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What 101 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Cadillac Escalade

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (101)Crash / fire / injury (9)Engine (29)Transmission & drivetrain (21)Electrical system (18)Suspension (15)Steering (7)Airbags (6)Brakes (4)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (4)Body & structure (3)Fuel system (3)

9 of 101 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jan 8, 2025Fire

My starter caught on fire trying to start my car

NHTSA ODI 11634988

Mar 28, 2024Airbags1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at 40-45 MPH, the driver-side air bag deployed without any impact. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to his arm, neck, and back that required medical attention. The contact drove himself to the hospital. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11579900

Mar 26, 2021EngineFuel systemFire

OUR 2016 ESCALADE WITH 20,000 MILES HAD THE TAIL PIPE CORRODE AND FALL OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BUMPER WAS SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE EXHAUST HEAT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY MELTED THE BUMPER AND BACK-UP SENSORS. IF THE ISSUE WASN'T NOTICED, A MAJOR THERMAL EVENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED AND THE TRUCK COULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS. CADILLAC HAS REFUSED TO WARRANTY THIS ISSUE. WE ALSO HAVE A 2019 ESCALADE THAT IS SHOWING SIGNIFICANT SIGNS OF CORROSION AT THE SAME WELD. I BELIEVE THIS IS 100% A DESIGN ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEALER, AUTONATION IN PALM BEACH, FL TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULDN'T WARRANTY BECAUSE I ASKED THEM TO INSTALL THE CADILLAC OPTIONAL UPGRADE EXHAUST, NOT WOULD THEY COVER ANY OF THE MELTED COMPONENTS DUE TO THE INFERIOR TAIL PIPE DESIGN. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE 2016 EXHAUST UPON FAILURE AND THE 2019 WITH THE START OF CORROSION THAT I CAN EMAIL DIRECTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11405065

Feb 28, 2020Airbags1 injury

WHILE IN MOTION - THE CADILLAC ESCALADE'S AIRBAGS ALL SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR IMPACT THAT PRECEDED THE INCIDENT. THE POLICE OFFICER ON SCENE WAS ALSO QUITE SURPRISED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED BRUISES, AND A MILD CONCUSSION. THE OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE SAFE. HOWEVER, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THESE AIRBAGS WITH NO COLLISION OR REASON REPRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11312058

Sep 19, 2019AirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND HEADING TOWARDS HIM. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A LARGE ROCK IN A NEARBY LAWN. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. PARTS OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND ARM, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V645000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT DATE FOR THE REPAIR WAS AFTER THE CRASH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11256675

Jun 19, 2019SuspensionWheelsCrash2 injuries

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 ODI 11221207

Jun 13, 2019BrakesCrash

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 ODI 11219769

Sep 13, 2018Transmission & drivetrainCrash

KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO TO BUCK AND SURGE WHEN YOU PULL UP TO TA STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ON HIGHWAY,OR IN TRAFFIC. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN CONDITION WITH NO FIX. DEALER DESCRIBES ISSUES WITH SOME VEHICLES WORSE THAN OTHERS. GENERAL MANAGER OF COLONIAL CADILLAC WOBURN MA 781-935-7000 (BRET DOUGLAS) STATES THAT HE HAS DRIVEN VEHICLES WITH SAME ISSUES AND THERE IS NO FIX. IT WAS CORRECTED IN THE 2018 VEHICLES BY GOING TO A 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION. OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS IN A REPAIR. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT SURGES FORWARD AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. CONTACTED CADILLAC AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE ISSUE. THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS WOULD START THEM DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR REPAIRING MANY 2015,16,17'S THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. YOU ONLY HAVE TO GOOGLE THE ISSUE TO SEE THAT MANY GM OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO HAVE A RESOLUTION. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 11129359

Dec 13, 2016Engine & coolingFire

IN THE EARLY HOURS OF AUGUST 15TH 2016 MY CADILLAC ESCALADE 2016, VIN [XXX], CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STAYING PARKED (STATIONARY) ALL NIGHT. AS PER THE PICTURES TAKEN BY THE NEIGHBORS, THE ESCALADE TUNED INTO A HUGE FIRE BALL AND BURNED THE TRUCK DOWN TO ASHES. IT ALSO BURNED DOWN TWO OTHER CARS PARKED BEHIND IT AND THE ADJACENT HOUSE ON FIRE. AS PER THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MARYLAND) FIRE DEPARTMENT, ARSON WAS RULED OUT AND MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY INTERNAL MECHANICAL ISSUES. (FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT NUMBER [XXX]). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10934924

Working with the data? Download all 101 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Cadillac Escalade verdict →