Cadillac Escalade ESV Transmission Problems

Transmission complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  6
• Axle assembly
  1
• Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  932%
• 25k–50k
  725%
• 50k–75k
  27%
• 75k–100k
  27%
• 100k–150k
  621%
• 150k+
  27%

What owners report

My 2025 Cadillac Escalade ESV lost power and shut down while I was driving on the highway. The gas pedal stopped responding, and the vehicle would not restart afterward. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion while driving in traffic. The vehicle is less than one year old and is already going to be on its third engine. The original engine was already replaced once before. The previous replacement engine was a brand-new GM engine with 0 miles, but it failed after only about 20,000 miles. Pepe Cadillac confirmed that this is the second replacement engine, which means the third engine counting the original engine. The dealer also confirmed that the engine locked up due to internal bearing material failure and needs to be replaced again. The repair order number is 140134. I am concerned this is a serious safety-related engine defect. …

1. 6.2L Gasoline Engine.Vehicle available and has been in the shop at least 6 documented times. The 2025 was not part of the recall. GM refuses to tell me if the known engine problems of the recall was fixed on my engine prior to building and delivering the vehicle 2. Engine continues to knock and studder sometimes as if it will shut down. 3. Initial knocking confirmed and mechanics changed our lifters. Problem still exist but GM engineers now say, "operating as designed. Fear for my life and my families life. Can't trust it. 4. Yes, by GM authorized mechanics. 5. None at all on warning lamps, messages etc

On August 17, 2026, at approximately 96,685 miles, my 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV equipped with the 6.2L L87 V8 engine lost motive power while I was driving on Highway 101 in California. The vehicle stalled, I pulled over, and I was unable to restart it. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed a seized engine that would not rotate, with metal contamination in the oil system and internal engine damage caused by a failed bearing. During teardown, the dealer specifically documented that the rod bearing failed and caused the engine seizure. This vehicle had previously received the GM L87 engine recall remedy on August 11, 2025, at approximately 47,987 miles. The dealer documented that the required PicoScope test passed and that the vehicle was operating normally at that time. The engine failure occurred approximately 48,698 miles after the recall remedy. …

My 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV with 19440 miles on it experienced what I can only assume is a catastrophic engine failure today. On 4/13/2025 while driving around 65MPH on a major highway the vehicle lost all power and turned off. At first I didnt notice the issue until a sound began to go off asking me to turn the engine back on. The vehicle had shut off and forced a neutral shift. This happened in between changing lanes and if I was not a very aware driver this would have caused a major accident. I was able to navigate the vehicle to a turning lane where it came to a complete stop and would not turn back on. The vehicle had to sit on the side of the road for over an hour waiting on a tow truck to get it to the dealer. With the vehicle having no power and not re-starting I was stranded partially in a turn lane on the side of a major highway. …

We were traveling on a highway trip, approximately 71 miles from home the engine made a brief grinding noise and then with in about 2 seconds the engine completely shut down and stopped running. After having the vehicle towed back to my Cadillac dealer, the dealer determined that the engine was completely damaged by an "outsourced" defective crankshaft installed in the initial engine installation. The dealer has had my vehicle for exactly 1 month and says it is waiting for a new engine with no idea when they will receive the new replacement. I need my vehicle.

Vehicle: 2023 Cadillac Escalade Mileage at Incident: Approx. 43,000 Date of Incident: April 1, 2025 I had my 2023 Cadillac Escalade serviced at the dealership to replace two tires and perform an oil change. After waiting over four hours, I left - only to have the vehicle completely lose power while driving at 60 mph on the highway, just 18 miles later. A message instructed me to restart the vehicle, but it would not crank. I was forced to pull off and pay for a tow. After returning the vehicle to the dealership, communication was virtually nonexistent. A technician called the next morning to ask why the vehicle was there. No one followed up until I called on April 8. After holding for 30+ minutes, I was told the starter fuse blew, the engine locked up, and it would need a full replacement, taking 2-4 months. …

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. …

Related recalls (6)