IllustrationStarted hearing a knocking sound from the engine Saturday. Stopped driving the car the rest of the weekend. Took to the Cadillac dealer today and was just told the car needs a new engine. This is unacceptable on 130k 2026 vehicle. Hopefully, you can apply severe pressure on GM to get this issue fixed once and for all.
2026 Cadillac Escalade
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escalade years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine complaints
30 reportsEngine failior. Engine lost power on highway and lhad to limp to safety in traffic. With my children in the vehicle.
Engine failure and replaced. Received vehicle back and placed under 2k miles on the new engine and 3 times now it has shut off while in motion and required a restart.
On August 25, 2026, while driving my 2026 Cadillac Escalade, the vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic engine failure. The engine lost power and the vehicle became inoperable while I was on the road. There was no meaningful advance warning that would have allowed me to safely anticipate the failure. The sudden loss of e…
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On August 25, 2026, while driving my 2026 Cadillac Escalade, the vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic engine failure. The engine lost power and the vehicle became inoperable while I was on the road. There was no meaningful advance warning that would have allowed me to safely anticipate the failure. The sudden loss of engine power created a serious safety concern because the vehicle could no longer be driven normally or moved under its own power. The vehicle ultimately had to be transported by a specialty tow service to an authorized Cadillac dealership. The Cadillac dealership inspected the vehicle and advised me that there was a major internal engine failure involving the bottom end of the engine, including the crankshaft/rod-bearing area, and that the engine requires replacement. The vehicle was purchased brand new on December 31, 2025 with approximately 15 miles and suffered this major engine failure less than eight months after purchase. The vehicle had approximately 12,000 miles at the time of the failure. The vehicle is currently at the authorized Cadillac dealership and is available for inspection. Cadillac/GM has been notified of the failure, and a case has been opened with the manufacturer. My primary safety concern is that a major engine failure occurred suddenly while the vehicle was being driven. A sudden loss of propulsion in traffic could create a significant risk of a collision, particularly at highway speeds or in circumstances where the driver needs engine power to safely maneuver the vehicle.
First engine failed (6.2L) at 4900 miles and the was replaced. The second engine failed at 6000 miles and I am on my third engine now.
My engine locked up with only 9k miles on it. Left me stranded in 109 degree heat. Had it towed to local dealer over 3 weeks ago they determined engine was bad and ordered new engine from GM but the engine is on back order. I need GM to buy my vehicle back so I can replace it I have nothing to drive.
Complete engine failure in 2026 Cadillac Escalade sport platinum with 3100 miles
The motor started making a ticking noise, then when we came to a stop, the motor died. I was able to get it started and get us home. As we made it home, the noise began to get worse. The next morning I planned to take it to the dealership. The car started and I began to drive. We entered the freeway and as traffic picked up…
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The motor started making a ticking noise, then when we came to a stop, the motor died. I was able to get it started and get us home. As we made it home, the noise began to get worse. The next morning I planned to take it to the dealership. The car started and I began to drive. We entered the freeway and as traffic picked up, we came to a stop on the freeway. The engine died again. I was able to start it one more time and cotinued on until we got to the exit the dealership is on. At this point the car died again and we were unable to get it started. It left us stranded on the offramp. Car needed to be towed to dealership where it was discovered the engine had failed. Cadillac replaced the engine with a new one. This happened at 7100 miles.
I was driving on 35 mph road and first got a notification to service charging system, vehicle may stall, with the battery light on. Less than a mile after an alarm went off non stop stating engine overheating shut vehicle down immediately. Roadside mechanic came and discovered the serpentine belt failed. I have 1,100 miles on th…
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I was driving on 35 mph road and first got a notification to service charging system, vehicle may stall, with the battery light on. Less than a mile after an alarm went off non stop stating engine overheating shut vehicle down immediately. Roadside mechanic came and discovered the serpentine belt failed. I have 1,100 miles on this car.
Complete engine failure at 75MPH. Vehicle only has 5000 miles on it.
Official recalls
326V304000 · Wheels:hub
May 14, 2026
General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2025–2026 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban 1500, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 24-inch wheels. Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front left and right wheel hub bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262554630. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 14, 2026.
26V289000 · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
May 7, 2026
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
26V114000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Feb 26, 2026
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA26005 · Loss Of Motive Power Due To Engine Failure Post Recall Remedy
Opened Aug 20, 2026 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V-274, 473 of which involved an oil viscosity change and 26 a complete engine replacement. Additionally, ODI has received 191 reports of L87 engine failures in engines produced after the production period cited in Recall 25V-274. GM reported receiving 6,953 complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysisto continue investigating complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is expanding the scope of this Investigation to include engines produced after the production period cited in the recall. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.