Most common 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems
Share of the 38 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac Escalade ESV complaints by model year
Best Escalade ESV years: 2014, 2013, 2012. Years to avoid: 2023, 2021, 2022, 2019, 2017. Compare all years →
2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls (1)
Seat belts › Pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
What 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV owners say
Brakes
I was travelling down the highway and the brakes failed to respond. I was able to deliver the car to a Cadillac dealer in Holland Michigan. At highway speeds with no breaks I believe my families lives were in danger. We have brought the car into the dealership multiple times for electrical system issues and I believe these unresolved issues have culminated in the failure of the braking system at high speeds. The dealer has stated that it was a vacuum pump and it has now been replaced but found no other issues with the electrical system. There was a warning light for the brake assist feature during the drive prior to the brakes not functioning. We reported this to the dealer during the drive and they made an appointment for the following Thursday (this was on a Saturday). …
The brake assist function has been very sketchy and coming on unexpectedly and the emergency braking when reversing is malfunctioning and coming on unexpectedly with no need in error in a very hard/ fast stop. Yes its available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This puts my saftey as well as others at risk because the brake system is malfunctioning and at times unpredictable, and making quick/hard stops when not expected or necessary. The car was just in the dealership for repair of the break assist and I am sending it back in again because it is still malfunctioning.The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. The brake assist light was coming on and off , sometimes but not all of the time and now that the car was serviced by the dealership the light is not coming on but their are still malfunctions. I do not feel safe driving this car.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while the vehicle was idling and while making left or right turns. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after waiting for several minutes. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Subject: Engine Lifter Failure in 2017 Cadillac Escalade - Manufacturer-Acknowledged Defect Component/System Failure: My 2017 Cadillac Escalade has experienced a critical engine malfunction specifically related to the Active Fuel Management (AFM) lifter system. The lifters are causing multiple engine misfires. This issue directly matches the manufacturer-acknowledged problem detailed in GM Service Bulletin 15-06-01-002M. Safety Risks: The lifter failure creates significant safety hazards, including: Potential sudden loss of engine power while driving Risk of unexpected vehicle stalling in traffic Compromised engine performance and vehicle control Potential complete engine failure The manufacturer's service bulletin recognizes these systemic issues across multiple vehicle models, including my Escalade. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking. Additionally, while coming to a stop, the vehicle jerked and shook abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the motor mounts were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the fuel injectors however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the spark plugs and ignition wires. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
I parked my 2017 Cadillac in a parking spot put the car in park shut it off and put the brake on went in side the pharmacyand my daughter was in the passenger seat with the windows downwind the car went Forward and hit a pole then rolled back and wrecked in the two cars with the car shut off in park a man tryed to stop it and the brake pedal was hard as a rock and the car was still in park . I got in to move the car and it was still in park .. I had the keys in my pocket in side the pharmacy..
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV a good car?
Based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Escalade ESV rates avoid: 4.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Escalade ESV at the same age. It is one of the Escalade ESV years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The brakes — 11 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › master cylinder. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and transmission & drivetrain (9).
How many recalls does the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?
There is 1 recall for the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV, the most recent from September 8, 2016 (pretensioner). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2021, 2022, 2019 and 2017. See the full Cadillac Escalade ESV years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 31,000 miles; 82% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.