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ProblemsByVin Model / CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV
7 model years · 2018–2024

Cadillac Escalade ESV reliability by year

0 recalls and 259 owner complaints across 7 model years. Best year to buy: 2020. Year to avoid: 2023.

Best year to buy
2020
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
See the 2020 Escalade ESV →
Year to avoid
2023
8.0/10
0 recalls · 64 complaints
See the 2023 Escalade ESV →

Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.

At-a-glance: every year color-coded

Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. best year · year to avoid.

Year-by-year reliability 7 model years · newest first

2024
8.6/10
0 recalls · 18 complaints
OK
2023
8.0/10
0 recalls · 64 complaints
OK
2022
8.2/10
0 recalls · 51 complaints
OK
2021
8.0/10
0 recalls · 61 complaints
OK
2020
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
OK
2019
8.4/10
0 recalls · 31 complaints
OK
2018
8.8/10
0 recalls · 14 complaints
OK

Common trouble spots across the Escalade ESV aggregated across 7 model years

engine
139 complaints across 7 years · avg $3,100
powertrain
46 complaints across 4 years · avg $2,500
electrical
28 complaints across 5 years · avg $850
cruise control
3 complaints across 1 year · avg $600

Common questions

What's the best year to buy a Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV scores 8.6/10 — the strongest in the 2018–2024 range. 20 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.

Which Cadillac Escalade ESV year should I avoid?

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV scores 8.0/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 64 owner complaints with NHTSA, 0 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2023 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.

Which years of the Cadillac Escalade ESV should I avoid?

No Cadillac Escalade ESV model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.

How many years of the Cadillac Escalade ESV are tracked?

7 model years (2018 through 2024) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 0 recalls and 259 owner complaints.

What's the most-reported problem on the Cadillac Escalade ESV?

engine is the most-reported category — 139 complaints across 7 model years. Average shop repair runs about $3,100.

Year-over-year reliability scores derived from NHTSA recall and owner complaint volume, severity weighted by reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Best/worst year calls require a minimum complaint sample per year so single-data-point years aren't crowned by chance. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Cadillac.
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