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ProblemsByVin Index / 2018-CADILLAC-ESCALADE-ESV / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV owner complaints

14 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 1 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

engine 6 complaints shown

6 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
11/12/2020 ODI #11374230.0

Engine stop working had to replace whole engine

07/28/2025 ODI #11676804.0

Engine started making strange noises and i had to pull over due to it not driving correctly. I was stranded two hours from home. There were no warning lights. I have a video of the noise it was making. Upon getting it towed back to a local mechanic I was told I have the 6.2 GM engine that has been recalled on other vehicles. I found out that the lifters and cam shaft were bad along with the bearings in my engine. I also had to replace the timing chain. My vehicle only has less than 170,000 miles on it. The car was serviced regularly. A local mechanic has already repaired the problem.

05/01/2026 ODI #11735157.0

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, 6.2L V8 L86 engine, under 100,000 miles. Engine seized and was towed to an authorized GM dealership. Teardown confirmed a spun and twisted rod bearing resulting in complete crankshaft seizure, documented by the dealer as non-serviceable per GM, requiring full engine replacement. Component is available for inspection. Prior to seizure, the vehicle experienced a highway stall preceded by a harmonic balancer failure, belt system failure, and charging system collapse. The vehicle lost propulsion at highway speed, creating a crash risk to myself and other drivers. The failure mode, spun rod bearing with crankshaft damage, is physically identical to the defect documented in GM Safety Recall 25V-274, covering connecting rod and crankshaft manufacturing defec

04/30/2025 ODI #11657910.0

There was an internal failure in the engine causing loss of power, misfire, and loud knocking from inside the engine. Check engine light came out and the car was shut-off and towed to a repair facility. The facility found metal shavings in the oil filter and said the engine needs to be replaced. I became aware of an open recall (25V-274) on the same engine for model years 2021-2024, and think the same manufacturing defect may be responsible for the failure in my 2018 model year. My mechanic tells me his small shop has seen this problem with four other vehicles with the same engine.

02/02/2026 ODI #11715103.0

Traction light and engine light flashing at 95,900 miles took Cadillac ESV to authorized dealer and he advised their was a misfire on cylinder 3 after several attemps to repair now advising he hear a knocking in engine that needs to be replaced.

01/22/2025 ODI #11637765.0

When I started car I heard knocking. Engine failure. According to mechanic the lifter, rod and camshaft are bent. The car was always serviced and had regular oil change according to owners manual. The dealer recommends a new engine

electrical 4 complaints shown

4 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
05/19/2025 230,000 mi ODI #11661811.0

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 108,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 230,000.

05/05/2026 Fire ODI #11735860.0

We were on our way home from charlotte nc where the suv sat for a week while we were on vacation. Less than an hour of traveling home we smelled something burning so my husband pulled over, turns the suv off, and we looked on the outside at the tires. We didn’t see anything no smoke, no flat tires, so we look back in the suv and there was smoke all inside. We opened my passenger door and the smoke was coming from the door column that houses the seat belt. We had water in a cooler so he poured some on the area and I called 911. While waiting on the fire department the suv was still smoking but he couldn’t get the column cover off to see where it was coming from.Then fire starts flaming up through the melting plastic column so he took more water and poured it on the fire and smothered it wit

03/28/2025 ODI #11651225.0

The front cue system has spiderwebs caused by normal sun exposure, all safety radar features don’t work due to electrical defect that makes the car not function perfectly

01/18/2025 ODI #11636771.0

The vehicle shut off in traffic going 60 MPH. No electric, just off like it was shut off but wasn’t. (Different occasion unknown related 5k miles later) The motor has to be replaced because the piston. Which in return caused the rest of the motor to fail.

other 1 complaint shown

11/06/2025 ODI #11698007.0

Cue system delamenated cracking glass options not working correctly Many recalls for cue GPS entertainment system in all Cadillacs. This needs to be addressed because safety system backing up doesn't work properly. Cadillac has had problems with this part since 2014 recall and with lemon law class action on many Cadillacs for this same problem. Even if I purchase new cue laminated glass still happens in gel on glass. This is a major flaw and Cadillac knows there is a major problem .1500.00 for new cue system and problem still happening because of weather where car sits .the government needs to address because it's a safety issue when system doesn't work. Heat wont work cameras or radio! What can I do? Please help me?

powertrain 1 complaint shown

04/30/2025 104,107 mi ODI #11657858.0

The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was stiff, and the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to exceed 35 MPH while driving. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle failed to properly shift to driver(D) from park(P). The contact stated that the check engine, low oil pressure, and TPMS warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,107.

suspension 1 complaint shown

02/23/2021 ODI #11397499.0

Front struts have failed and require replacement. Gm has changed design on replacement struts which indicates there was a problem. This repair cost several thousand dollars and fir a new vehicle it should be covered by warranty. Afffects steering. No control on bumpy service.

Showing 300 of 14 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Cadillac/Escalade ESV#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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