Most common 2021 Cadillac Escalade problems
Share of the 78 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 →
2021 Cadillac Escalade recalls (9)
Fuel system, diesel › Storage › Tank assembly
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2022 and 2024 GMC Yukon vehicles equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine. The original fuel tank may have been replaced with an incorrect fuel tank, which can allow fuel to leak in a rollover crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for the correct fuel tank and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2025.
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…
Power train › Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant › Valves/valve body
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a…
Exterior lighting › Lighting control module › Software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on.
Remedy: Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022.
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.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022.
Show 3 more recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump › Control/drive module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021.
Air bags › SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag…
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021.
Seat belts › Rear/other
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2021 Cadillac Escalade:
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.
Air Bag Malfunction
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
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 2021 Cadillac Escalade owners say
Engine & cooling all 56 →
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph on the highway, a knocking noise emanated from the engine compartment, and the vehicle suddenly stopped and stalled. The contact head struck the steering wheel, and he sustained a head injury. The vehicle failed to restart. The safety restraint light was illuminated. The contact was going in and out of the vehicle to direct traffic around his disabled vehicle. A 2018 Ford Escape crashed into his vehicle, which was stranded on the side of the highway. The contact sustained a broken leg, and medical attention was provided at the hospital. There was no reported fire or airbag deployment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the body shop. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who determined there was no recall coverage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). Prior to the letter being received, the message "Engine Oil Low" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the issue was with the engine. However, the part to do the repair was not available. The dealer topped off the engine oil. The contact stated that the messages remained displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the engine was tested. The engine passed inspection, and a higher viscosity oil was added, and 6 oil fill caps were installed. The contact stated that the messages persisted, and the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The contact received a 2nd recall letter regarding the engine. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who informed the contact that the engine and transmission might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
I was driving home on the evening of Monday [redacted] in my 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The car began to shake, the yellow engine warning light began flashing, black smoke began pouring out of the exhaust pipes and there was a strong smell of fuel. I was 1/2 mile from my home. I limped the car home, left it in the driveway overnight, and called Cadillac Roadside assistance to have the car towed to the Cadillac dealership in Boulder, CO the next morning. The dealership's initial diagnosis it a failed lifter and cam. This is a known issue across all GM's 6.2L engines and is caused by their AFM/DFM management system. I am at 69,000 miles, with only 1,000 miles to go on the powertrain warranty (70k). GM needs to step up and recall these motors. They are saying that they might offer extended component coverage to someone that has had at least 2 failed lifter repairs. …
Electrical system
1) The car suddenly brakes as to avoid a collision when there are no cars in the proximity of the vehicle (think about driving on an open road on a sunny day and the vehicle suddenly brakes without warning). 2) We have received notice of low oil shortly after oil changes which have been performed at the dealership. It has been communicated to us by the dealership that it is common for these vehicles to burn approximately four (4) quarts of oil over the course of 2,500 - 3,000 miles leaving approximately two (2) quarts of oil remaining. Required tow to the dealership. 3) We have received rear axle warning messages and heard beeping noises alerting of such on at least thirty (30) occasions. The dealer has not been able to diagnose what the issue is and says that the computer is not storing any codes. …
While driving in a heavy rainstorm on October 15, 2026, the vehicle hydroplaned and every brake warning light came on at once, and the dashboard displayed a message that the brake system had failed and the brakes did not work. I believed I had no brakes while crossing a river bridge and thought I was going to die. The brakes actually worked and I got home, but a vehicle should never tell a driver its brakes have failed when they have not, especially in an emergency. All brake warning lights stayed on after I parked. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for this failure.
2021 Cadillac Escalade engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 10-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 10-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 10-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 10-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Cadillac Escalade a good car?
Based on 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Escalade rates avoid: 6.6× 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 2021 Cadillac Escalade?
The engine & cooling — 56 complaints, 72% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (10) and electrical system (9).
How many recalls does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade have?
There are 9 recalls for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, the most recent from September 18, 2025 (tank assembly). 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 2021 Cadillac Escalade problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 58% 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.