Most common 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems
Share of the 34 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 →
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls (1)
Seat belts › Rear/other
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018.
What 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV owners say
Engine & cooling all 21 →
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking violently. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and contacted an independent mechanic. The check engine warning light was then illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #5. The spark plugs were replaced, and the oil was changed, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who discovered metal shavings in the engine and determined that the camshafts and lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who also determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #5 and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting rough. While at a stop light, the vehicle jerked abnormally. There was a hard acceleration while driving the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the transmission was shifting hard. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign: 24V797000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was related to the automatic transmission valve body. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 149,050.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting rough. While at a stop light, the vehicle jerked abnormally. There was a hard acceleration while driving the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the transmission was shifting hard. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign: 24V797000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was related to the automatic transmission valve body. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 149,050.
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear wheels locked up and the vehicle stopped moving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the vehicle was not driven. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V085000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Electrical system
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV on November 5, 2025, from a private dealer. The contact stated that upon having a State Inspection performed on the vehicle, the vehicle failed the inspection. The mechanic stated that the amount of mechanical work needed to repair the vehicle did not match the low mileage on the vehicle. The contact then obtained a Carfax Report and discovered the mileage discrepancy. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 65,800; however, the Carfax report discovered that the mileage was 237,000 in September of 2025. The contact reported the issue to the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition, the contact reported the issue to the Howard Police Department and the Howard County District Attorney of Maryland. …
The Power Step / Running Boards do not operate as intended, especially on the driver's side. They are not deploying or retracting as they should, possibly leading to personal injury, ie. spain ankles, injury to the knees, legs and or backs of individuals, who assume the Power Step has deployed before entering or exiting the vehicle. I am seeking a recall be established concerning this matter, and a class action suit against General Motors be developed immediately. I have had my vehicle inspected, at a dealership, as many owners have, with nothing being found. Only to leave in disgust, and have to live with this daily issue. Something needs to be done about this problem, these are some very expensive vehicles, and owners like myself should not have to deal with this persist issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV a good car?
Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Escalade ESV rates avoid: 4.4× 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 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The engine & cooling — 21 complaints, 62% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (9) and electrical system (5).
How many recalls does the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?
There is 1 recall for the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV, the most recent from September 26, 2018 (rear/other). 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 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 127,000 miles; 33% 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.