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Cadillac Escalade ESVModel year report

2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems

Compared with other Cadillac Escalade ESV years

More complaints than typical for this model

87/100 2.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
74filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
69,608miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
10campaigns 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 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

What owners report

Most complaints from owners of this model year describe engine problems, particularly with the 6.2L V8, where sudden loss of power, knocking or rattling noises and engine replacement recur in the sample. Transmission, electrical and cooling complaints also appear, and many reports involve relatively low mileage for the vehicle's age. Several owners describe their vehicles as covered by, or waiting on parts for, recall 25V274000.

  1. Engine

    Engine failure / loss of propulsion (6.2L V8)

    • 52 complaints (70%)
    • median 70,304 mi at 4.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $6,650 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2021–2026

    Owners describe a knocking, rattling or ticking noise from the engine, followed by shuddering, warning lights and a sudden loss of power while driving, sometimes at highway speed. Complaints state that dealers diagnosed engine failure or internal damage and quoted a full engine replacement, with several noting parts on backorder and long waits. Some owners mention the failure despite regular maintenance and received no warranty coverage because their VIN was outside the recall population. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 145,000 miles, with many cases noted in the 50,000-90,000 mile range and often without warning.

    Recall 25V2740006 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has had recall 25V274000 inspected and what remedy was applied, and request service records for any engine noise or oil consumption. Listen for knocking or ticking at idle and during a test drive, and check oil level and condition.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Experienced engine failure as outline in recall for 6.2liter L87 engines. Engine failure occured on 5/28/2025. Confirmed engine failure by Cadillac dealer on 5/29/2025. Vehicle is still in repair shop with no ETA on replacement motor. Cadillac has failed to provide a comparable loaner vehicle. This is creating financial impact as I use my vehicle for work.”

    NHTSA complaint #11669906, filed 2025-06

    “On November 29th 2021, I cranked up my ESV headed to work. To my surprise, I heard which to me sounds like metal hammers clanking together. I immediately turn off the truck. In my experience it sounded like lifters and pistons out of sync. If I had been traveling to work this would have left me stranded on the freeway. I called roadside to set an appt to flatbed the truck to the dealership where I just purchased the ESV 8 months ago (11,100k mi). …”

    NHTSA complaint #11446506, filed 2022-01
  2. Engine

    Excessive oil consumption and low-oil warnings

    Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report low engine oil warnings appearing well before the next scheduled change, with little or no oil showing on the dipstick and smoke from the filler opening. Some describe blue or white exhaust smoke, misfires and rough running attributed by shops to oil reaching a cylinder or spark plug. A few owners say dealers told them the consumption was within normal limits. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 100,000 miles, often noticed between oil changes.

    Recall 25V2740002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the oil level on the dipstick before purchase and ask how often oil has been added between changes. Watch for blue or white exhaust smoke on startup and after idling.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I get oil changed regularly. For the last several thousands of miles, I keep getting low engine oil warning approximately 2,000 miles before an oil change is due. When I go to add more oil, there barely any oil showing on the dip stick and when I open the cap to add more oil, there's smoke coming out.”

    NHTSA complaint #11653082, filed 2025-04

    “My wife was driving my kids to their nana and papas house when the vehicle loss power. The vehicle started to have a knocking noise and started to vibrate towards the engine compartment. The dash lit up like a Christmas tree. We took the vehicle to a local mechanic and he suggested that we might need a tune up. We purchased 8 brand new spark plugs, spark plug wires and 8 brand new coil packs. The local mechanic installed all of the new parts and the vehicle acted just like it was before the tune up. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11708463, filed 2026-01
  3. Electrical system

    Cameras, doors and electrical glitches

    • 9 complaints (12%)
    • median 52,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2022–2026

    Owners report camera systems that stop working, doors that lock unexpectedly with the key inside, and rear doors that will not open from inside or outside until the vehicle is restarted several times. Others describe battery drain and repeated warning lights with no stored codes, with dealers sometimes unable to reproduce the problem. Reported from new through roughly 70,000 miles, frequently intermittent and hard to reproduce at the dealer.

    Recall 22V827000Recall 21V4210001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Test every camera view, all door handles and the locks with the key fob inside, and ask whether any battery drain or module software updates have been performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I am experiencing an ongoing issue with my vehicle’s rear passenger door. The door frequently cannot be opened from either the inside or the outside. At first, I believed the problem was related to the child safety lock. However, even after confirming that the child safety lock is fully disengaged, the door still fails to open from both inside and outside. Occasionally, after turning the vehicle off and restarting it several times, the door will open normally. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11716503, filed 2026-02

    “My cameras are not working properly and have stopped working completely, I have seen online that theses car have problems like this and have recalls and my car has the same problem now but it’s says it’s not under a recall”

    NHTSA complaint #11607399, filed 2024-08
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Harsh shifting and transmission shudder

    • 15 complaints (20%)
    • typically at 4.3 yrs old
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2022–2026

    Complaints describe harsh or delayed shifts, shuddering and surging, and in some cases the vehicle seeming to shift or drag on its own. Owners report dealers could not reproduce the concern on a first visit or advised that the behavior was normal; others describe transmission replacement. Service bulletins describe worn transmission control valve components and cooler line routing as possible sources of harsh shifting and high fluid temperature. Reported from around 25,000 to 30,000 miles, sometimes within the first few years of ownership.

    Recall 24V7970003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive at low speed and at highway speed and note any shudder, delay or harshness on shifts. Ask whether transmission fluid service or any valve body or cooler line work has been performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Ever since the lifters broke in the new vehicle (which the dealer now tells us is a defect in the engine and that the lifters keep breaking; it was not a bad delivery of lifters as we were initially told), the car idles very rough and has power surges. Today sitting at a red light with the foot lightly on the break, the car lunged forward against the break during one of the power surges. If we had been closer to the vehicle in front of us, or if we had been up against a cross walk, there would have been a collision.”

    NHTSA complaint #11499497, filed 2022-12

    “Bought vehicle brand new in 2021 took delivery in 2022. Had to have a full transmission replacement and radiator that was cracked replaced at 30,000 miles. Over the next few years have had fuel delivery issues due to fuel pump. This fuel pump was not fixed. As of this year 2026 i've had the vehicle in the shop just shy of every single month. I have had a thermostat sensor that caused the engine fan to go into high RPM causing limp mode on the freeway with a family of 5 in the vehicle. Ive had breaks replaced and not mounted correctly. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11757312, filed 2026-08
  5. Fuel system

    Stalls or loss of power with fuel or throttle symptoms

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Some owners describe the engine cutting out at stops or while accelerating, with no warning and sometimes a failure to restart. A few attribute it to the fuel pump or fuel delivery, and service material describes fuel pump control module replacement for crank-no-start and stalling concerns. Others report rough idle and power surges after engine work. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 25,000 to over 80,000 miles, often at idle or low speed.

    Recall 21V7390003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump control module recall or emission campaign work was completed. Note any hesitation, stalling at idle or difficulty restarting during the test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I drive it from Gilbert Az to San Diego California The car lost power all of sudden Almost killed with my family I left at dealer in California and went back to Gilbert Arizona No diagnosis yet by dealer But I suspect gas pump failure Reported on Internet that Cadillac Recalled some 2021 Escalade For gas pump failure But there is no recall on my car It is now at Simpson GMC Cadillac dealer Buena Park California”

    NHTSA complaint #11543825, filed 2023-09

    “I had two issues while the car was still under warranty one occasion while driving on a road the engine failed during my trip and I was stranded on the side of the road had to get it towed to the dealer. Second time. I was pulling out of the grocery store and my vehicle lost power as well so on two occasions while driving my car lost power while being in use. I cannot remember the exact date, but I believe it was between 2023 and 2025 for both incidents”

    NHTSA complaint #11759925, filed 2026-08

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the engine: confirm recall 25V274000 status, review service history for engine noise, oil consumption or replacement, and check oil level and exhaust smoke. Also test the transmission and electronics thoroughly, since complaints describe intermittent shift and door or camera faults that can be hard to reproduce later.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 74 consumer complaints for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,608 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns and 1,138 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 4 Cadillac Escalade ESV model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 87 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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.

Also reported: Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “I was driving down the interstate going 80 miles an hour and my engine completely shut off. I had to cross four lanes of traffic, on an interstate where the speed limit is 75 miles an hour, to get over on the shoulder while my car was able to accelerate. It was traumatizing and extremely dangerous and a miracle that a wreck was not caused. Engine would not start up after that.”

NHTSA complaint #11769179, filed 2026-10

Transmission and drivetrain: “While on a family vacation in the Black Hills, I began to hear a knocking sound from the front right of the vehicle. Shortly after the engine began to sputter and multiple warning lights/ messages began to appear. Just prior to this, everything on the vehicle was functioning perfectly. We stopped operating the vehicle immediately when it began to malfunction and pulled over, leaving me and my young family stranded over an hour away from our rental cabin. …”

NHTSA complaint #11669682, filed 2025-06

Electrical system: “On 12/18/2025 at approximately 73,097 miles, while driving on I-75 near Wildwood, Florida at about 75 mph, the vehicle experienced a sudden powertrain failure. The engine became seized/locked, the vehicle progressively lost power, and there were abnormal/loud mechanical noises. I was able to avoid a crash, but the event created a safety risk due to loss of propulsion at interstate speed. No accident occurred. The vehicle later received an engine replacement at Plaza Cadillac (Leesburg, FL). Dealer paperwork indicates completion on 01/07/2026, and the vehicle was returned to me on 02/02/2026. …”

NHTSA complaint #11715994, filed 2026-02

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local service center for routine maintenance and after an oil change was performed, the vehicle was started but immediately shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. …”

NHTSA complaint #11701164, filed 2025-11, 96,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 33,000 and 96,000 miles.

0%0–109%10–2527%25–5027%50–7518%75–10018%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 69,608 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.

20212022202320242025342026
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 2021 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 2WD★★★★☆5 / 4553 · 21.2% risk
Escalade ESV · SUV 4WD★★★★☆5 / 4553 · 21.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2022: 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

See all 10 recalls for the 2021 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. 1,138 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,138 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
20239140,00044—100 · MoreToo new
20225742,76544—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

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Most complaints from owners of this model year describe engine problems, particularly with the 6.2L V8, where sudden loss of power, knocking or rattling noises and engine replacement recur in the sample. The issues reported most often: Engine failure / loss of propulsion (6.2L V8); Excessive oil consumption and low-oil warnings; Cameras, doors and electrical glitches.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?

NHTSA recorded 74 consumer complaints for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 54 complaints (73% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 12.

Has the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 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 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,608 miles and the middle half falls between 33,000 and 96,000 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.