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Cadillac Escalade ESVModel year report

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
167,054miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
—not in EPA data

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The part named most often is engine, with 9 complaints (60% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and seat belts (2). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 167,054 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 996 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 92 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 186 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

Engine: “When I started car I heard knocking. Engine failure. According to mechanic the lifter, rod and camshaft are bent. The car was always serviced and had regular oil change according to owners manual. The dealer recommends a new engine”

NHTSA complaint #11637765, filed 2025-01

Electrical system: “Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 108,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 230,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11661811, filed 2025-05, 230,000 miles

Seat belts: “We were on our way home from charlotte nc where the suv sat for a week while we were on vacation. Less than an hour of traveling home we smelled something burning so my husband pulled over, turns the suv off, and we looked on the outside at the tires. We didn’t see anything no smoke, no flat tires, so we look back in the suv and there was smoke all inside. We opened my passenger door and the smoke was coming from the door column that houses the seat belt. We had water in a cooler so he poured some on the area and I called 911. …”

NHTSA complaint #11735860, filed 2026-05

Forward collision avoidance: “The front cue system has spiderwebs caused by normal sun exposure, all safety radar features don’t work due to electrical defect that makes the car not function perfectly”

NHTSA complaint #11651225, filed 2025-03

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 104,107 and 230,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–10050%100–15050%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 167,054 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20202021202592026
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 2018 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 · SUV AWD★★★★☆5 / 4543 · 21.2% risk
Escalade ESV · SUV RWD★★★★☆5 / 4543 · 20.4% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 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. 996 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 996 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 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 9 complaints (60% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 167,054 miles and the middle half falls between 104,107 and 230,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

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.