CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV

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

15

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV have filed 15 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2017 and May 2025. The most complained-about system is the suspension, named in 7 of them (47%). The typical failure was reported at 37,000 miles, the median across the 13 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V437000 · July 10, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

General Motors LLC · up to 40,683 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V651000 · September 8, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,640,162 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

16V256000 · April 28, 2016

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
The risk
Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,738 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.

Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

PE18012

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened November 20, 2018 · closed April 10, 2022 · led to recall 19V645000

the brakes, the hydraulic brakes

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 15.

SUSPENSION 7 47%
POWER TRAIN 5 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 20%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 7%
WHEELS 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 5.

2017 2018 2025
2017 to 2025

In owners' own words

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

SUSPENSION

2 injured · crash · towed · 45,200 miles

06/14/2019 I WAS DRIVING MY CADILLAC TO ESCALATE ESV TRAVELING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON DC 95 SOUTH BAND. 12:04 PM MY VEHICLE FLIP OVER. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THAT LEFT THE REAR WHEEL OF THE CAR; COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEEL LOCKS AND AXLE BAR OF THE TIRE CUT OFF AND BROKEN. THIS CAUSED FLIPPING OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint 11221207. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed · 22,851 miles

VACUUM PUMP DETERIORATION OR FAILURE CAUSED REDUCED STOPPING OF VEHICLE. BACKED UP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUMPED BRAKE PETAL SEVERAL TIMES. AND FINALLY STOPPED. PLACED VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SET HAND BRAKE. I CHECKED ACCELERATOR AND STOP PETALS FOR OBSTRUCTION AND FOUND NONE. PLACED VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND SLOWLY MOVED FORWARD. APPLIED BRAKES ABOUT TEN FOOT FROM WALL AND VEHICLE STRUCT BRICK WALL BETWEEN GARAGES. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. DAMAGE TO GARAGE $14,940 AND VEHICLE $4,984.

NHTSA complaint 11219769. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

towed · 71,695 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer stated that the passenger's side rear upper control arms had separated from the vehicle and that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V256000 (Suspension). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 71,695.

NHTSA complaint 11516890. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

towed · 80,200 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound worsened and the battery drained immediately. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer Penske Buick GMC Of Cerritos (18400 Studebaker Rd, Cerritos, CA 90703) who informed the contact that the vehicle experienced suspension failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was

NHTSA complaint 11519461, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

113,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

NHTSA complaint 11663079. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION HAS MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS. DELAYED SHIFTS, HARD SHIFTS BOTH WHEN SHIFTING UP OR DOWN, VERY LARGE CLUNK OR HARD SHIFT WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO FIRST. VERY UNPLEASANT TRANSMISSION AND MULTIPLE WAYS. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS ADAPTIVE TO THE DRIVER AND IT NEEDS TO LEARN HABITS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR. SOUNDS LIKE A COP OUT TO ME. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH GM!

NHTSA complaint 11218272. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac Escalade ESV

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 10 1
2024 20 2
2023 73 4
2022 52 4
2021 66 10
2020 21 2
2019 32 1
2018 14 1
2017 37 1
2015 8 6
2011 13 5

Other 2016 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.

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Independent developer and analyst