FaultScore

Worst years for a Cadillac Escalade

Owners have filed 2,305 complaints about the Cadillac Escalade with NHTSA across model years 1999 to 2026. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2007 Cadillac Escalade

320 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly airbags.

Cleanest on record

2026 Cadillac Escalade

30 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Cadillac Escalade year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 A 30 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2025 B 25 0 0 12,000 Engine & Cooling
2024 C 63 0 0 9,000 Engine & Cooling
2023 D 190 4 0 24,500 Engine & Cooling
2022 D 106 8 2 36,000 Engine & Cooling
2021 C 91 2 1 42,500 Engine & Cooling
2020 C 15 4 3 Engine & Cooling
2019 B 29 1 0 Engine & Cooling
2018 C 29 3 3 11,000 Engine & Cooling
2017 C 77 3 2 16,233 Engine & Cooling
2016 D 123 3 5 38,000 Engine & Cooling
2015 D 144 7 5 55,347 Engine & Cooling
2014 C 30 8 1 40,000 Electrical System
2013 A 23 0 1 76,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2012 C 32 5 0 63,500 Electrical System
2011 A 53 0 0 93,761 Airbags
2010 A 47 0 0 75,000 Airbags
2009 C 89 1 1 100,000 Airbags
2008 D 180 7 12 100,000 Airbags
2007 F 320 20 14 95,000 Airbags
2006 B 26 2 0 102,500 Electrical System
2005 C 64 5 2 105,000 Electrical System
2004 D 99 14 7 88,800 Electrical System
2003 D 111 5 6 75,000 Electrical System
2002 F 164 16 8 75,000 Brakes
2001 3 0 1 Brakes
2000 D 96 13 3 81,500 Brakes
1999 B 46 3 1 110,500 Brakes

What breaks on a Cadillac Escalade

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 513 22.3%

Worst in 2023

Airbags 328 14.2%

Worst in 2007

Electrical System 273 11.8%

Worst in 2007

Brakes 183 7.9%

Worst in 2002

Worst in 2015

Worst in 2015

Worst in 2000

Suspension 73 3.2%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2007

Steering 64 2.8%

Worst in 2015

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2002

Lights 54 2.3%

Worst in 2008

Seats 52 2.3%

Worst in 2007

Exactly what failed on a Cadillac Escalade

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 38 25.0%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 25 16.4%
Automatic Emergency Braking 16 10.5%
Seat Heater/Cooler 15 9.9%
Automatic Transmission 12 7.9%
Warnings 11 7.2%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 9 5.9%
Automatic (Asc) 9 5.9%
Door 9 5.9%
Tread/Belt 8 5.3%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Cadillac Escalade, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Sep 1999 peak 50 Aug 2026

Cadillac Escalade problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Cadillac Escalade

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.