The Lemon IndexCadillac Escalade reliability.
Is it reliable? Yes. About two-thirds as many complaints as the average car.
Better than average · 2011–2022
20215th generation
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Cadillac Escalade videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2011.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/cadillac-escalade/" title="Cadillac Escalade reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="652" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/cadillac-escalade/">Lemon Index</a> (Cadillac Escalade reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Cadillac Escalade.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Cadillac Escalade reliable?
Yes. It draws about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car. Fewest complaints: 2011. Most complaints: 2022.
Is the Cadillac Escalade a good car?
Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2011-2022: Lemon Index 65; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2011 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2022 the most.
What are the best Cadillac Escalade years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2011, 2019, 2018. 2011 drew the fewest.
What Cadillac Escalade years should you stay away from?
The 3 years with the most complaints per car sold since 2010: 2022 (worse than average, Lemon Index 172), 2016 (about average, Lemon Index 104), 2015 (about average, Lemon Index 91, the first year of a new generation). 100 is the average car; lower is better.
How many recalls does the Cadillac Escalade have?
91 safety recalls across the 23 model years we track. Most: 2021 (11), 2015 (9), 2003 (7). Each year's page lists them, and every Cadillac Escalade recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Cadillac Escalade problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, electrical and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 167 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 43 | service brakes, hydraulic (26%) | 4 | — | 13 |
| 2002 | 63 | about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car | 52 | service brakes, hydraulic (23%) | 4 | — | 12–14 |
| 2003 | 76 | about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car | 37 | service brakes, hydraulic (24%) | 7 | — | 13–14 |
| 2004 | 51 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 27 | electrical (26%) | 4 | — | 13–14 |
| 2005 | – | too few complaints to score | 7 | equipment (43%) | 4 | — | 13–15 |
| 2006 | – | too few complaints to score | 7 | lights (29%) | 2 | — | 13–14 |
| 2007 | 76 | about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car | 41 | body structure (17%) | 4 | — | 14 |
| 2008 | – | too few complaints to score | 17 | electrical (35%) | 4 | — | 14 |
| 2009 | – | too few complaints to score | 8 | lights (38%) | 5 | — | 14–20 |
| 2011 | 16 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 5 | body structure (80%) | 6 | ★★★★☆ | 14–21 |
| 2012 | 34 | about a third as many complaints as the average car | 9 | electrical (78%) | 3 | ★★★★☆ | 14–21 |
| 2014 | 21 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 7 | electrical (57%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 14–16 |
| 2015 | 91 | about average | 32 | electrical (25%) | 9 | — | 16–17 |
| 2016 | 104 | about average | 41 | transmission & drivetrain (34%) | 4 | — | 17 |
| 2017 | 82 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 33 | brakes (33%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 17 |
| 2018 | 19 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 7 | engine (29%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 17 |
| 2019 | 19 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 7 | lights (29%) | 1 | — | 17 |
| 2020 | 32 | about a third as many complaints as the average car | 8 | airbags (38%) | 2 | — | 17 |
| 2021 | 51 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 20 | engine (55%) | 11 | ★★★★☆ | 16–23 |
| 2022 | 172 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 86 | engine (76%) | 4 | ★★★★☆ | 16–23 |
| 2023 | 467 | about 5 times the average car's complaints | 232 | engine (75%) | 4 | ★★★★☆ | 13–23 |
| 2024 | 209 | about twice the average car's complaints | 74 | engine (68%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 13–23 |
| 2025 | 111 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 33 | engine (58%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 13–17 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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