12 of the 77 complaints about the 2017 Cadillac Escalade are about the transmission — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 23,000 miles.
12
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
The transmission gear make noise when the gear shift and the engine have loud noise tick tick inside the engine . I’m feel not safe to drive and feel very stressful of my car .i can’t sleep due to car not safe drive
NHTSA complaint #11749846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
My 2017 Cadillac Escalade with the 6.2L V8 engine experienced AFM (Active Fuel Management) valve lifter failure. While driving on the freeway the vehicle began stuttering and shaking violently, and it felt as though I had lost control of the vehicle. The check engine light illuminated and diagnostic codes P0300 (random misfire) and P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire) were found. The vehicle was confirmed by a Cadillac dealership to have collapsed AFM lifters on the right side, a faulty valve lifter oil manifold (VLOM), and a broken exhaust bolt requiring extraction. The engine was also showing slightly low compression at times and making noise on cylinder 4. This is a known defect in GM's AFM system across multiple model years. The failure poses a serious safety risk as the stuttering, shaking, and sudden loss of engine power occurred unexpectedly at freeway speeds, significantly reducing my ability to safely control the vehicle. The repair has been confirmed and quoted by an authorized Cadillac dealership. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11724347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
Battery terminals going from battery to power distribution panel on top of battery, crimps bad/corroded causing intermittent connection and overcharging the battery by providing false voltages to alternator,
NHTSA complaint #11648599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud clunking sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle then decelerated to 30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who recommended replacing the valve body. The part was on backorder, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #11631346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
While driving on Highway 360 in Arlington, TX, the engine appeared to not change gears. It was between 3:30 to 4:00 PM, moderate traffic. I left HWY 360 and used the side lane. Later, the engine light came on. I checked the fluid levels and all were fine. This vehicle was last serviced in December 2022. The problem is unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11510461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REPAIR PLEASE
NHTSA complaint #11384313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
*SAFETY ISSUE* ESCALADE WILL SHIFT VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY LURCH. CONDITION IS ESPECIALLY PRESENT WHEN STOPPING AT INTERSECTION ON AN INCLINE. FROM A STOP OR ROLLING STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNRESPONSIVE TO GENTLE ACCELERATION FOR A SECOND OR TWO, THEN BOLT INTO GEAR SCREECHING THE TIRES AND LAUNCHING VEHICLE VIOLENTLY FORWARD. LIKEWISE, FROM ROLLING STOP THEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE TO PARK, SAME LAG WITH SUDDEN BURST OF POWER. THE EFFECT IS VERY SIMILAR TO SOMEONE WHO IS LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANNY IN A MUSCLE CAR. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO DIFFERENCE WITH TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE, THE INTENSITY OF THE CONDITION SEEMS TO BE RANDOM, AND DIFFICULT TO INTENTIONALLY RECREATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP TWICE, RECEIVED THE 18-NA-355 BULLETIN SERVICE, AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALER INDICATES THAT TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARSHLY BOTH UP AND DOWN THROUGH GEARS 1-3 WHEN GENTLY ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. AGAIN, SIMILAR TO SOMEONE WHO IS LEARNING TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I DONT CONSIDER THIS CONDITION A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT AN ANNOYANCE AND MAY WELL BE RELATED TO THE "LURCHING" CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #11375332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
HARD SHIFTING, SHAKING, JERKING, HESITATING SHUDDERING
NHTSA complaint #11221566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I AM DRIVING ON SMOOTH SURFACE STREETS SOMETIME THERE A FEEL OF INTERMITTENT JUTTERY RIDE WHICH FEELS LIKE YOU ARE RIDING OVER VERY SMALL SPEED BUMPS VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. I WAS TOLD BY TWO (2) MECHANICS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS CAUSING THIS. I STARTED ABOUT TWO (2) MONTHS AGO AND CONTINUE DAILY.
NHTSA complaint #11189745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ENGINE CEASED RUNNING AT 55 MPH. CHAIN OF FAILURES- ENGINE VALVE STEM FRACTURED (CYLINDER # 2), VALVE DROPPED INTO CYLINDER, PISTON STRUCK VALVE, VALVE DEFORMED TO CYLINDER HEAD, ENGINE CEASED PROPERLY DETONATE FUEL COMPLETELY, MULTIPLE CODES, ENGINE SHUT OFF. NO ADVANCED SIGNAL GIVEN TO DRIVER, NO ALARMS WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES CEASED TO WORK WHILE DRIVING IN 55 MPH ZONE, ON A TURN COMING TO A RED LIGHT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR 5 OCCUPANTS. FAILURE AS SHOWN IN PICTURES BELOW OF THE VALVE COMPONENT ARE RELATED TO A MATERIAL IMPERFECTION. THE NATURAL OF THIS FAILURE DURING THE METAL FORMING PROCESS WAS NOT DETECTED FOR THIS COMPONENT AND WILL EXIST WITHIN OTHER COMPONENTS WITHIN MY VEHICLE OR OTHER VEHICLES. ONCE THE PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED, ENGINES OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO AVOID THIS SAFETY ISSUE, AS IT LEADS TO POTENTIAL DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #11115279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. HOVE NISSAN (1405 N KINZIE AVE, BOURBONNAIS, IL) WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.
NHTSA complaint #11065721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SHUDDERING AND VIBRATION FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DALE EARNHARDT JR. BUICK/GMC (1850 CAPITAL CIR NE, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32308, (850) 270-1453) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VIBRATION AND SHUDDERING PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #11033979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.