2023 Cadillac Escalade

2023 Cadillac Escalade, 6.2L V8 (RPO L87). Subject of Recall 25V-274 and NHTSA investigation RQ26-001. Over the past year, this vehicle has been out of the shop only about 90 days total. The rest of the year it has been in dealer service at GM/Cadillac dealerships for a recurring, undiagnosed loss-of-power defect. It is currently in dealer service. FAILURE: The vehicle has suddenly lost all motive power on three separate occasions. Engine runs, vehicle loses all drive power, will not restart. Two events occurred at approximately 80 mph on an interstate highway. One occurred with children in the vehicle. The only warning is a “service rear axle” message that appears just before power loss. No diagnostic trouble code has isolated the fault. Root cause has not been diagnosed. REPAIR PATTERN: Six dealer visits across two Cadillac dealerships in one year. Interventions have included two battery replacements, a full engine replacement under Recall 25V-274, an approximately $1,500 charge categorized as diagnostic with no repair labor documented, and most recently a “wiring harness manipulation / re-wrap” performed over approximately 90 days. Dealer personnel described the fix as “manipulation fixed it” — which is not a diagnosed repair. On at least one return of the vehicle, dealer personnel stated in the presence of a witness that they were not certain the defect had been fixed. The “service rear axle” warning returned within three days of the most recent repair. POST-RECALL: The engine was replaced under Recall 25V-274 and the loss-of-power failures continued afterward. This is directly relevant to RQ26-001, examining post-recall-remedy failures.

Vehicle started making a horrendous noise, knock and squeeling noise while on the highway. Approximately 2 minutes later the check engine light came on and we completely lost power. Went from 70 to zero dead on the side of the NY Thruway rapidly. Vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that an engine replacement was necessary. Engine previously passed PICO test and update to the oil cap was completed. Oil changes every 5k miles.

Engine stopped running while driving without any prior notifications, lights, or warnings. Car was stationary in the roadway while my wife tried repeatedly to restart the engine. After several tries the engine started and ran long enough to pull car off roadway. Car was inspected last year and procedures per recall notice where performed and was then deemed safe and reliable. Recall corrections did not fix the problem.

2023 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum with 6.2L L87 V8 suffered catastrophic engine failure on 6/20/2026 at approximately 38,658 miles. Vehicle had GM recall N252494000 performed at Coulter Cadillac in Phoenix, AZ on 12/3/2025. Engine reportedly passed GM recall inspection and received oil-related remedy rather than engine replacement. Approximately six months later, while driving on I-17 near Black Canyon City, AZ at highway speed on a 75 mph interstate, the engine suddenly shut down with no warning signs or alerts. Vehicle shifted to neutral and lost all propulsion. There were no prior check-engine lights, oil-pressure warnings, reduced-power warnings, abnormal noises, or other alerts before failure. I was traveling with my family of four plus our dog in approximately 105°F heat at the start of a road trip. I was able to maneuver to the shoulder, but the sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed created a serious safety risk. We were stranded roadside for nearly one hour in a remote area. Earnhardt Cadillac in Scottsdale, AZ diagnosed crank bearing failure. GM/Cadillac has indicated the proposed repair is installation of a refurbished/remanufactured replacement engine. I am concerned this failure occurred after the recall remedy had already been completed and appears consistent with the L87 crankshaft/connecting rod/bearing failures and post-remedy failures under NHTSA review. Cadillac case number is 103635161.

We were driving on an interstate in Indiana and the car jerked and then automatically went into neutral. We couldn’t accelerate or put the car back into drive. We had to get over 2 lanes and onto the shoulder. We were able to put the car in park once on the shoulder but the car would not turn on or off. We couldn’t do anything. All electronics were still running but the engine was not running. The emergency break went on as well. The car sat on the side of the road for 3 hours with the electronics going while waiting for a tow which then wore out the battery. Because the car switched on the emergency break, the towing company had a difficult time getting it up on the tow truck. There were no warning lights going off. We were going 75mph on a highway with my children in the car! Scariest thing ever. I can only imagine what could have happened. We were so lucky to not be hit on the highway trying to change lanes and not being able to accelerate. Then we had to sit on the side of a highway for 3 hours in 95 degree weather and we were 2.5 hours from home! After 3 hours, a tow truck finally showed up. My family had to take a taxi to the nearest dealership because the tow truck would not take us. After 4 days, the dealership finally ran the diagnostic test and said the engine had seized up and we need a new engine which is on backorder. That dealership is 2.5 hours from home, so we then had to pay for another tow truck to get my vehicle back up to home so the local dealership could work on it. It has been one week since this incident happened and we have no idea how long the repairs will take but it’s my understanding that they are just replacing the faulty engine with another faulty engine because GM has no fix for this engine failure issue so it will happen again!!!

I was driving at highway speeds when my vehicle suddenly lost power and began rapidly decelerating. The vehicle eventually stalled in the middle of the roadway, creating a serious safety hazard for me and other drivers and significantly increasing the risk of a crash. This vehicle had previously undergone the GM safety recall inspection under Recall N252494000 for the L87 6.2L engine loss of propulsion defect. The recall inspection and remedy failed to identify the underlying engine defect, and the engine still catastrophically failed only months later. After the recall was completed, the vehicle was maintained according to GM’s updated recall instructions, including use of the required 0W-40 engine oil. Despite compliance with the recall remedy and maintenance requirements, the engine still failed during normal highway operation. The recall specifically acknowledged potential manufacturing defects involving the connecting rod and/or crankshaft components that could lead to engine failure and loss of propulsion. That is exactly what occurred in this incident. I believe the recall inspection procedure was inadequate and failed to detect defective engines that remain unsafe and subject to catastrophic failure even after being marked as “recall completed.”

As a loyal GM customer who has purchased three Cadillac Escalades and had them exclusively serviced at Cadillac dealerships, , I am writing regarding my 2023 Escalade, equipped with the 6.2L V8 (L87) engine, affected by the recall (N252494000) impacting approximately 597,630 vehicles . I recently took my vehicle to a Cadillac dealership for the recall inspection, where it passed, received a switch to o@-40 Mobil 1 Supercar oil, and was granted an extended warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles from the purchase date. Despite this , I am deeply troubled by GM's handling of the recall, which has caused significant unease, undermined my trust, failed to honor my loyalty, and imposed unfair burdens. I respectfully request clarification and action on the following issues: Inadequate Recall Remedy and Impact on Gas Mileage - The remedy for vehicles that pass inspection- switching from 0W-20 to higher-viscosity 0W40 oil- raises serious doubts about its effectiveness in addressing a manufacturing defect in the crankshaft and/or connecting rods, which GM acknowledges can lead to engine failure and increase crash risk. Many owners, including myself, question whether thicker oil is a permanent solution or a temporary workaround. Additionally, the switch to 0W-40 is likely to reduce fuel efficiency due to increased engine drag, imposing an unaddressed cost in deduced gas mileage. This is especially concerning for me, as I rely on my Escalade for annual drives from [XXX] to [XXX] for the winter months. Can GM provide technical evidence proving the oil change fully resolves the defect, and will the company compensate owners for the loss in fuel economy? Inconsistent Communications Regarding the Extended Warranty - The dealership assured my vehicle is "fine" after passing the inspection, yet GM is providing an extended warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles. This contradiction - claiming the engine is defect-free while extending warranty coverage - suggests GM anticipat INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF IN

My vehicle lost full engine propulsion going 70mph on the highway. We were blocking lanes of traffic and lost speed at a very rapid pace. No engine or warning light came on before the car lost engine and shifted into neutral. We called 911 and the California Highway Patrol had to assist in us not getting hit from behind as our car was disabled and would not restart to move off of lanes of traffic.