Most common 2015 Cadillac Escalade problems
Share of the 98 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 →
2015 Cadillac Escalade recalls (9)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available.
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at…
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
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.
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.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel top cover on the affected vehicles may have been manufactured using an incorrect spacer fabric, causing a reduction of adhesion between the spacer fabric and the vinyl show surface.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel top cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles manufactured April 6, 2014, through May 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the air bag module is secured to a chute adhered to the backside of the instrument panel with an insufficiently heated infrared weld.
Remedy: GM sent the owners an interim notification letter on May 16, 2014 to advise owners of the recall, and will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
General Motors is recalling certain 2014 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, and 2015 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado HD; and GMC Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL, equipped with a 4.3L engine or 5.3L engine.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall began on January 16, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2015 Cadillac Escalade:
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet…
What 2015 Cadillac Escalade owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 28 →
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the vehicle in 4WD, he heard an abnormal grinding sound. The contact shifted to AWD and heard the grinding sound as well. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer and the contact was informed that the front differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the front differential was defective and needed to be replaced again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and agreed to pay a portion of the repair cost. The failure mileage was 62,830.
Vehicle has a shake that seems to be coming from the rear and can be felt in the seats, slightly in the steering wheel while driving at highway speeds ( 70+ ) this shake or vibration come in waves but never goes away long as you are traveling at highway speeds . It goes from an annoying shake to a bad shake and from a bad shake to annoying shake if that makes sense . I've spoken with different mechanics including the GM dealer and no one seems to have a fix just recommendation of expense part replacements that hasn't worked for other Escalade owner with the same issue . I have experienced hard shifting from park to reverse and from 1st gear to 2nd but a temp sensor replacement seemed to have resolved the harsh shifting some what. It's not as bad but still feel a gear thud when shifting after a cold start but not so much after it's been driven for awhile. My main concern is the shaking . …
Engine & cooling all 28 →
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering and decelerating independently. The contact exited the highway and was able to drive to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that there had been a misfire on cylinder number three (3). The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic that was closer to her residence. The independent mechanic diagnosed that cylinders one (1) and number three (3) were misfiring, had lost compression and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. Upon investigating the failure online, the contact became aware of Chevrolet Technical Service Bulletin Number: 15-06-01-002F (Engine Misfire/Tick Noise), which she associated with the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a temporary loss of automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway; however, the vehicle failed to restart as intended. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was then towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. The VIN was not available.
Electrical system
THIS IS FOR SAFETY RECALL IN oct 2019- regarding the brakes- it has ALREADY BEEN MADE AWARE TO DOT. This is in regards to getting a refund for my almost 4k out of pocket expense. The brakes went out completely in sept 2019 ( in 5-7 mph I could not stop in traffic even with them all the way pushed to the floor. and caused a front end collision ad the brakes been working normally this would have never happened. I was wondering what i needed to do ( or if i can ) to get reimbursed for the damages that i incurred on fixing my vehicle. ( around 4,000). Or if i need to notify Cadillac of this issue. Also the vehicle went in for repairs after the recall was issued ( we were never told or advised by the dealer that there was a recall open) and have no idea why the dealer would not even tell us, or advise us of such.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. At the time of purchase and registration, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The mileage was 172,400; however, the contact researched the Carfax Report the following day and discovered that the mileage was 243,000 and was updated 10 days before the date of purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that the dealer was made aware of the issue; however, the dealer stated that the manager was out of the country and would reach out to the contact when he returned. The contact had not received a call back. The contact stated that due to the mileage discrepancy, the dealer refused to service the vehicle for several unknown issues.
2015 Cadillac Escalade engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 21 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Cadillac Escalade a good car?
Based on 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Escalade rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Escalade at the same age. It is one of the Escalade 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 2015 Cadillac Escalade?
The transmission & drivetrain — 28 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline › differential unit. Next are the engine & cooling (28) and electrical system (15).
How many recalls does the 2015 Cadillac Escalade have?
There are 9 recalls for the 2015 Cadillac Escalade, the most recent from May 21, 2026 (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 2015 Cadillac Escalade problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 35% 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.