CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2018 Cadillac Escalade

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

21

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Cadillac Escalade have filed 21 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2018 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 10 of them (48%). The typical failure was reported at 35,290 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

20V603000 · October 1, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
The risk
A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.

General Motors LLC · up to 14,620 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 21.

ENGINE 10 48%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 14%
POWER TRAIN 3 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 14%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 10%
SUSPENSION 2 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 10%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 5%
SEATS 1 5%
STEERING 1 5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 10.

2018 2025 2026
2018 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.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

fire · crash · towed · 7,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING THE 2018 ESCALADE ESV RWD ON INTERSTATE 87 NORTH YESTERDAY, DRIVING ABOUT 33MPH, THE ESCALADE SUDDENLY SWERVED LEFT AND SLID INTO THE MEDIAN AND THEN ROLLED OVER ON ITS ROOF. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I NOTED I HAD RECEIVED DIAGNOSTIC ONSTAR EMAILS THAT MORNING WHILE DRIVING THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITRAK AND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WERE EXPERIENCING ISSUES. I ALSO PHONED ONSTAR TODAY ABOUT IF AND WHEN THEY RECEIVED A CRASH NOTIFICATION. THE CRASH NOTIFICATION DID NOT OCCUR WITH ONSTAR UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK OVER, NOT WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED BUT AN HOUR LATER. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 60 DAYS NEW.

NHTSA complaint 11163804. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 70,142 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lifters had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rod bearings had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,142.

NHTSA complaint 11659780. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RESET, FLASHES AND THE TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING WHILE THE SYSTEM IS CYCLING OR RESTTING, WHILW CHANGING LANES OR IN A MIDDLE OF A TURN

NHTSA complaint 11745705. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Had to get cam shaft replaced last year. Now the lifters are going bad

NHTSA complaint 11715954. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
It been twice that I have experienced lifters issues and damage caused to engine because of these. First time I fixed it in a NY mechanic shop because dealer workflow and expecting dates (all lifters, crankshaft, and seals were replaced new), less than 1 year later again the lifters failed (2) but this time ruined my engine. Went to local GM dealership and asked at service department if they could fix it complementary due to all reported lifters issues from GM as we all can see online and rejected my offer. So far vehicle is still not fixed and it’s been 5 months in shop looking ways to see if engine could be solved but have to replaced. Also on the Escalade 2018 the seats (middle seat row

NHTSA complaint 11695716, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I stopped to get gas and put the car in park. Turned the car off and when I started it back up the car thought it was in drive but was in park still. The gas pedal won’t not work and the car is now stuck in park. The Chevy Caddilac dealership said it is a failed TCM. Part is on back order and I was told there is no eta and could be 7 months to a year before I get my car back.

NHTSA complaint 11675316. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
On Juy7, 2025 while operating my 2018 Cadillac Escalade, which at the time of the incident had an odometer reading of approximately 57,600 miles. felt an immediate loss of power (inability to accelerate efficiently) and shortly thereafter the amber check engine light flashed on and off and I could hear ticking coming from the engine. Following the aforementioned ,I had th vehicle towed to Turnersville Cadillac in Turnersville ,NJ for evaluation. Upon the vehicle being evaluated I was advised by service mechanics there that I needed a new engine and that the cost would be approximately $17,500 dollars. The cause of this catastrophic engine failure was attributed to lifters failing. Prior to

NHTSA complaint 11675199, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I had purchased the car [XXX] from dealer "Kars R Us" in Dearborn Heights, Mi. On [XXX], I was driving on a highway at 70 mph with my family when I lost control of gas pedal. There was No warning of any kind! I was in the middle lane at the time and noticed the speedometer was decreasing and gas pedal was not working. For the safety of my family, I had to act fast however panicked. I was able to pull myself over to the far lane off the shoulder and within seconds, the car abruptly shut down, entirely. We barely made it to safety! My family was stranded on the highway, unsafe conditions for approx 3 hrs waiting for a tow truck. I had the car towed to the dealership's mechanic shop, with my

NHTSA complaint 11673585, 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
2017 50 2
2016 89 4
2015 95 9
2014 20 2
2013 17 4
2012 20 3
2011 49 6
2010 38 3

Other 2018 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