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2025 Cadillac Escalade: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2025 Cadillac Escalade — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.

Owners filed 17 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 57% of 2025 SUVs. Engine leads the reports (29%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2025 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

17

Reports to NHTSA, 2025

Safety recalls

1

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

16

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Fewer complaints than 57% of 2025 SUVs

The bar is this car's percentile among 2025 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Engine issues lead owner complaints (29% of 17 reports), followed by electrical system (24%).

Engine29% · 5 reports
Electrical System24% · 4 reports
Power Train12% · 2 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling6% · 1 report
Exterior Lighting6% · 1 report
Seats6% · 1 report
Steering6% · 1 report
Suspension6% · 1 report

+ 1 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 17 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11740376, ODI 11713031, ODI 11695455, ODI 11651929, ODI 11637362.

Recalls(1)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Wheels · 26V304000Details +

General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2025–2026 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban 1500, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 24-inch wheels. Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time.

Risk: A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front left and right wheel hub bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262554630. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 14, 2026.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on record

Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024.  GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM’s  recall remedy will be either an oil change to an oil with a different viscosity or engine replacement depending on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. To date, ODI has received 1,157 allegations of engine bearing failure. GM submitted 55,464 reports in total, with 29,752 unique VINs. ODI continues to receive allegations of L87 engine failures which fall outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. Based on GM’s recall, ODI will close this PE. NHTSA will continue to investigate complaints of engine failure outside the scope of recall 25V-274 as part ofEngineering Analysis (EA25007). To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Crash-test ratings

2025 Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

2025 Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Escalade 2WD6.2L 8-cylRear-Wheel Drive151917
Escalade 4WD6.2L 8-cyl4-Wheel Drive141816
Escalade V AWD6.2L 8-cyl4-Wheel Drive111713

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2025 Cadillac Escalade: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?

Owners filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the 2025 Cadillac Escalade — fewer complaints than 57% of comparable 2025 SUVs, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?

The most-reported problem areas are Engine (29% of complaints) and electrical system (24%).

How many recalls does the 2025 Cadillac Escalade have?

1 recall has been issued that affect the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, covering components such as wheels. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2025 Cadillac Escalade get?

The EPA rates the 2025 Cadillac Escalade between 13 and 17 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.