2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV: check engine light

Filed Aug 16, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

Bought vehicle brand new in 2021 took delivery in 2022. Had to have a full transmission replacement and radiator that was cracked replaced at 30,000 miles. Over the next few years have had fuel delivery issues due to fuel pump. This fuel pump was not fixed. As of this year 2026 i've had the vehicle in the shop just shy of every single month. I have had a thermostat sensor that caused the engine fan to go into high RPM causing limp mode on the freeway with a family of 5 in the vehicle. Ive had breaks replaced and not mounted correctly. Additionally, being told the radiator is cracked again in the exact same spot from the initial replacement. Most recently i had a "exhaust pressure back flow valve replaced" that also caused the vehicle to go into limp mode. The following week was another pressure back flow valve issue from the install requiring 2 forced regen's. Approximately 4 days later (08/14/26) from getting the vehicle back from the dealership i have a new check engine light recommending a new catalytic converter. These issues predominately and without warning putting the car into limp mode on the highway is causing major safety concerns for my family with 3 little girls. The vehicle continues to be assessed at the dealership and we have been treated as more of a nuisance than a customer with major vehicle concerns

Filed Aug 9, 2026 · Engine · WA

My 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV with the 6.2L L87 engine received the remedy for Safety Recall 25V‑274 (GM recall number N252494001) on July 30, 2025. The dealer inspected the engine, passed it, and performed the higher viscosity oil remedy. The engine was not repaired or replaced. On [DATE], while driving, the vehicle hesitated and lost power under acceleration. Engine noise then increased progressively until I pulled over on the side of the road. The engine stopped running and would not restart. The dash displayed a message to press the start button again. The check engine light illuminated at the time of failure. There were no warning lights prior to that day. My family, including my children, were in the vehicle when it lost power. We were stranded on the roadside until the vehicle could be towed. The battery and electrical system are functioning normally, but the engine would not start. The vehicle was towed to a Cadillac dealership. At the dealership, a start attempt produced a loud knocking noise from the engine along with a fuel/oil odor. I believe the connecting rod bearings have failed. These symptoms — hesitation, loss of power, and knocking noise — are the exact pre-failure indicators GM identified in Recall 25V‑274. This was a loss of motive power while driving on a public roadway, creating a serious crash risk for my family and surrounding traffic. The recall remedy performed on this vehicle was inadequate. GM inspected this engine, passed it, and it failed approximately one year later in exactly the manner the recall was intended to prevent. Date of incident: 08/08/2026 Mileage at failure: 66,000 Recall remedy completed: July 30, 2025 Vehicle was towed. No crash, fire, or injury occurred.

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Engine · TX

I purchased a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV and shortly thereafter experienced an engine malfunction. The vehicle developed a misfire, rough idle, loss of power, and produced significant blue/white exhaust smoke. The check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began running abnormally. An independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and reported oil-related issues affecting a cylinder and spark plug. The repair facility also observed excessive exhaust smoke during diagnosis. The condition raises concerns about potential engine failure while driving, which could result in loss of power and create a safety hazard in traffic. The vehicle is currently undergoing diagnostic testing, including a leak-down test, to determine the cause of the failure. The problem has been confirmed by a repair facility and occurred shortly after purchase.

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Engine · UT

In early February, 2026, a check engine light produced code P1098, engine coolant control valve position sensor performance. Code caused the cooling fans to run continuously when the engine reached a certain temperature and the vehicle had reduced acceleration, which posed a safety hazard when driving the vehicle due to prolongated times to get to the posted speed limit and posed a hazard to other drivers because of reduced acceleration. The vehicle was inspected by Jerry Seiner Dealerships on North Salt Lake, Utah and the check engine light code of P1098 was confirmed. I reviewed General Motors bulletins and found that a special coverage N252508341 which covered LM2 Coolant Control Valve Replacement, dated September 16, 2025. The special coverage applies to Cadillac Escalade model year 2021 to 2023. When I asked the dealership about this coverage, I was informed that the coverage did not apply to my vehicle as the bulletin was VIN specific. I called Cadillac and opened a case with Cadillac as I found it unreasonable that General Motors / Cadillac know there is an issue with coolant control valves, yet they refused to cover the cost of repairs for my vehicle because of the VIN was not part of the special coverage N252508341. I paid for the dealership to replace the coolant control valve as the vehicle was not safe to drive due to the reduced acceleration. My complaint is that General Motor / Cadillac knows there is an issue with the coolant control valves for my vehicle model year, yet they refused the coverage for my vehicle due to the VIN. General Motors offered to cover $216.06. I paid $1,387.40 + 3% credit card transaction fee for the repair, this repair would have been free under the special coverage bulletin. General Motors should reimburse me for the expense of this repair as they know there is an issue with coolant control valves.

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Engine · 100,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the engine made ticking sounds. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine consumed an excessive amount of oil and that engine oil was added every two to three weeks. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that because the vehicle was used as a limousine, the engine was consuming more oil than was normal. The dealer replaced the engine, but the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 71,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was displayed on the instrument panel with an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced; however, the check engine warning light illuminated the following day. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk abnormally while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the highway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where it remained unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Filed Jun 16, 2025 · Engine · 145,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle started to lose motive power and was pulled over, turned off, and then restarted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

Filed Dec 19, 2022 · Driver assistance, Engine · ID

Back in August of 2022 my 2021 Cadillac Escalade started having severe engine roughness, a check engine light, and an error saying that most of the collision safety features had been disabled. I was able to limp the vehicle into a GMC dealer who informed me that Cadillac had received a bad shipment of lifters and that one or more of the lifters had broken. When the vehicle detects an engine problem, it apparently disables most systems in the car. The GMC deal had the car for weeks trying to repair. They told me that Cadillac only authorized replacing 1/2 of the lifters. Since that time, the vehicle has continued to idle very rough ; the RPMs fluctuate and power surges at idle and while driving. I have been attempting to reach the Cadillac customer service people, am routinely told that I'll receive a call back "within 2 business days" but never receive a call back. Last week the vehicle died due to a problem with the automatic software update (it completely drained the vehicle). The Cadillac Rescue service jumped the battery and told me I had to take it to an actual Cadillac dealer and not the GMC dealer who had performed the initial repair. The vehicle had multiple errors including one that said the ABS system needed service. I took the vehicle into the dealer and they charged me for an oil change and 15k mile service. They said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that the 6.2L V8 engine was known for having engine roughness and surging problems. A few days later (last Saturday). the check engine light came on and we received a diagnostic text message saying that the engine and transmission required serviced within "1 day." We called the dealer, and they said to bring it in. I called them this morning and apparently they haven't even looked at it and suggest they will not do so until an appointment they created for 12/30!? Is this car safe to drive? Can I get it back?

Filed Jun 7, 2022 · Engine · CA

Bought one of only 4 available in the entire USA. Flew to Atlanta to drive it back to CA 11 weeks ago. Since then it’s been at dealership 5 times for a total of 9 weeks for an electrical ghost they can’t fix! Cost us over $60,000 in income this month and paying approx $1500 month insurance while it sits there in a workshop with no resolution. Now working with GM and the BBB. Summary below: ISSUE - only at low speeds, idling, or at start up the car suddenly throws on the heater, service lights going off like lights on the Vegas strip of warning to service just about everything, loses power steering, and won’t shift past 2nd gear even if you could keep driving…restart it and it’s fine except for check engine light if you drive freeways most days. But codes all informational and no real helpful error pinpointing. Dealer can’t find any problems and chasing a ghost so even after calling in top software engineers, they say manufacture won’t approve replacing parts other than one of the hubs. Then tell us they are working on it when we can clearly locate the vehicle through OnStar and see it parked for days at your offsite lot!! We beg them to just try changing battery and wiring since seems basic if it only happens at under 10 mph, idling, or at start up in the morning… all times where battery pull is the highest . But they say we test the simple things first like I’m dumb… ok we’ll explain my video of the battery voltage meter jumping all over the place like ghost hunter spectrometer at Area 51!! This is ridiculous for a 2021 flagship Premium Luxury Platinum ESV model.