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ProblemsByVin File / 2023-CADILLAC-ESCALADE-ESV NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Cadillac

2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 71 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 71 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 37 complaints, typically surfacing around 37,300 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Cadillac Escalade ESV owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2020 Escalade ESV 21 2
2021 Escalade ESV 63 10
2022 Escalade ESV 52 4
2023 Escalade ESV (this page) 71 4
2024 Escalade ESV 20 2
2025 Escalade ESV 0 1
2026 Escalade ESV 4 3
2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Photo: Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · representative photo of the Cadillac Escalade ESV
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
4
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2023 Escalade ESV?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 3 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
37 reports · fails ~37,300 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
powertrain
16 reports · avg $2,500
severe
electrical
6 reports · fails ~28,000 mi · avg $850
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2023 Escalade ESV's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2023 Escalade ESV?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2023 Escalade ESV · powertrain
On December 19, 2023, when pulling out of a parking lot onto the street, pressing the gas vehicle jerked and would not accelerate. No lights on dash. Drove less than 1 minute and turned down a side street, to get out of traffic while going slow/no power. Stopped at stop sign,…
2023 Escalade ESV · powertrain
UNKNOWN. The car decelerated on the freeway from 80 mph by automatically going into N. Once we managed to pull over to the shoulder, the car would not turn on again or shift gears. The dealership thinks it's an engine failure and they have multiple escalades in the shop for the…
2023 Escalade ESV · powertrain
In March 2025, my 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV experienced a sudden engine failure. The engine began running rough, the check engine light turned on, and the vehicle became unsafe to drive. The Cadillac dealer diagnosed the engine with #8 exhaust push rod bent and metal debris in…
2023 Escalade ESV · powertrain
Engine light is on solid. Veichile did stall while driving at Highway and vehicle will shake stop at red light. Noise when vehicle moving.
View all 71 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 4

severe NHTSA 25V274000 April 24, 2025

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6

Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
severe NHTSA 24V674000 September 12, 2024

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles

Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.
severe NHTSA 23V642000 September 20, 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles

A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232415910.
View all 4 recalls →

Under investigation 2 open at NHTSA

RQ Engine · opened January 2026

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. RQ26001 on NHTSA →

EA Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine · opened October 2025

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA25007 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 37 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 37,300 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 71 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 37,300 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 37 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 37,300 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 37,300 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Cadillac Escalade ESV has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 71 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/Cadillac/Escalade ESV. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Cadillac. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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