2019 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV Recalls, Complaints & Safety

11/26/25 at 85,400 miles on the v8 6.2L L86 engine, I began experiencing rough idle, loss of engine power and propulsion, a ticking/ knocking noise at idle and when RPMs increased as well as blinking engine warning light. Diagnostics/Repair work was done by Reliable GMC/Cadillac of Roseville to fix an ignition coil that was giving the engine error code. 2/24/26 At 86,697 miles, I began having rough idle worse than before, loss of power when accelerating and driving, knocking sounds that increased with acceleration in RPMs as well as a blinking engine warning light. All spark plugs and wiring were changed by Cadillac which resolved engine error codes for misfire. Diagnostics/Repair was done by Reliable GMC/Cadillac of Roseville. 3/30/26 at 87,246 (only 549 miles since the previous work up,) the car began to idle rough, and have a audible rhythmic tapping and knocking when accelerating and increasing RPMs. During driving, I experienced flashing engine light, and then sudden loss of power and control of vehicle. 3/30/26 Veh towed toThompson GMC, of Placerville, CA diagnosed vehicle with full engine failure from broken connecting rods and crankshaft of engine. Dealership is recommending full engine replacement, costing approx $23,000. This engine failure occurred on XXX in [XXX] …a dangerous, steep and curvy 2 lane highway. The engine light and loud forceful knocking happened almost simultaneously, without warning. I was forced to perform a dangerous maneuver to exit the highway into a gas station. Had I not done so, the engine failure could have caused full control loss of the vehicle. Traveling approx 50-65mph with my wife, [XXX] son and 2 daughters, an engine failure put my entire family at risk of serious injury or death. Had I not acted quickly, the outcome would have been catastrophic if not fatal. The vehicle is currently at Thompson GMC, [XXX] and available for further inspection. We believe this may be related to NHTSA EA25007. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)

Rough running engine at idle. The vehicle also shows low oil pressure at idle 13psi. Took to several service technicians and was told this is unfortunately a flaw in the engine design and there is not a known current remedy. Also they are surprised that this model was not covered under the same recall campaign that later models are as they are nearly identical engines. The transmission also gave out on this same vehicle at 85k miles.

Transmission would intermittently lock up and cause rough running conditions. Occasionally causing wheels to lock up and the vehicle to lose control. Took the vehicle to multiple service facilities and was told this is a common issue with this transmission and it is in need of replacement to remedy the issue. The vehicle has 85,000 miles on it.

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear wheels locked up and the vehicle stopped moving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the vehicle was not driven. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V085000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV on November 5, 2025, from a private dealer. The contact stated that upon having a State Inspection performed on the vehicle, the vehicle failed the inspection. The mechanic stated that the amount of mechanical work needed to repair the vehicle did not match the low mileage on the vehicle. The contact then obtained a Carfax Report and discovered the mileage discrepancy. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 65,800; however, the Carfax report discovered that the mileage was 237,000 in September of 2025. The contact reported the issue to the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition, the contact reported the issue to the Howard Police Department and the Howard County District Attorney of Maryland. After having the cases dropped by the various agencies, the contact called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and was referred to the NHTSA to report the issue.

My vehicles passenger seat is laid back and the button to bring seat back up is not functioning. The passenger side window will not roll up or down, the sensor on the side view mirror is not working. The automatic power running board is not working on passenger side. The tire monitor is not working.

I was driving on the freeway on Cruise Control going 80 mph. All the sudden my speedometer dropped and I had no power. My Transmission Light Started Blinking Cruise Control stopped working and my Car Started Shaking Violently and Sounded Clunky. I had to pull over to the shoulder immediately. I Called my Mechanic and he told me not to drive it any Further So we Towed the vehicle to his shop. There was absolutely no warning signs. This was the only sign something was wrong.

It had a rough idle and took it to the dealer. Cam shaft failure most likely due to faulty lifters and engine replacement needed. Similar to known issues on this year and on years that are involved in recall. This could lead to engine failure and loss of propulsion like the newer years. Car has been properly maintained and serviced at dealer.

Engine has low oil pressure at idle

I bought this 2019 Cadillac Escalade for family safety in November 2024 for 2000 miles from Ken Garfield dealership in America fork Utah. Four months ago he had a mechanical failure which costed $13,000 to repair to which Cadillac covered 90% of the cost. I got it back an 1000 miles later the engine had complete engine failure. Now they are saying they will only cover 60% of the coverage to fix the repair. I have six children and this is our only car. I need my engine repaired. This is a huge burden and we just took a loan out to pay the last repair. Please I beg of you help me.

My 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV experienced a major engine failure that required a complete engine replacement. Before the failure, the vehicle showed warning signs including rough running and loss of performance. My certified mechanic later explained that the cause of the failure was consistent with engine defects that have led to GM’s recall on later-model Escalades. However, the 2019 model year is excluded from that recall. The failure was severe enough that it posed a safety risk had it occurred at highway speed, and it required over $20,000 to replace the engine plus thousands more in related repairs. Multiple other major components failed around the same time (suspension components, thermostat, and A/C compressor). I am filing this report because the failure pattern appears identical to what GM has acknowledged on recalled Escalade engines, and I am concerned that the defect may affect more vehicles than currently included in the recall. My mechanic confirmed that the failure is reproducible and consistent with the known defect on later models.

The engine developed a ticking noise followed by loss of power. Mechanic diagnosed lifter and camshaft failure, which may be related to the Active Fuel Management system. This caused metal contamination and requires complete engine replacement. This appears to be a widespread issue on GM 6.2L engines.”

Had all of my lifters replaced and cam shaft 6 months ago because of the faulty engine gm has started to recognize. I spent $7500.00 yesterday 10/28/2025 i was driving and my car started shaking and shutting down in the middle of a busy intersection. luckily i got it off the road safely before be hit. traction control light was on and the check engine light goes from blinking to solid and then back to blinking. its now back at the shop for he second time this year for what will likely be another VERY expensive fix

My wife was driving our 2019 Cadillac Escalade to work when the vehicle check engine light came on and started to smoke and shake violently. She avoided injury but the car was not drivable. A local independent service center said that the car's cylinder #1 was full of fuel, the spark plug was wet, reported loud bottom end engine noise and that we replace the engine. This appears to be the same issue that sparked the recall of 2021-2024 models. We have proceeded with ordering a replacement engine as a result. The old engine will be available for further inspection if necessary. There were no warning signs prior to this incident.

I had taken my car in while it was under warranty for my motor the car wouldn’t move at all or start. They said it was a cylinder so they replaced the one cylinder and didn’t check any others. Just recently in January 2025 I took it back to the dealer for the same issues and they told me I need a whole new motor. Now the car is out of warranty. They charged me close to $1000 just to diagnose the car and tell me I need a They charge me close to $1000 just to diagnose the car and tell me I need a new motor. Apparently the other side of the motor they didn’t check had failed. Also my running boards were taken to the dealer for not working properly and they didn’t fix them while under warranty and now it’s still doing the same thing. Now my air condition isn’t blowing cold air I have taken it to the dealer. They claim I have different kind of freon, but I never replaced the Freon. It’s original to the car when it was purchased. They are charging me $1100 just to diagnose the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking violently. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and contacted an independent mechanic. The check engine warning light was then illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #5. The spark plugs were replaced, and the oil was changed, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who discovered metal shavings in the engine and determined that the camshafts and lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who also determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #5 and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the year and VIN were not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,700.

Lifters and camshaft went bad even though I'm fully on top Of maintenance. My engine began to seize up Luckily I was not out on the expressWay. Took it to a reputable mechanic who confirmed the problem all the repairs cost me $6,700. No warning light or check engine came on even though there was a serious issue.

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting rough. While at a stop light, the vehicle jerked abnormally. There was a hard acceleration while driving the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the transmission was shifting hard. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign: 24V797000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was related to the automatic transmission valve body. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 149,050.

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving 45-50 MPH, the engine seized, and the vehicle stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: PE25001 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The camshaft and lifters were previously replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.

Lifters and camshaft replaced three times Engine seized up Electrical problems with the steering and Crash warning systems Been at the dealer for one year as of today it’s still there

Vehicle will stall when driving. Alarm sounds and engine will shut down. I can shift the car into neutral and it will re-start. I understand that this issue of stalling can damage the engine beyond repair. I believe this engine is under investigation by the NHTSA. The shop that serviced my transmission warned me about transmission failure due to what he called a garbage can. A cylinder that is prone to failure.

On December 13, 2024, my 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV experienced a critical engine failure, requiring it to be towed to the dealership. I had taken delivery of the vehicle just one month prior, on November 13, 2024. The dealership informed me that the engine required a rebuild, including replacement of the lifters. The mechanic who worked on the vehicle stated that the engine had undergone a previous repair for the same issue and that the camshaft was also damaged. This incident posed a significant safety risk. The engine failure occurred while the vehicle was in operation, potentially leading to a loss of control and an accident. [Additional Information] Component/System Failure: Engine, specifically lifters and camshaft. The failed components are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Potential loss of control of the vehicle due to engine failure. Confirmation of Problem: The problem was confirmed by the dealership service center. Inspection: The vehicle and the failed components have been inspected by the dealership service center. Warning Lamps/Messages: Flashing check engine light, brake system failure, emissions system failure, antilock braking system failure, and power train failure. [Request] I request that the NHTSA investigate this matter to determine if there is a systemic defect with the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV's engine. This is the second documented engine failure, indicating a potential safety hazard for all owners of this vehicle model.

The tire pressure guage reads the opposite tire. Causes allot of confusion and is a safety concern for anyone who owns the car.

The Power Step / Running Boards do not operate as intended, especially on the driver's side. They are not deploying or retracting as they should, possibly leading to personal injury, ie. spain ankles, injury to the knees, legs and or backs of individuals, who assume the Power Step has deployed before entering or exiting the vehicle. I am seeking a recall be established concerning this matter, and a class action suit against General Motors be developed immediately. I have had my vehicle inspected, at a dealership, as many owners have, with nothing being found. Only to leave in disgust, and have to live with this daily issue. Something needs to be done about this problem, these are some very expensive vehicles, and owners like myself should not have to deal with this persist issue.

1 injured

The Power Step / Running Boards do not operate as intended, especially on the driver's side. They are not deploying or retracting as they should, possibly leading to personal injury, ie. spain ankles, injury to the knees, legs and or backs of individuals, who assume the Power Step has deployed before entering or exiting the vehicle. I am seeking a recall be established concerning this matter, and a class action suit against General Motors be developed immediately. I have had my vehicle inspected, at a dealership, as many owners have, with nothing being found. Only to leave in disgust, and have to live with this daily issue. Something needs to be done about this problem, these are some very expensive vehicles, and owners like myself should not have to deal with this persist issue.

1 injured

The Power Step / Running Boards do not operate as intended, especially on the driver's side. They are not deploying or retracting as they should, possibly leading to personal injury, ie. spain ankles, injury to the knees, legs and or backs of individuals, who assume the Power Step has deployed before entering or exiting the vehicle. I am seeking a recall be established concerning this matter, and a class action suit against General Motors be developed immediately. I have had my vehicle inspected, at a dealership, as many owners have, with nothing being found. Only to leave in disgust, and have to live with this daily issue. Something needs to be done about this problem, these are some very expensive vehicles, and owners like myself should not have to deal with this persist issue.

1 injured

The power retractable running boards do not always deploy. This has caused me to almost fall to the ground a few times. I have taken it to the dealer at least 5 times and each time they say nothings wrong or they can't find anything even when it happens to them. This form will not let me fill in miles. Right now there are 32k on my vehicle. This happens when I am parked.

Vehicle caught on fire while owner was driving. Owner reported small puff of black smoke prior to fire.

Fire

When the battery goes low the gear change from park to neutral . That happen to my vehiculo I found few feet outside brim my parking space and it was the gear in neutral

MY PRIMARY CONCERN WHEN SHOPPING FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS SAFETY, SO INSTEAD OF PURCHASING THE COMPARABLE GMC DENALI, I CHOSE THE CADILLAC WITH THE PREMIUM LUXURY TRIM LEVEL. THE CADILLAC WEBSITE ADVERTISED, AND THE AUTONATION CADILLAC WEST PALM BEACH SALESMAN ASSURED ME, THAT THE PREMIUM LUXURY PACKAGE INCLUDED 'LOW SPEED FORWARD AUTOMATIC BRAKING.' THIS SAFETY FEATURE WAS IMPORTANT TO ME AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE GMC DENALI. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE UNRELATED ISSUES WHICH PROMPTED ME TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. THROUGH THAT PROCESS, I LEARNED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH 'LOW SPEED AUTOMATIC BRAKING' EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE FEATURES OF THE PREMIUM LUXURY TRIM LEVEL APPEAR TO BE INCLUDED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME DURING MY LAST VISIT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN FACT EQUIPPED WITH 'LOW SPEED AUTOMATIC BRAKING.' I WRITE YOU THIS LETTER BOTH AS A FRUSTRATED CONSUMER, BUT ALSO AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN. I CAN ONLY WONDER HOW MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE DRIVING AROUND THINKING THEIR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 'LOW SPEED AUTOMATIC BRAKING.' I ESCALATED MY CONCERN TO GENERAL MOTORS IN JULY 2019, BUT THEY DENIED MY REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE ON JULY 17, 2019. I ALSO CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP (AUTONATION) BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN RESOLVING THIS AS THEY HAVE BEEN LARGELY UNRESPONSIVE. GENERAL MOTORS AND CADILLAC CONTINUE THEIR DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING TACTICS TO THIS DAY. IF YOU TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE, YOU WILL FIND THE INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT TRIM LEVELS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE TERMINOLOGY IS DECEPTIVE AND CONFUSING TO THE AVERAGE CONSUMER. THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE CALLED 'LOW SPEED FORWARD AUTOMATIC BRAKING' AND ONE CALLED 'FORWARD/REVERSE AUTOMATIC BRAKING.' NOT ONLY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE 2 FEATURES CONFUSING TO A LAY PERSON, BUT MY SALESMAN DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE. *JS

WHILE ALL ELECTRONIC SAFETY FEATURES WERE ENGAGED, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN PROPERLY, EVEN WITH LAST MINUTE HARD BREAKING BY DRIVER, VEHICLE CRASHED AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DASHCAM FOOTAGE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Crash 1 injured

WHILE ALL ELECTRONIC SAFETY FEATURES WERE ENGAGED, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN PROPERLY, EVEN WITH LAST MINUTE HARD BREAKING BY DRIVER, VEHICLE CRASHED AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DASHCAM FOOTAGE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Crash 1 injured

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FAR TOO BRIGHT. THEY ARE BLINDING AND CAUSE TOO MUCH GLARE. THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO LOWER MY MIRRORS. THE TAILLIGHTS ARE ALSO WAY TOO BRIGHT. WHEN I AM STUCK BEHIND THIS CAR, I AM BLINDED AND I AM SO ANGRY. ALL HEADLIGHTS MUST BE A SOFT COLOR THAT IS EASY ON THE EYES OF THE DRIVERS IN FRONT AND BEHIND.