Most common 2012 Cadillac Escalade problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac Escalade complaints by model year
Best Escalade years: 2013, 2014, 2012. Years to avoid: 2023, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025. Compare all years →
2012 Cadillac Escalade recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021.
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Cadillac Escalade:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2012 Cadillac Escalade owners say
Electrical system
Issue started by having the engine cutoff or go into low power mode. Mechanic tried fining power issues, ended up replacing PCM board. Issue remained. Then oil pressure sensor check engine light came on, had a mechanic replace the oil pressure sensor and everything worked for a little while. Next low oil pressure message came up, stating to shut off engine. After reading around, the issue seems to be that the camshaft actuator is being starved of oil due to low oil pressure, that is caused by the camshaft and bearings being bad. This faulty part causes the vehicle to turn off while running, extremely dangerous! How long until someone dies? Need GM to make this right. Vehicle is under 80K miles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving in inclement weather at an unknown speed, the brakes were applied but the vehicle accelerated instead. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The police were not contacted. The vehicle was later towed to a dealer where the brake sensors were replaced and the central computer was recalibrated. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 9,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Brakes
Complete brake failure (brake pedal went to the floor) when exiting the freeway. Simultaneously, the check engine list, service ABS on LED screen, and red brake light illuminated and warning chimes. No previous warning or indicator lights signaling a problem. Had serviced at dealership who indicated it was caused by failing hybrid battery. After being in for service for 52 days, I retrieved the vehicle with a new battery installed. One week later, we experienced another braking issue. This time while there was some braking ability the pedal was very stiff when pressure was applied and the brakes did not function properly (I.e. They did slow the vehicle eventually but did not stop the vehicle or slow it as it should have). Brought back in for service at a different dealer who states that the pbmv failed. How can this fail without any warning? …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving in inclement weather at an unknown speed, the brakes were applied but the vehicle accelerated instead. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The police were not contacted. The vehicle was later towed to a dealer where the brake sensors were replaced and the central computer was recalibrated. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 9,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Engine & cooling
Issue started by having the engine cutoff or go into low power mode. Mechanic tried fining power issues, ended up replacing PCM board. Issue remained. Then oil pressure sensor check engine light came on, had a mechanic replace the oil pressure sensor and everything worked for a little while. Next low oil pressure message came up, stating to shut off engine. After reading around, the issue seems to be that the camshaft actuator is being starved of oil due to low oil pressure, that is caused by the camshaft and bearings being bad. This faulty part causes the vehicle to turn off while running, extremely dangerous! How long until someone dies? Need GM to make this right. Vehicle is under 80K miles.
While traveling on the highway the vehicle randomly lost electrical power, lights, door locks, everything and the engine upshifted into second or third gear completely on its own, then refused to accelerate. The electrics would come back on and then go off again. The electronic went completely berserk and presented a huge safety issue for my wife, children and I.
2012 Cadillac Escalade engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Cadillac Escalade a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Escalade rates better than average: 51% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Escalade at the same age. It is one of the best Escalade years by this measure. 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 2012 Cadillac Escalade?
The electrical system — 9 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2014 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. See the full Cadillac Escalade years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Cadillac Escalade problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 29% 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.