Most common 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems
Share of the 57 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 →
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls (4)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant › Valves/valve body
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with 10 Speed Transmission with ETRS (Electronic Transmission Range Select). The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the…
Exterior lighting › Lighting control module › Software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on.
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023.
Seat belts › Critical fasteners
General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV:
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM's full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274.
What 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV owners say
Engine & cooling all 46 →
The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) in August of 2025. However, soon after the recall inspection, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated before responding. The vehicle also hesitated when started and shifted into drive(D) when depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, there was an abnormal whining sound, and the vehicle was pulling to the left or the right while driving and had to compensate by returning the steering wheel to the center. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer that performed the recall service. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the dealer informed the contact that there were no performance issues with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while his son was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at slow speeds, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: PE25001 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
On February 21, 2026, my 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV experienced a sudden and complete engine seizure at highway speed at 57,825 miles just 8,613 miles after passing GM's PicoScope inspection under Safety Recall N252494000 (NHTSA Campaign 25V274). After fueling, I entered a highway on-ramp and accelerated to approximately 70 mph. Within 30 seconds, the engine lost power completely with no prior warning lights, no diagnostic trouble codes, and no audible warning. The only dashboard notification was a prompt to press the Start button. The vehicle behaved as if shifted into neutral, decelerating rapidly from 70 mph to 40 mph while I was navigating an exit merge ramp. I reached the right shoulder safely. Under normal weekday traffic, this failure on an active merge ramp could have caused a serious collision. The engine would not restart. The vehicle would not shift out of Park. …
I was driving up a hill passing a semi at 60 MPH. The engine suddenly stopped running without warning. No warning lights, only a restart engine notice. The vehicle rapidly slowed and I was able to pull over to the shoulder without being hit by the semi. Unfortunately the vehicle came to rest at the crest of a large hill, at the end of a merge lane. It was a very dangerous place to stop. Onstar Called the Missouri Highway Patrol, the officer arrived and agreed it was in a very dangerous location and called a local towing company to remove the vehicle as quickly as possible. The vehicle could not be restarted or pushed as the transmission was also locked when we came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the next day I was told the engine had seized and would need to be replaced. The Escallade only had 25,000 miles on the odometer and I had purchased it new 2021. …
Electrical system
4-12-2023 My 8-year-old daughter and I were driving a 2022 CADILLAC ESCALADE esv and were hit by an out-of-control Ford F150 at a speed of 60 miles. The airbag on the car was almost completely driven, and the insurance company told us the total loss. Fortunately, we were all only affected by it. Minor injuries but none of the car's doors were damaged at the time of the accident. My daughter couldn't open and unlock her doors by herself. I couldn't let my daughter climb into the cab and get out of the car with me from the cab. Then the police came and asked me. Can you open the door to make sure there is no one else inside? That's when I found out that the car can't be opened from the outside even if the door is unlocked when the power is off. I think it's because the Escalade is not a mechanical door handle. They had to be broken. …
I am reporting persistent safety issues with my 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV, with ~87k miles. Despite a completed recall for an engine seizure, the vehicle continues to fail dangerously, eroding confidence in its safety and reliability.Early in ownership, the computer and dashboard were replaced due to malfunction. Later, the engine seized while driving at 70 mph on a highway, a recall-related issue requiring a three-month repair. The vehicle has spent significant time in the shop, impacting usability.On May 20, 2025, my wife experienced a sudden shutdown at a busy intersection while merging onto a high-speed road. The vehicle lost power without warning, stranding her in a hazardous position. She exited to direct traffic, risking a collision. After ~5 minutes, she restarted it, and the system prompted her to reset the front windows' limits, suggesting a computer issue. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV a good car?
Based on 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2022 Escalade ESV rates avoid: 10.6× 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 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The engine & cooling — 46 complaints, 81% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (13) and electrical system (8).
How many recalls does the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV, the most recent from February 13, 2026 (valves/valve body). 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 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 67% 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.