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 engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Cadillac Escalade have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Escalade | 16 |
| 2016 Escalade | 23 |
| 2017 Escalade | 17 |
| 2018 Escalade | 7 |
| 2019 Escalade (this page) | 16 |
| 2020 Escalade | 8 |
| 2021 Escalade | 36 |
| 2022 Escalade | 49 |
| 2023 Escalade | 78 |
When does it fail?
Of the 16 engine complaints filed for the 2019 Cadillac Escalade, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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.
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 Escalades with 6.2L V8 engines describe a recurring pattern: the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system's lifters fail and collapse, allowing push rods to contact the camshaft. This triggers loud knocking and banging, usually audible on cold start or under acceleration, followed by a check engine light. One owner heard the noise 20–30 seconds after startup; another reported rough idle and whining.
The failures typically surface between 48,000 and 110,000 miles. In several cases, the engine lost all power while driving—one owner was on the interstate at 60 mph, another at highway speeds—causing complete stalling and forcing repairs or engine replacement. Broken lifter material can enter the lower engine, risking catastrophic failure.
Repair costs are substantial: partial lifter replacement runs $4,000–$8,500; full engine replacement reaches $15,000. One owner's vehicle sat non-drivable for 2 years due to repair costs. GM issued a recall (EA25007) for 2021–2024 models with identical 6.2L engines but has not recalled 2019–2021 models, though an investigation is listed. Owners report GM denies warranty coverage beyond 70,000 miles, and dealerships acknowledge seeing this failure regularly.
Same Cadillac Escalade engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
AFM Lifter Failure with Camshaft Damage
The Active Fuel Management system's lifters fail and collapse, allowing the push rod to contact the camshaft and cause severe damage. Broken lifter debris can enter the lower engine block.
When: Reported between 48,000 and 110,000 miles; one owner reported failure at approximately 70,000 miles consistently in narratives.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud engine knocking or banging on cold start; Check engine light illumination; Continued knocking/ticking noise during acceleration and under load; Rough idle; Abnormal whining sound from engine; Delayed chirping/ticking noise 20-30 seconds after startup
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (specific OBD-II codes not stated in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report lifter replacement ranging $4,000-$8,500 for partial repairs; full engine replacement cited at $15,000. One owner received warranty repair for camshaft and lifter replacement at $8,776.63. Repeated failures reported one month after repair in at least one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued NHTSA recall EA25007 for 2021-2024 model year 6.2L V8 engines; 2019-2021 models are under active investigation (no recall yet) for same issue. Owners report dealerships see this failure frequently. Warranty coverage denied after 70,000 miles in one documented case.
Push Rod Failure and Engine Stalling
Push rods snap or drop out due to lifter collapse or oil starvation from the AFM system, causing sudden loss of engine power and complete stalling while driving.
When: Failures occurred at highway speeds during normal driving; mileage varies but one specific case at approximately 70,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while driving; Engine stalling and failure to restart; Smoke from engine compartment (in one case); Engine seized or locked condition preventing restart
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (specific codes not documented)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required in multiple cases; one owner states repair cost over $10,000 but vehicle has remained non-functional for 2 years. Headers required repair due to collateral damage in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM denies warranty coverage outside of active recalls; owners report GM states 2019 models are 'out of warranty and not their problem' despite same mechanical defect in recalled 2021-2024 models.
Misfire and Check Engine Light with Reduced Performance
Lifter malfunction causes intermittent or persistent misfires, triggering diagnostic warning lights and degraded engine performance including hesitation and abnormal transmission shifting.
When: Reported at various mileages; symptoms progressed from cold start noise to continuous operation issue in one narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Abnormal hesitation and reduced propulsion; Abnormal or delayed shifting; Misfire condition; Engine unable to be duplicated by dealer on first inspection
Codes mentioned: Misfire diagnostic codes (specific codes not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Repair costs not specified for this mode alone, but included in overall lifter and camshaft replacement bills cited elsewhere.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer reported inability to duplicate failure on initial visit; manufacturer involvement not documented for this specific mode.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 12 most recent
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate a failure. Recently, the contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The…
2019 GM Cadillac Escalade 6.2-liter L87 engine rod/bearing knocking noise for second time causing fear of driving and long range usability because of catastrophic failures reported. GM says out of warranty and not their problem and not part of the issued recall years for bad L87 engines. Vehicle engine repaired under warranty 03/07-2024 for bad camshaft and lifter failure at a cost of $8776.63.
I was on the highway with my family going about 60 mph and my vehicle shut completely off on the interstate. We were almost rearend by a tractor trailer. It did not crank back up either. My 2019 Cadillac Escalade has the same current issues as the 2021 - 2024 6.2 engines that are being recalled right now.
I was traveling on the interstate with no problems, then my vehicle lost power and I smelled smoke. I pulled into a gas station to see what the problem was. It appeared the starter had went out. I got it towed to a mechanic shop and it was determined another engine is needed. There is a recall on these engines from the year 2021 thru 2024. This year needs to be included due to the same issues as…
The AFM lifters on 1,7,4,6 cylinders go out with no warning causing shuttering and misfires. Scary! This is the second Escalade with the problem and the 2019 engine has occurred twice in 6 months. I have inserted a lockout device to prevent the vehicle from going into 4 cylinder mode since the last episode (6 months ago) and it still failed another AFM lifter. GM said they will fix the 3rd one…
As what appears to be happening with a lot of these, it dropped the push rod on cylinder 2, damaged the camshaft, and the truck immediately lost power while on the highway.
- The engine malfunctioned. Started making noises on cold start that quickly turned into noises when driving and rough idling. It is at the Cadillac dealership being inspected right now. Car is available for inspected upon request. - The safety was put at risk with the potential of complete engine failure. - I received a call from Cadillac yesterday that the camshaft is faulty and they will…
At around 70,000 miles the engine light came on and a strange noise was coming from the engine. I immediately took it in for inspection. The mechanic said he knew right away what it was because its a common failure with this engine. He said the lifters had gone bad and the entire top half of the engine had to be repaired. This was at a cost of $8,500.00. This is clearly an issue with GM motors…
My vehicle lost power suddenly I almost got hit from behind luckily I was able to avoid a accident towed to mecanic told me common issue with this engine my engine needs replacment
I currently own a 2019 Cadillac Escalade with a 6.2L V8 gas engine problems. We have issues with knocking or banging sound from the engine, the check engine light turns on and other engine performance issues like abnormal shifting, hesitation or reduced propulsion it has caused engine failure to my vehicle and it cannot be driven so it has been sitting up and I am still payment a note on the…
Had engine trouble with your 2019 Cadillac Escalade?
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?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 48,000 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.
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.