What 119 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Cadillac Escalade

Engine stopped running while driving. Took to the dealer. Engine was making a load grinding noise. Dealer replaced the engine. Drove home vehicle dripped oil in the driveway. Took vehicle to dealership. Engine block was cracked. Dealer replaced engine. Took vehicle to dealership for oil change . Engine had 1,800 Miles . Engine oil was contaminated with large pieces of metal. I took the used oil filter home cut it open and filter was full of metal as well. Took back to dealership and ask to replace the failing engine and was denied by the regional service manager as well as the general motors engineer. Their answer was if the engine fails AGAIN the vehicle is under warranty. The engine oil continues to be full of metal chunks. In my opinion metal in oil is engine failure. This vehicle is unsafe to drive with the engine full of metal.

NHTSA ODI 11696636

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and another recall; however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission made a whining sound. The vehicle lost power and shut off without warning. The failure had occurred while driving at various speeds, or while idling at a stop sign or red traffic light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was not replaced. The dealer confirmed that the recall repairs could be performed. The failure persisted after the recall repair was completed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11694736

While driving about 60–65 mph westbound on NY Route 17 near Exit 125, a warning message appeared on the dashboard reading “Restart Engine.” Within seconds the vehicle lost all propulsion, steering assist, and braking power. Pressing the accelerator did nothing and the car began rapidly decelerating in live highway traffic at night. I struggled to steer into the shoulder with great effort because the steering and brakes had become extremely heavy. Once stopped, the engine would not restart — there was no crank and no response when pressing the start button. The vehicle was later towed to the dealership for inspection. This failure occurred without any prior warning other than the single “Restart Engine” message that flashed moments before the loss of power. There were no check-engine lights, alerts, or performance issues beforehand. Unity Chevrolet Cadillac confirmed that the engine had seized and replaced the entire engine assembly, starter, and battery under warranty. The vehicle remained out of service from August 7 to August 22 2025. This sudden failure created a severe safety hazard — a complete loss of propulsion, steering assist, and braking at highway speed could easily have resulted in a high-speed collision.

NHTSA ODI 11694371

On Friday, September 5, 2025, while driving with my family, the vehicle suddenly stalled while in motion. There were no warning lights or error messages before the failure occurred. While traveling at normal road speed, the vehicle instantly lost propulsion, steering assist, and braking power, leaving me without control in live traffic. For several seconds I was unable to steer or slow down normally — it was an extremely dangerous situation. The vehicle briefly restarted twice, then completely died and could not restart again. I had to pull over to the shoulder and call for assistance. This repeated sudden loss of power while driving, without any prior warning lamps or messages, creates a severe risk of collision or injury to occupants and others on the road. The vehicle’s unpredictable failure to maintain propulsion or braking control is unsafe and unacceptable.

NHTSA ODI 11694372

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, while driving in regular city traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion without any warning or dashboard alerts. There were no warning lights, messages, or abnormal sounds before the failure occurred. The vehicle instantly shut down while in motion, causing a total loss of acceleration power and leaving me stranded in the middle of traffic. This occurred the second time I was driving the car after prior service, and the vehicle again stopped completely, forcing me to pull over and contact OnStar roadside assistance. This was the second major propulsion failure in a short period, each time occurring unexpectedly while driving. The repeated sudden shutdowns without warning present a serious safety risk and indicate an unresolved defect in the vehicle’s electrical and propulsion systems.

NHTSA ODI 11694374

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, while driving northbound on the Palisades Parkway at approximately 11:30 PM, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion without any prior warning. I was traveling around 45– 50 mph when the dashboard lights began flashing, and the vehicle shut down completely in active highway traffic. All systems—including power and acceleration—dropped instantly. I was unable to maintain speed and was not even able to brake, and had to fight to steer the vehicle safely onto the shoulder as it slowed down. There were no warning lamps, messages, or irregular behavior prior to the failure. The shutdown occurred instantly and without cause, creating an extremely dangerous situation on a dark highway late at night.

NHTSA ODI 11694378

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the crankshaft, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); the VIN was included but the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 11691289

So I bought this Cadillac Escalade V 2023 with about 26k miles on it and I only had the vehicle for about 13 days and I got a light on my dash board and I had a mechanic check this for me and he told me that the whole entire break system was failing and needed to be replaced so I then took it back to the dealership I bought it from and they told me they had no idea since it was a certified pre owned and we where all confused about this situation and I was very unhappy that I paid 128k $ for a car and the dealer told me they could fix the issue or take the offer of 105k$ he offered me and of course because I did not want to have this problem I got rid of this vehicle as quick as possible I did not notice anything wrong with the car physically but I had that check engine light on with 13 days of owning

NHTSA ODI 11686046

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that there were several unknown codes and unknown electrical issues displayed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer approximately eight or nine times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was a Lemon. The manufacturer was contacted regarding a buyback, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

NHTSA ODI 11685306

UNKNOWN. Weather related - rain water incoming on floor board under steering column. Effecting electronics and vehicle driving safety. Vehicle has propulsion control issues as a cause.

NHTSA ODI 11684237

Waiting months on inspection had an appointment called and verified that was the appointment was for inspection . Took care of in and was told not opened. That was in July. The value of car has dropped because of this issue and can’t trade in or loss a ton

NHTSA ODI 11682992

Sometime during the month of May, 2015, I received a letter in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in reference to a recall for the 6.2L V8 gas engine (RPO L87) that applies to my vehicle. I have reached out to Randy Marion Cadillac, 4700 Southside Blvd.m Jacksonville, Fl., 32216, on several occasions, but to no avail. I spoke with service department personnel who, could not provide any information concerning the recall and informed me that they would have the service manager to call me. However, after 3 months, I have yet to receive a response from the service manager or any other service personnel. On Monday, 08-26-25, I logged into my Cadillac app and searched under Recalls and Warranties and noticed a message indicating there were no incomplete recalls. Prior to my last log-in, there was informed acknowledgeing the recall and that my vehicle would be inspected as a result. I am confused and have major concerns about my recall status and the lack of communication from the Cadillac dealership. Can someone shed some light as to why there are no recalls that are displayed on my Cadillac app and what other steps that I need to take in order to remedy this matter. Thank you! [XXX] -Ph# [XXX] GM safety recall N252494000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11683030

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11682359

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11680135

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000(Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the message "Check Oil" was displayed. The contact's husband checked the oil level and noticed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11678491

GM engine replacement recall. The engine could blow up and give out causing a crash. Problem has been confirmed by dealer as "unremedied" Vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ODI 11678530

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11677518

Recall Info: The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. This information creates anxiety for myself and my wife who already suffers from a medically documented anxiety disorder every day that we drive somewhere. Because of the location of our residence, we have to drive on the highway most of the time for convenience which exaggerates this situation. We have owned/leased GM vehicles our entire lives and particularly Cadillac for the last 24 years. We own this vehicle out right and planned to keep it indefinitely. The fact that there is no immediate remedy for this situation and one day possibly providing a higher viscosity oil, an oil filter replacement and requiring a new oil fill cap is very disappointing and insulting for a vehicle that we had to wait for and then pay over $130,000 for. At this point, thank God there is no incident, I would like to keep it that way and would like to have an immediate resolution of possible switching from our 2023 model to a comparable 2025 and be reassured that it does not have these mechanical defects with no additional costs incurred on my part.

NHTSA ODI 11677557

The contact called on behalf of a dealer who owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The dealer received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000(Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11677033

My vehicle was recalled under N252494002 L87 Engine Loss of Propulsion. The car was taken to the dealership June 19, 2025 and determined to require a engine replacement. The dealer has had the vehicle for a month without repair of the vehicle. This seems like an unreasonable time to replace the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11674748

The front upper control arm on the driver’s side snapped in half, resulting in the complete detachment of the wheel while the vehicle was in motion. The failed component is still in my possession and available for inspection upon request. This failure placed both my life and the lives of others at significant risk. The wheel detached while I was driving, which could have led to a catastrophic crash had it occurred at higher speeds or in heavier traffic. I was extremely fortunate that the failure occurred under conditions that allowed me to bring the vehicle to a stop without injury or collision. A suspension failure of this nature represents a critical safety hazard. The failure has been physically verified by both the service center where the vehicle was taken after the incident and by GM’s assigned third-party inspection service. A visual and mechanical inspection confirmed the fractured upper control arm and resulting suspension failure. A second opinion from an independent mechanic is being pursued as well. The vehicle was inspected by a third-party claims investigator assigned by GM, who reviewed the scene and the damage. I have not received a full report or documentation from GM or the inspector, but I am requesting it formally. The incident was also documented by my insurance provider. The police were not called, as there were no injuries or collision with another vehicle. There were no warning lights, messages, or error codes on the dashboard prior to the incident. I did not observe any unusual handling, noises, or vibrations that would have suggested an impending mechanical failure. The control arm failure occurred suddenly and without warning while driving under normal conditions.

NHTSA ODI 11670950

Currently under an open, incomplete safety recall (GM Program #N252494000 / NHTSA 25V274) for the L87 engine defect that can cause catastrophic engine failure and complete loss of propulsion.

NHTSA ODI 11670583

My 2023 Cadillac Escalade is part of NHTSA Recall 25V274 involving a potential engine failure due to defective crankshaft or connecting rod components. It has now been over four months since this recall was issued, and there is still no remedy or parts available, according to both my dealership and GM customer service. This defect poses a serious safety risk, as sudden engine failure while driving can cause the vehicle to lose propulsion, potentially leading to a crash. I use this vehicle for business, so it’s driven frequently with passengers, increasing the danger and financial impact. Despite contacting the dealership regularly and calling GM directly, I’ve been told the same thing every time: the parts are not yet available and there is no fix yet. The vehicle has not been inspected, and I’ve received no alternative solution or loaner vehicle. I am concerned about the length of the delay and the risk to my safety and others on the road. I’m asking NHTSA to investigate and ensure that GM provides a timely resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11670600

I was in car. I just stepped out of the car its stop working car couldn't start. I need to get started to start the car. It happens a lot. I went to caddilac dealer service they everything good. This car for work not luxury. I drive Uber and always on road. So I afraid something will happen. I want to change this car for new without recalls. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11669645

The vehicle stop in middle of the road. And can't start without starter. Noises coming out from the car. I went to caddilac dealer they just give me power to battery and saying everything ok. And happened a lot

NHTSA ODI 11669575