Engine failure. Started making a knocking noise on road with my whole family in the car, no lights or warnings on dash and had to pull over and get it towed to nearest dealer. Took a week to get a diagnostic done. Dealer found metal shavings in oil filter believe to be from a connecting rod bearing. Recall 252494000 was done 2,000 miles prior to engine failure. Now dealer must replace engine…
2024 Cadillac Escalade engine problems
moderate 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 26 engine complaints filed for the 2024 Cadillac Escalade, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 67% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 26 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2024 Cadillac Escalade owners report catastrophic engine failures without warning, often at highway speeds, starting at 6,800 miles. Recall 25V-274 exists but replacement parts remain backordered with repair delays exceeding 30–60 days; multiple owners describe engine bearing/rod failure with metal contamination requiring full engine replacement.
Owners describe sudden, complete engine shutdowns while driving—typically at highway speeds between 45 and 75 mph—with no warning lights. The engine dies, power steering and brakes are lost, and the vehicle goes into neutral or gets stuck in park. Restarts fail. Failures occur as early as 6,800 miles and as late as 20,000+ miles.
When diagnostic work gets done, technicians find metal shavings or debris packed in the oil, pointing to internal bearing or connecting-rod failure. One owner's oil was silver instead of normal brown/black, indicating massive contamination. Another had so much debris the engine won't rotate and requires replacement.
Some owners report the engine making knocking, ticking, or rattling sounds before complete failure. In at least one case, the dealership could not diagnose intermittent loss of power because the check engine light wasn't lit during the diagnostic visit, and the owner's VIN wasn't yet in the recall database.
GM issued Recall 252494000 (Campaign 25V-274) involving an oil viscosity change to 0W-20. One owner completed that recall 2,000 miles before catastrophic failure. Replacement engines are backordered; owners report 30–60 day wait times with dealerships holding multiple vehicles for the same failure. One European owner was denied warranty coverage because the US manufacturer declined to support the repair overseas.
Same Cadillac Escalade engine reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Catastrophic Engine Failure / Complete Shutdown
Engine shuts down completely without warning while driving, loss of all propulsion and power steering/brakes. Vehicle goes into neutral or refuses to shift, becoming immobile. No warning lights in most cases. Failures occur across mileage range from 6,800 to 20,000+ miles.
When: 6,800–20,000+ miles; failures occur at highway speeds (45–75 mph) and city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies mid-drive without warning; Loss of propulsion and power steering; Vehicle enters neutral or cannot shift from park; No check engine light warning in many cases; "Press start button" message displayed; Vehicle will not restart
Codes mentioned: P0300 (random misfire across all cylinders)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required. Metal debris found in oil indicating internal bearing/rod failure. Oil changed to 0W-20 viscosity (some units changed to thicker viscosity as part of recall). Multiple owners report 30–60 day repair delays and backorders; one owner notes dealership had 5 vehicles in shop for same failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V-274 (GM Recall 252494000). Recall involves oil viscosity change to 0W-20. Parts not available at time of recall notification; some owners report VINs not yet included in recall coverage. One owner reports European service refused to perform warranty repair citing US manufacturer non-support.
Engine Noise and Metal Contamination
Engine develops knocking, ticking, rattling, or squealing noises from internal bearing/rod failure. Metal shavings or debris found in oil upon inspection. Noises may precede complete failure or occur during final failure event.
When: Occurs at varying mileage; some cases after recall service (oil change); one case at 20,000 miles after recent dealership service
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or ticking from engine; Rattling noise from front left motor; Squealing sound; Metal shavings in oil filter/oil; Oil appears silver instead of brown/black; Engine feels rough operating
Codes mentioned: P0300 (random misfire), Main bearing failure (diagnostic, not OBD code)
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis requires oil draining and inspection. Engine replacement required due to extent of contamination. One owner reports metal debris so severe that engine will not rotate. Dealership unable to diagnose without illuminated check engine light in at least one case. Related components (oil cooler, radiator) may require replacement due to contamination spread.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 252494000 completed prior to failure in at least one case (2,000 miles before engine failure). No prevention noted despite recall service.
Intermittent Loss of Power and Rough Running
Vehicle experiences intermittent rough idle, loss of acceleration power, and check engine light illumination that comes and goes. One case shows scanner evidence of misfire history across all cylinders despite light being off at time of power loss.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership; one documented case at dealer for 10+ days as of report date
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light coming on intermittently; Rough engine operation; Sudden loss of power/acceleration without warning; No illuminated warning light at moment of power loss
Codes mentioned: P0300 (random misfire across all cylinders)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership unable to repair vehicle because check engine light not illuminated at time of diagnosis and VIN not yet in recall database as of report date (1/7/26).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not yet included in NHTSA Campaign 25V-274 parts coverage per VIN tool at time of report.
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 12 most recent
See attached document for complaint. I am writing to you as a deeply concerned mother and consumer seeking urgent help with a danger ous and unresolved engine defect in my 2024 Cadillac E calade, which has been formally recalled under NHT A Campaign 25V-274 (GM Recall 1 252494000). I purchased this vehicle in good faith, believing it would be a safe, reliable car to transport my three young…
Having it at four different dealers have not corrected the infotainment screen, adaptive cruise control phantom braking, electrical display issues such as ambient temperature, malfunctioning fuel gauge. Check engine notification was on, they seem to have corrected that, the next notification was service rear axle. Back up camera fails intermittently. I have had it to the dealer nine times, GM…
The vehicle died while driving with no warning and had 6,800 miles on it at the time. I received a message to "Push ignition to start" but it did nothing. Had it towed to Cadillac dealership. The engine was replaced. The paperwork that I received says "Large amounts of metal debris in oil. Drained engine oil and found oil to appear silver not brown/black. Suspect major internal failure not…
The contact owns a 2024 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact called several local dealers who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that while stopped, the vehicle shut off while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact made multiple…
I was driving on the expressway going 75mph in the middle lane when the vehicle said “press start button” and lost all propulsion. I started slowing down rapidly and was unable to get to the right lane as there were vehicles so I merged to the left lane and came to a stop narrowly missed by a speeding driver. The vehicle would not turn back on. I was in the left lane around 2:30pm with rush hour…
The contact owns a 2024 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The…
While traveling 65 mph on a highway the car turned itself off and shifted into neutral. I was able to make it to the side of the road nearly avoiding a high speed accident. The car was placed in park and restarted. Less than five minutes later it did the exact same thing again. This time forcing me to come to a complete stop on a highway in a construction zone. The vehicle is only a few…
The contact owns a 2024 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The…
On Sunday April 19th at approximately 12:00pm. I was driving on NJ’s garden state parkway when the car had catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds. I lost full power, including power steering, and brakes. This SUV could have killed my family and I if I was unable to use brute force to control it into the right lane. While I understand that any vehicle can experience warranty-related issues,…
Had engine trouble with your 2024 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 2024 Cadillac Escalade?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 26 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 26 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 14,667 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/2024/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.