FaultScore

Cadillac Escalade vs Tesla Model S

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Cadillac Escalade Tesla Model S
Complaints on file 2,305 5,283
Model years covered 1999–2026 2012–2026
Worst model year 2007 2016
Best model year 2026 2024
Crashes reported 134 659
Fires reported 78 94
Injuries reported 109 207
Deaths reported 3 35
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 14.1% 18.8%

Cadillac Escalade by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 513 22.3%
Airbags 328 14.2%
Electrical System 273 11.8%
Brakes 183 7.9%
Suspension 73 3.2%

Tesla Model S by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 1,001 18.9%
Suspension 730 13.8%
Steering 344 6.5%
Brakes 208 3.9%
Lights 195 3.7%