2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV most often report the engine stalling or losing power while driving, often with little or no warning. A number of complaints mention the engine recall (campaign 25V274) or repairs done under it, and others describe knocking or abnormal engine noise, with a smaller group describing transmission valve body or shift faults. Sample mileage ranges from about 700 to about 67,000 miles, so these problems are not limited to one mileage range.

1. 1
   Engine

   Sudden stall or loss of power while driving

   • 62 complaints (67%)
   • median 52,994 mi at 2.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out, stalling, or losing power at speed, often with no warning lights, and some say the transmission then moved into neutral and the vehicle would not restart. Some had to coast onto the shoulder or were towed, and others were stopped in traffic. According to complaints, the dealer often found internal engine damage and recommended an engine replacement. Reported at mileages from about 700 to about 67,000 miles, and the events are described as happening while driving, often at highway speed.

   Recall 25V2740002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the full service history, including any engine recall (25V274) inspection, repair, or engine replacement, and whether the dealer found internal engine damage. During a test drive, watch for hesitation, warning messages, or unusual engine noise at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About 11pm Driving 70 on freeway started feeling pull back and then started to hear a knock noise. So turned down the music and the knock noise was getting louder as I was driving so I went to the right lane as I went to the right lane I felt like the car was pulling back and slowing down even as I accelerated… knock got even louder and I decided to exit the freeway early instead of getting to my destination. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11765448, filed 2026-09

   “The transmission needs a new valve body at 43,491 mile, and is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk because I was driving on the highway at approximately 70mph, when all of a sudden I received a loss of power message on my dashboard along with the check engine light. The vehicle then shifted HARD into a lower gear and there was an obvious loss of power along with higher than normal RPMs and a severe loss of fuel economy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11657311, filed 2025-04
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine failure after the 6.2L V8 engine recall

   • 40 complaints (43%)
   • median 44,994 mi at 2.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe engine failures, misfires, or stalls after the recall inspection, oil change, or replacement engine, and some report a recall part was not yet available when they asked for the repair. Some complaints describe the dealer passing a PicoScope test and changing the oil, while others say the dealer refused to perform the recall repair or that the recall was marked completed without service. Some owners paid for engine replacements themselves before the recall notice arrived or while waiting for reimbursement. Sample mileage ranges from about 5,500 to about 67,000 miles, and some complaints describe failures soon after the recall repair.

   Recall 25V2740004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the recall paperwork and whether the engine was inspected, replaced, or had its oil changed under the 25V274 campaign, and confirm the recall status using the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup. A buyer can also ask whether the dealer performed the PicoScope check and keep copies of the repair orders.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was taken in to L87 engine recall in Sept 2025. Passed said inspection on September 29, 2025 and new higher viscosity oil was put in the vehicle. Feb 14, 2026 - driving the vehicle down the highway at 70mph. Car shifts to neutral, engine turns off and losses propulsion. Manage to get to the shoulder of the highway. Vehicle would not restart or turn on. We were traveling with our 3 small children in the car. Stranded on the side of the highway until a family member could come pick us up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11718736, filed 2026-02

   “my 2023 cadillac escalade esv, was having issues when it had about 50-60 k miles, when it was in park hen shift to reverse it would jerk all the time, also my engine started to act up as well, I took it to the cadillac dealer and like always could not identify the problem, when the had the recall or engine put thicker oil, like that was going to resolve the problem well my engine started to misfire, did not want to accelerate started shaking the smoke came out, engine lights came on, had to tow it to the cadillac dealear now they are telling …”

   NHTSA complaint #11751227, filed 2026-07
3. 3
   Engine

   Knocking or abnormal noise from the engine

   • 14 complaints (15%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe knocking, clicking, or rattling sounds from the engine area, some while driving at highway speed. Some report the noise returned after a recall repair, and a replacement engine reportedly developed a metallic knock on cold starts. In some complaints the dealer could not reproduce the noise, and in others the dealer diagnosed internal engine failure. Sample mileage is given only for some of these complaints, from about 5,500 to about 64,000 miles, and some noises began after a recall repair.

   Recall 25V274000

   What to check: During a cold start and a highway test drive, listen for knocking or clicking and ask for repair orders showing what the dealer tested. Ask whether any engine recall work or engine replacement was performed, with the paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was going down the highway at 75mph and all of sudden the engine started loud knocking and loss of power. Good thing I was able to get off the exit and stop safely. Car was towed to dealer. Needs new engine 48k miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11758989, filed 2026-08

   “On multiple occasions I have felt rattling/shaking/rumbling within the vehicle engine area. It began within the first 3 months of having the vehicle in my possession (we purchased the vehicle in January 2024). I also had an occasion sometime around March or April of 2024 where I was accelerating after a red light and the vehicle was lagging. I pressed on the gas harder but it wouldn't get up to speed like it normally does--RPMS were going up, up, up, but the speed of the car did not match. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11661855, filed 2025-05
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission faults and unexpected shifts to neutral

   • 11 complaints (12%)
   • median 1,506 mi at 0.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe transmission valve body or fluid pump failures, with some reporting a hard shift, loss of power, or a loud noise. Some describe a shift into neutral during highway driving or at traffic lights, with an inability to shift back into drive or reverse. The complaints mention grinding noises and metallic material found in the oil in some cases. Sample mileage is not recorded for these complaints, though the text of some mentions a valve body failure at about 14,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the valve body or transmission fluid pump has been replaced or inspected, and look for any stored transmission codes during a scan. On a test drive, check that the vehicle engages drive and reverse smoothly, without hesitation or a shift to neutral.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “my 2023 Cadillac Escalade vehicle broke down while I was driving on the highway this past Wednesday. While driving at highway speeds, the transmission unexpectedly shifted from Drive (D) to Neutral (N), and after that, I was unable to shift back to Drive or start the vehicle. The car was then towed to Cadillac of Silver Spring in Maryland for further inspection. I was informed the engine may be locked, but other technicians suggest it could be an ECM or electrical issue. The vehicle is still under warranty and only has 12000miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11655634, filed 2025-04

   “The vehicle experienced a loss of propulsion 2 times when idol at traffic lights due to an uncommanded shift into neutral while stopped at a traffic light, requiring the vehicle to be restarted to regain drive. These events occurred after a longstanding history of front end vibration and grinding noises that have been repeatedly reported to a GM authorized dealer since October 2024. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11714503, filed 2026-01

Buying note. Because a number of complaints describe sudden power loss, asking for full service records and confirming the status of the engine recall (25V274) is a practical step before buying a 2023 Escalade ESV. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored engine and transmission codes, plus a highway test drive, can help a buyer judge the vehicle's current condition.

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.