This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the camshaft actuator magnet to correct customer concerns of engine related shudder.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV engine problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 13 engine complaints filed for the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on vehicles outside of a California Emissions State who move to and register their vehicle in a California Emission State may be entitled to the 7 year, 70,000-mile Emission Select State Component Limited Warranty.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV describe a pattern of premature lifter and camshaft failure that can occur without warning. The engine typically develops a rough idle or ticking noise, then progresses to violent shaking, loss of power, or complete seizure—often while driving at highway speeds or in traffic. Check engine lights sometimes illuminate late or inconsistently; several owners report no warning light before catastrophic failure.
Mechanics find metal shavings in the oil and diagnose lifter/camshaft wear. Some dealerships recommend full engine replacement; others attempt lifter and camshaft replacement alone, which owners report does not hold—the problem recurs within months or thousands of miles. Repair costs range from $6,700 to $13,000 or more, with Cadillac covering 60–90% under warranty in some cases but denying full coverage on repeat failures.
One owner reported engine fire with preceding black smoke. Another described cylinder #1 flooded with fuel and a wet spark plug. Owners note that identical 6.2L engines in 2021–2024 models are covered under NHTSA recall, but the 2019 model year remains excluded, despite dealers confirming this is a known design flaw with no remedy. Many owners are fully on top of maintenance and servicing, yet failures still occur.
Same Cadillac Escalade ESV engine reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Lifter and camshaft failure
Lifters and camshafts fail prematurely, leading to metal contamination, rough running, and eventual engine seizure. Multiple owners report lifter/camshaft replacement, only to experience recurrence of failure. Diagnostic work reveals metal shavings in the oil. The failure occurs across a range of mileages and appears to affect the 6.2L engine in particular.
When: Varies: 23,000 miles, 85,000+ miles, some owners had repairs at 6 months prior then repeat failure within months
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idle or rough running at idle; Violent shaking while driving; Ticking or loud noise from bottom end of engine; Check engine light (flashing or solid, sometimes delayed); Loss of power or power reduction; Engine seizure while driving; Metal shavings visible in oil; Low oil pressure at idle (13 psi reported)
Codes mentioned: Misfire cylinder #5, Misfire cylinder #1, Check engine light (various codes not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Lifter and camshaft replacement attempted as temporary fix but failures recur; full engine replacement recommended by dealers. Owners cite repair costs of $6,700 to $13,000+, with Cadillac covering 60-90% under warranty in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V274000 exists for 2021-2024 models; owners note 2019 models appear excluded despite having identical engines. Case opened by manufacturer in at least one instance (complaint #4). Dealers acknowledge engine design flaw with no known remedy.
Engine fire
One owner reported vehicle caught fire while driving, with small puff of black smoke observed immediately prior. Limited details provided in narrative.
When: While owner was driving (no mileage stated)
Symptoms owners cite: Small puff of black smoke; Vehicle fire
Cylinder fuel flooding and wet spark plugs
One owner reported cylinder #1 full of fuel with wet spark plug, accompanied by smoking and violent shaking. Independent mechanic recommended full engine replacement.
When: No mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Smoking from engine; Violent shaking; Cylinder #1 full of fuel; Wet spark plug
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (code not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement ordered by owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes this appears to match recall pattern for 2021-2024 models.
Transmission failure (concurrent with engine issues)
One owner reported transmission failure at 85,000 miles on same vehicle experiencing rough idle and low oil pressure. Noted as separate but concurrent issue on affected vehicle.
When: 85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission failure
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
It had a rough idle and took it to the dealer. Cam shaft failure most likely due to faulty lifters and engine replacement needed. Similar to known issues on this year and on years that are involved in recall. This could lead to engine failure and loss of propulsion like the newer years. Car has been properly maintained and serviced at dealer.
Engine has low oil pressure at idle
I bought this 2019 Cadillac Escalade for family safety in November 2024 for 2000 miles from Ken Garfield dealership in America fork Utah. Four months ago he had a mechanical failure which costed $13,000 to repair to which Cadillac covered 90% of the cost. I got it back an 1000 miles later the engine had complete engine failure. Now they are saying they will only cover 60% of the coverage to fix…
The engine developed a ticking noise followed by loss of power. Mechanic diagnosed lifter and camshaft failure, which may be related to the Active Fuel Management system. This caused metal contamination and requires complete engine replacement. This appears to be a widespread issue on GM 6.2L engines.”
Had all of my lifters replaced and cam shaft 6 months ago because of the faulty engine gm has started to recognize. I spent $7500.00 yesterday 10/28/2025 i was driving and my car started shaking and shutting down in the middle of a busy intersection. luckily i got it off the road safely before be hit. traction control light was on and the check engine light goes from blinking to solid and then…
My wife was driving our 2019 Cadillac Escalade to work when the vehicle check engine light came on and started to smoke and shake violently. She avoided injury but the car was not drivable. A local independent service center said that the car's cylinder #1 was full of fuel, the spark plug was wet, reported loud bottom end engine noise and that we replace the engine. This appears to be the same…
At 60,000 miles the lifter failed and bent a pushrod rod while driving 65mph on the interstate. I had to slow my driving to 40mph in heavy traffic and "limp" it to the dealership. When I drove it to the local Cadillac dealership, they confirmed what had happened. There were no warning lamps prior to this happening. This is a common failure due to the weak lifters in GM's AFM/DOD feature. If…
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking violently. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and contacted an independent mechanic. The check engine warning light was then illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder…
Lifters and camshaft went bad even though I'm fully on top Of maintenance. My engine began to seize up Luckily I was not out on the expressWay. Took it to a reputable mechanic who confirmed the problem all the repairs cost me $6,700. No warning light or check engine came on even though there was a serious issue.
Rough running engine at idle. The vehicle also shows low oil pressure at idle 13psi. Took to several service technicians and was told this is unfortunately a flaw in the engine design and there is not a known current remedy. Also they are surprised that this model was not covered under the same recall campaign that later models are as they are nearly identical engines. The transmission also gave…
Had engine trouble with your 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 56,350 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Cadillac/Escalade ESV.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.