up to 1,778,128 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

14V614000 · October 1, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
The risk
If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

General Motors LLC · up to 106,307 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 20.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 40%
AIR BAGS 5 25%
ENGINE 3 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 15%
STEERING 2 10%
SUSPENSION 2 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 10%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 5%
POWER TRAIN 1 5%
VISIBILITY 1 5%
WHEELS 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 3.

2014 2015 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 10,281 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE CAR PORT. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE WALL, A POLE, A FENCE, AND THE HOUSE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND RIBS, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,281.

NHTSA complaint 10870518. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 10,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER, LEFT KNEE, RIGHT SIDE, AND RIGHT HIP INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 07/26/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint 10870580. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

On Saturday June 26, 2021 I open the driver door to the vehicle and the passenger seat caught. on fire and burned a hole in the side of the seat .

NHTSA complaint 11422572. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

crash · 105 miles

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2014 CADILLAC ESCALADE FROM PENSKE IN TORRANCE CA , BEGINNING OF SEPT. 2014. VEHICLE REFUSED TO START ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS. THEN WHILE DRIVING INTO A GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING, CAUSING A CRASH AT A GAS STATION. I AM UNABLE TO GET PENSKE IN TORRANCE CA TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE DECLINING TO DO ANYTHING TO LOOK OR FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10660193. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Failed the inspection in texas. No details.

NHTSA complaint 11751665. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
While driving my 2016 Cadillac Escalade with a6.2L V8 engine on [XXX] near Bristow, Oklahoma at approximately 75 mph, the vehicle suddenly and completely lost power. Without any prior warning or unusual noises, the engine shut down, and I lost power to the dashboard and power steering. This caused the vehicle to decelerate rapidly, making it extremely difficult to control. I managed to steer the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway, narrowly avoiding a collision due to the loss of control. The vehicle could not be restarted. The affected components seem to include the engine, electrical system, and steering. These failures put my safety and the safety of others at significant risk due to

NHTSA complaint 11591560, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

40,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that after going through the car wash, the passenger’s side mirror became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to reset the mirror like stated in the Owner’s Manual. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer, who referred him to the local dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA complaint 11509883. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am having an electrical short that is shutting down everything while I'm driving or stopped, it makes driving it Dangerous and Scary. It looks like the recall from 2014 that describes everything I'm experiencing. Recall 14515 that talks about a Chassis Control Module that controls a lot of things including the fuel pump and more electrical components to list. I have a vehicle that is Dangerous to drive, im a Disabled Veteran and am tied to a Powered Chair. I have called Cadillac and they say that my Escalade is not included and they will do nothing for me. I'm at a lose as what to do, I could just sell it to someone else and let them deal with it or get killed in it. Either way is not a

NHTSA complaint 11469335, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
2014 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 11461164. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Cadillac sent a notice of the recall. The authorized Chevrolet dealership repair facility and Cadillac told me that they would not accept the risk that the dashboard would not crack in installation of authorized Chevrolet dealership repair facility defective part and that 'I' would have to sign a waiver saying 'I' accept the risk that they 'could' damage my car and would be 'my' responsibility if the dash is ruined and pay for the replacement. This is not my error/defective issue, but GM's. They have already indicated that people have been injured and died from this defective part. I believe Cadillac should accept the 'potential' risk should it be damaged. I am getting no where with

NHTSA complaint 11451177, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac Escalade

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 17 3
2025 15 1
2024 43 2
2023 125 4
2022 73 4
2021 60 9
2020 13 2
2018 21 1
2017 50 2
2016 89 4
2015 95 9
2013 17 4
2012 20 3
2011 49 6
2010 38 3

Other 2014 Cadillac models

Every Cadillac on this site — 91 vehicles, 198 recall campaigns and 4 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst