Andrew’s Cadillac dealership in Mount Juliet Tennessee called and stated our 2026 Escalade esv had a catastrophic engine failure and would require a new engine.
The worst 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine12
- Electrical3
- Fuel system1
- Lights1
- Steering1
- Transmission1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Recalls 3
Wheels: hub
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2025–2026 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban 1500, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 24-inch wheels. Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time.
- Risk
- A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front left and right wheel hub bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. GM's number for this recall is N262554630. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on May 14, 2026.
Recall number 26V304000 · Recall details
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
- What is wrong
- 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. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
- Risk
- Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
- 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. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on May 7, 2026.
Recall number 26V289000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
- What is wrong
- General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
- Risk
- Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑866‑467‑9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on February 26, 2026.
Recall number 26V114000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Defect investigations
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. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V‑274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GMâs recall remedy for Recall 25V‑274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V‑274, 473 of which involved an oil viscosity change and 26 a complete engine replacement. Additionally, ODI has received 191 reports of L87 engine failures in engines produced after the production period cited in Recall 25V‑274. GM reported receiving 6,953 complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysisto continue investigating complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is expanding the scope of this Investigation to include engines produced after the production period cited in the recall. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
EA26005
Technical service bulletins for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV 232
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Beginning with 2026 model year production, the floor console/armrest lamp design was changed by removing...
- If a vehicle has an when attempting to perform a vehicle dynamic sensor learn, the scan tool may display a...
- This PI is to instruct dealer on diagnostic procedures that need to be completed prior to replacing a...
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- • Improved power window operation • Improvements to help prevent battery drain • Improved vehicle access...
- This update contains a required software change to help improve the overall software update and...
2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV crash test ratings
Government 5-star crash tests. Higher is safer. Each row is a body style and drivetrain that was tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV SUV N/A 4WD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV SUV N/A RWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
What 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
On Friday, XXX, my 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV (VIN: [XXX]), with approximately 10,000 miles, experienced a sudden and complete engine failure while I was driving on a busy highway exit ramp. My wife, [XXX] daughter, and dog were in the vehicle. The engine died without warning, resulting in total loss of power. We were extremely fortunate that no following vehicle struck us. This created an immediate and serious risk of a high-speed collision. The vehicle was towed to Pepe Cadillac of [XXX]. Pepe Cadillac diagnosed the failure as involving metal shavings/contamination in the oil, internal engine failure consistent with spun bearing and/or crankshaft/connecting rod issues, and stated that it matches the known L87 6.2-liter V8 manufacturing defect. A complete engine replacement is required. The vehicle remains at the dealership waiting on a new engine. This failure pattern matches the manufacturing defects that were the subject of the prior safety recall on 2021–2024 L87 engines (the federal safety agency 25V274000) and that are currently under investigation in Engineering Analysis EA26005, which covers 2021–2026 model year vehicles including the Escalade and Escalade ESV. I am submitting this complaint so that it can be added to the open investigation. Sudden loss of propulsion while driving is a clear safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle Issues / Defects 1. Damaged Passenger Entertainment Screen at Delivery The passenger-side entertainment screen was damaged when the truck was delivered. The damage was present from the time the vehicle was received and was not caused by the owner. 2. Engine Failure at Approximately 7,000 Miles The vehicle suffered a complete engine failure at approximately 7,000 miles. Given the extremely low mileage, this represents a significant mechanical failure very early in the vehicle’s service life. These issues should be documented as part of the vehicle’s warranty and service history, including all repair orders, photographs, dates the vehicle was unavailable for use, and communications with the dealer/manufacturer.
On Sunday, September 6, 2026, at approximately 10:38am, my wife was driving our 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Sport (VIN 1GYS9RKL8TR113098, ~9,000 miles) with multiple young children in the vehicle. The vehicle began making loud clicking noises and lost power at a busy intersection, with no prior warning lights or messages; the clicking was the only symptom before the sudden loss of power. She maneuvered it partially off the road; it would not restart. She removed the children onto the roadside while managing a disabled vehicle in active traffic, creating real risk of a secondary collision. I arrived at 11:00am and tried to restart it, including adding fuel, with no success, only intermittent clicking and no start. A jump start was attempted before AAA arrived. AAA arrived at 1:16pm, inspected the vehicle, and confirmed the battery and fuse boxes were fine and not the cause. OnStar was also contacted. The vehicle was towed at 2:37pm to Camargo Cadillac, our dealer. I contacted the dealership the next morning. On September 9, their service department confirmed the engine had failed internally and requires full replacement, a diagnosis made by the authorized dealer, not merely suspected by me. The failed engine remains at the dealership, unremoved, and is available for inspection upon request. I've opened Case #SR:110162786 with Cadillac Customer Assistance; I am not aware of a direct GM factory-level inspection yet. At approximately 9,000 miles and roughly nine months of ownership, this vehicle suffered a total, sudden engine failure with no advance warning, stranding my family in traffic. This engine (L87, 6.2L V8) is subject to a prior recall (25V‑274) on 2021-2024 Escalades for related crankshaft and connecting rod defects, and the federal safety agency has since opened investigation EA26005, extending to 2025 and 2026 model year vehicles due to continued reported failures. I'm submitting this to add my vehicle's experience to that federal safety record.
At 9,000 miles the engine on my 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV started knocking and the dealership replaced it. They did not provide a loaner or a rental vehicle for the time the vehicle was at the shop. After the replacement, the new engine sounds the same and will probably needs replacing as well. After the fix I started getting electrical issues my rear right signal and taillight started acting up. Sometimes the rear signal doesn't work and another times the rear right taillight would stay on after turning the vehicle off and locking it.
I was driving my NEW 2026 Cadillac Escalade down the highway when my engine froze up! It was damaged so bad that they replaced the engine. So obviously GM has not fixed this problem. They promised that the issue was fixed or I would have never bought this vehicle.
I pulled out onto a highway and sped up to 65 mph. About 10 minutes later, I heard a ticking sound.That sound proceeded to get very loud, almost like a loud pan banging/squeeling. The car seemed to “drive” normal but that sound was heard only on acceration of the gas pedal. If I was not pressing on the gas, the car sounded normal. Once I pressed the gas, the loud squeal occurred . I had it towed 3 hrs away to the Cadillac dealership who replaced my engine. Said it was the crankshaft in my 6.2l engine. The car was returned to me, and two days later, the check engine light came on. I drove to the local GM dealer to get it scanned. It said “engine control module starter drive control” and “engine control module starter motor control”. So I drove it home. The next day, I went to start it and nothing happens. The screen lights up, says “service 4 wheel drive” and I can’t put in neutral or gear. Does not turn over, nothing. Now I’m waiting for my tow back to dealer which is 3 hours away and Onstar said it could take up to 5 days bc of distance.
On June 18, 2026, while my nearly new 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV was being driven on the Ohio Turnpike, the vehicle unexpectedly entered reduced-power or limp mode, lost propulsion, shut off, and would not restart. The vehicle had approximately 2,234 miles. The sudden loss of propulsion and engine shutdown occurred in active highway traffic and created a serious risk of a collision. The vehicle had to be towed from the Ohio Turnpike to Cole Valley Cadillac. Cole Valley Cadillac opened Repair Order 6206894 and determined that the engine requires replacement under the manufacturer’s warranty. The repair records reference replacement of the engine, engine core, and engine block. The vehicle has remained out of service since June 18, 2026, and no confirmed repair-completion date has been provided. General Motors was notified under Cadillac Customer Assistance Case 103386652 and GM Repurchase Case 1153162. I am reporting this incident because a catastrophic engine failure and sudden loss of propulsion in a nearly new vehicle at highway speed could place the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk.
Driving on [XXX] in Missouri, on the way to Kentucky for business. Outside of St. Robert, motor started knocking and losing power. AC quit, knocking got worse the power loss continued. I limped it to the top of the hill with hazards on, pulled off the interstate on a large shoulder, not safe. could not stand in the ditch due to all the ticks, stood in front of the car then it started raining. Oncoming traffic started getting very close due to low visibility/heavy rain. Tow truck arrived in 2 hours. Towed to Thompson Cadillac in Springfield, cost me extra since it was beyond 100 Miles. Diagnosed as Engine Failure, will be 3 months in the shop, and i get a Buick subcompact as my rental, all they would approve. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car engine stopped on the highway while driving. Wouldn’t turn back on all of my four children were on the car.
Compare the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Other model years
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Questions about the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Is the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliable?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV, fewer than a typical Escalade ESV model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
Engine and cooling, with 12 complaints. Next is electrical (3).
How many recalls does the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?
3 recalls, covering wheels, power train and equipment.
Is the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV safe in a crash?
In government crash tests the 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV scored 5 out of 5 stars overall, depending on body style and drivetrain (2 versions tested).
What year does the Cadillac Escalade ESV have bad engine?
The Cadillac Escalade ESV model years with the most engine complaints are 2023 (74 complaints), 2021 (61 complaints) and 2022 (49 complaints).
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