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Cadillac Escalade ESVModel year report

2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
69,600miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
15 mpgcombined, 6.2L 8-cyl · flex-fuel RWD · 12 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The part named most often is air bags, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by fuel system (3) and engine (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,600 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 1,220 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 14 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 55 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac Escalade Esv. While driving approximately 60 MPH, a tractor trailer crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact's vehicle was pushed into the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was injured and was transported to a hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard to be evaluated for damages. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 47,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10660101, filed 2014-11, 47,000 miles

Fuel system: “Initially my fuel gauge stopped working. I assumed it failed and was going to have it replaced. The following day when I started the car the engine light came on, and I thought it might have something to do with the fuel gauge issue. I was on my way to drop the car off at the dealer the same day and while driving a warning message stated that the traction control was inoperable, it then went into limp mode. I barely made it off the highway. When I pulled into a safe location I heard a pop under the car and everything started shutting down. The engine started sputtering, eventually quitting. …”

NHTSA complaint #11376713, filed 2020-11, 162,000 miles

Engine: “Stuck throttle at 4000+ rpms: while passing a car on a straight two lane highway, the engine stayed at 4000 rpms or greater after the throttle pedal was released. No carpet or floor mat was impeding the throttle pedal. The pedal was pressed hard and release several times to try to disengage the throttle but rpms stay above 4000 rpms. The transmission was placed into the manual position but rpms continued to stay above 4000 for approximately 3.5 miles and 2.5 minutes with the vehicle uncontrollably going in excess of 90 MPH. …”

NHTSA complaint #10914374, filed 2016-10, 79,200 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 79,200 miles.

0%0–100%10–2525%25–5025%50–7525%75–1000%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 69,600 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201420152016220202
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Escalade ESV · sedan AWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 23.7% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Escalade ESV 2WD6.2L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic121915$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,220 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,220 bulletins →

Other model years of the Cadillac Escalade ESV

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202611—35——Too new
20251412,80015——Too new
20242219,00024——Too new
20239240,00044—100 · MoreToo new
20225842,76544—50 · TypicalRising
20217469,608104—87 · MoreRising
20202265,0002———Rising
201934108,3501——0 · FewerRising
201815167,05414——Rising
20173831,27814—32 · FewerRising
20161537,0003———Rising
2015840,0006—17—Not enough data
201113100,0005—16—Not enough data
2009669,6005—15—Not enough data
20081752,5004—14—Stable
20073974,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
2006536,5001—13—Not enough data
20051495,9871—13—Not enough data
20042272,0001—13—Falling
20031293,0001—13—Not enough data

All Cadillac Escalade ESV model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by fuel system with 3.

Has the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV (Escalade ESV 2WD, 6.2L 8-cyl · flex-fuel) at 15 mpg combined, 12 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,600 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 79,200 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.