The Lemon Index

All cars · Cadillac Escalade · 2016

2016 Cadillac Escalade. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index104100 = average car
Complaints41NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold39,092U.S. model year
Per 100K sold105complaints
Complaint rank#14 of 16among the 16 scored Cadillac Escalade model years (2000–2022); #1 = fewest complaints per car sold, not the YouTube rank

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,590 and 46,510 miles. Median 22,851, from 34 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain34%
Suspension22%
Engine15%
Electrical15%
Airbags7%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
4141203

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 19V645000 Sep 2019 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

  • 17V437000 Jul 2017 Air Bags / Frontal

    Defect. 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 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without th

    Risk. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

    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. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC custom

  • 16V651000 Sep 2016 Air Bags / Frontal

    Defect. 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 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment o

    Risk. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

    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. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC cust

  • 16V256000 Apr 2016 Suspension / Front / Control Arm

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.

    Risk. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedBrake vacuum pump failure20182022

Manufacturer communications 1826

Cadillac filed 1826 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…
  • Some customers may comment about a rough idle and/or vibration at idle in Drive
  • This informational bulletin provides information internal engine noise or damage after oil…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Cadillac Escalade SUV AWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★☆☆
Cadillac Escalade SUV RWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★☆☆
Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★☆☆
Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★☆☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
6.2L 8-cylAuto 8-spdRWD15 / 22 / 17Regular$3,650
6.2L 8-cylAuto 8-spd4WD15 / 21 / 17Regular$3,650

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201421730,522Electrical
2015913235,921Electrical
20161044139,092Transmission & drivetrain
2017823337,694Brakes
201819736,872Engine
201919735,424Lights

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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