2022 CADILLAC ESCALADE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

While driving my 2021 Cadillac Escalade on an interstate highway at approximately 70 mph with my family, including two minor children, the vehicle suddenly and without warning lost propulsion, shut off, and shifted into neutral. This occurred in active traffic and created an immediate safety hazard. A warning message appeared instructing me to restart the vehicle. After several minutes navigating traffic, I was able to restart the vehicle briefly and exit the highway. Shortly thereafter, additional dashboard alerts appeared indicating critical engine and transmission failure. After exiting the highway, the vehicle shut down completely at a traffic signal and failed to restart. The vehicle was immobilized in an active roadway until police assistance arrived to prevent a rear‑end collision and a flatbed tow was arranged. The sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed placed vehicle occupants and surrounding motorists at serious risk. The vehicle is available for inspection and was diagnosed as having a seized engine on March 9, 2026, by Diamond Cadillac in [XXX] . This failure did not occur without warning. Prior to this incident, I repeatedly reported excessive oil consumption to the selling dealer, Otto Cadillac, from whom I purchased the vehicle in April 2025 as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. On two separate service visits, I reported oil consumption exceeding two quarts between recommended service intervals and requested that this be documented. I was advised that the consumption was “within tolerance” and was later informed—incorrectly—that this tolerance applied to my engine configuration. Otto Cadillac performed a recall-related inspection and implemented the manufacturer-directed remedy consisting of an oil cap replacement and a change in oil viscosity to SAE 40. No mechanical repair or deeper diagnostic action was taken. The subsequent engine seizure confirms that these mitigation measures did not resolve the underlying defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),

On March 19, 2026 around 830AM EST, the vehicle turned off while I was driving around ~40mph. I lost all power while on a busy street and I was unable to move the car to the side of the road. The car would not shift into drive or neutral, and therefore remained in the middle of the road until a tow truck had to flatbed it to the Cadillac dealership. The L87 recall on this vehicle was performed in August 2025, however the Cadillac dealership said there were no issues found with the L87 recall. The symptoms of today's issue - vehicle turning off while driving and does not start back up, is similar to other reports of this L87 recall and demonstrates that this recall was not accurately performed and/or remedied during the service.

There was a recall on my Cadillac Escalade regarding the engine. We had the vehicle inspected in the fall and were told that our engine was not affected and was safe to operate. However, on Sunday, March 8, the engine suddenly failed while I was driving on an exit ramp with children in the car. There were no warning lights or prior indications of a problem. I took the appropriate steps to have the vehicle evaluated under the recall, yet we were still placed in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation due to the engine failure.

My 2022 Cadillac Escalade Sports Platinum has shut down several times while I'm driving, and recently it started shifting into neutral on its own. I have three kids, and my whole family was in the car when this happened. Once, it shut down and shifted to neutral as I was crossing a busy street at night. I was really scared that someone might hit us because it was hard to see. I will take the SUV to the dealer for an engine inspection because of a recall. This problem is very frightening and could put lives at risk.

My engine died 3 times so far. The first time it had 20,000 miles, I was driving on the freeway and my vehicle died. The dealer replaced the engine. The second time there was a recall for the engine, it had around 88,000 miles and the engine was replaced for a 2nd time. Note I’m at 94,000 miles and my car died on the freeway again. It has been at the dealer for more than a week and they haven’t even inspected it yet. This is definitely a safety concern, both times that it stopped I was on the freeway, things could have been much worse.

Engine stopped working. Dealer is replacing engine, starter and battery fuse box.

The engine suddenly stalled while I was driving on a public road, creating an immediate safety hazard. The check‑engine light came on, and the dashboard warned of zero oil pressure. I had no choice but to have the vehicle towed to a Cadillac dealership. After their inspection, I was informed that the engine had catastrophically failed and required full replacement. This failure occurred right after the recall work was completed, during which I was assured the engine was healthy and the new oil‑ viscosity procedure had been performed.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH to the dealer, the vehicle experienced reduced engine power. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The VIN was associated with the recall. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 37,600.

After receiving the recall notice, the car was taken to the dealership in Mid-November 2025 at 42,713 miles for the pico engine test. The engine passed the test and had the oil and oil filter changed to the 0-W40 oil and a new oil cap. On January 9, 2026 at approx. 43,700 miles, the engine seized while driving the freeway at approx. 70 mph. The car was towed to the same dealership who confirmed that the engine was destroyed and needed replacement. 2.5 weeks later, I received the car back where the service writer confirmed that the replacement engine was not a “ new” but instead a “re-manufactured” engine with the same 0-W40 oil. Subsequent to this, I contacted Cadillac and started the process of a repurchase. Cadillac has agreed to repurchase the car in the amount of $69,801 based on a mileage usage charge of $31,895 based on 42,713 miles. Depending on your state’s Lemon Law, I would encourage any other owner with this problem to force a repurchase of this car. There are many stories out there of these vehicles experiencing more than one engine replacement. This vehicle can not be trusted.

Complete Engine failure happened while driving at slow speed. Engine recall had been completed on September 3, 2025. No replacement recomended. Complete engine failure happened on January 12, 2026. Had towed to dealership. Dealership just confirmed to me that it will need to have engine replaced on January 19, 2026. There was no sign or symptoms right before the failure.

We were driving down the road and the car completely quit running I could not steer it and it was moving to a coast mode The motor locked up and it had to be replaced Since being replaced I keep hearing tapping noises in the motor and everytime I bring it in they always say there nothing wrong with my car I also stated that sometimes it cuts out or loses power but still they say nothing is wrong Now trying to trade it in has been a nightmare

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the message "Low Engine Oil" was displayed prematurely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the oil consumption test. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the engine had failed the recall inspection and needed to be replaced. The contact was provided with vehicle rental assistance for approximately 4 days. The dealer later informed the contact that the engine was in good condition and did not need to be replaced. The contact was concerned that the dealer had misassessed the engine condition and was placing the contact and his family at risk. The manufacturer was contacted for buy-back assistance, and a case was filed. The manufacturer later informed the contact that the dealer had been unreachable and that the buy-back assistance would not be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The onstar module has failed and this seems to be an ongoing issue with a lot of gm’s. My car was recently in to fix the major gm engine recall and after that my onstar stopped working. I called and they said it’s not a connectivity issue it’s a part issue. So it will have to be taken to the dealership. I pay money to have onstar and unlimited WiFi. There should be a recall for this.

1.) Loud engine ticking and clicking noise when car is in park position. 2.) Vibration in steering wheel after numerous alignment and wheel balancing services. Even purchased 4 new tires and vibration still continues.

I was driving my 2022 Cadillac Escalade when suddenly the engine shut off. Lost the ability to drive forward and steering became hard. I was close to being rear-ended as I was on the highway. Towed it to the dealer who said engine seized. Installed new engine after a month of waiting and the vehicle doesn't run right. It has a rough idle. Dealer installed incorrect oil as replacement engines were supposed to retain original oil of 0W-20. Had to make numerous trips to the dealer due to low coolant, wrong oil on a new engine and rough idle. Dealer says its fine. $100K vehicle with a rough idle is a joke!

Took my car to the shop yesterday due to heating a ticking sound coming from the engine. This is the new engine that was replaced AFTER a catastrophic engine failure on May 16, 2025. The service department inspected my vehicle and found metal shards in the oil filter. They need to keep the vehicle because it will need another new engine. This will be the third new engine in a year since the recall on the 6.2L GM engines

My engine was replaced in January of 2025 before the actual recall. I have the serial [XXX] for my new engine . I need to know the build date of this engine so that I can know if my 2nd engine is a new engine with the corrected crankshaft or the remaufactured engine with the defective crankshaft.GM refuses to tell me the build date I have a right to know. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

After waiting months to get my vehicle checked for recall N252494000 NHTSA 25V274 I was told my vehicle passed inspection. When I asked to see the detailed results of the pico test I was told there are no detailed results and I was not shown anything proving my vehicle was tested and whether it passed or failed. My invoice states "Performed pico test test took multiple tries to complete having to unhook and reinstall pico to complete" which does not make me confident in the result. While talking to the service manager, he mentioned their original pico equipment was replaced by GMC after approximately 5 vehicles failed inspection. Since GMC sent the new equipment there have been no failed inspections. I can't find a way to express my concern to GMC or Cadillac online, that is what brought me here. This recall includes a safety risk serious enough to replace the vehicles engine, I want reassurance that the test was performed properly and my vehicle did not fail.

My engine all of a sudden went dead in the middle of an intersection. I was unable to put the vehicle in neutral and move it so it was stuck in the middle of an intersection until the tow truck arrived. In addition, it had to be dragged due to this issue - which I’m sure isn’t good for it.

Vehicle Make: Cadillac Vehicle Model: Escalade Model Year: 2022 Component(s) Affected: Engine, Fuel System, Powertrain, Vehicle Stability Control Incident Date: [Insert Date of Incident] Mileage at Time of Incident: [Insert Approximate Mileage] Summary of Complaint: While driving my 2022 Cadillac Escalade at approximately 70 mph on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost all power and stability. This was due to an injector breaking off inside the engine, sending metal fragments into the camshaft, which subsequently locked the motor. This created an extremely dangerous situation as the vehicle became unresponsive and unstable at high speed. Just two days prior to this incident, the vehicle had been serviced by Quantrell Cadillac in Lexington, KY, where a recall repair involving the engine was performed. Despite that service, a catastrophic failure occurred almost immediately afterward. After the breakdown, Quantrell Cadillac attempted repairs over the course of three weeks. These repairs included replacing the injectors, camshaft, and other components, before eventually replacing the entire long block. However, upon picking up the vehicle, it is exhibiting the exact same failure symptoms again—making a popping noise, stalling the engine, and becoming unsafe to operate. This vehicle is clearly not safe to drive and poses a serious risk to myself, my passengers, and others on the road. There have already been multiple recalls related to this issue, indicating a broader systemic problem. We are requesting the NHTSA’s immediate assistance to investigate this safety issue and help us obtain a replacement vehicle that meets all applicable federal safety standards. This level of repeated engine failure & instability is completely unacceptable for any vehicle—especially one with such recent manufacturer service and recall repairs. When this stall occurs, the entire computer system & all safety features are shut down and collision avoidance is also disabled. Have viideo

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the roadway. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where the fuel pump power control module was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed an undisclosed failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 36,000.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Was traveling on a busy interstate and vehicle check engine light came on flashing and stability system light as well. Existed next off ramp and when the car started slowing down the engine shut off. Was able to get to a safe location and car would not start. Had it towed to the dealership and they stated engine failure.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 60 MPH, the vehicle started to hesitate, and the vehicle experienced a reduced power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the crankshaft was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

I purchased the vehicle two weeks ago. As we were driving on the freeway the car would not accelerate and it started making a clanking noise and then the cab filled with smoke. We pulled over and exited the vehicle. My husband opened the hood and saw a fire. He quickly put out the fire with 3 stanley cups of water. My husband said that the failure caused a hole in the side of the block and the oil completely drained out of the vehicle and was all over the freeway.

Fire

I purchased the vehicle two weeks ago. As we were driving on the freeway the car would not accelerate and it started making a clanking noise and then the cab filled with smoke. We pulled over and exited the vehicle. My husband opened the hood and saw a fire. He quickly put out the fire with 3 stanley cups of water. My husband said that the failure caused a hole in the side of the block and the oil completely drained out of the vehicle and was all over the freeway.

Fire

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment; however, the contact was informed that parts for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

I brought my Cadillac escalade in on two different instances where it stopped on me. One time it completely died, the other time it stopped and turn off, then needed to be restarted, with multiple instances. Both times the dealership told me it was related to the fuel pump, and they replaced it. Since then, I brought it in again saying it had random shakes and noises, and they claimed it does that when its in All Wheel Drive. This doesn't make sense. I have been using it in 2WD as recommended, and it still has the shakes and noises. In the past few weeks, the car stopped on my twice. One time I was making a left turn at a stop sign, the other, I was in the middle of an intersection. Now, I will not drive it out of fear for my family and own lives. I called to make an appointment at Autonation Cadillac West Palm Beach, and they said there is nothing that can be done since the engine needs to be replaced, and Cadillac still hasn't issued a remedy. They said for me to call Cadillac directly, which I did. Cadillac opened a case for me, and told me I would receive a call in 1-2 days. I called back on day 3, and was told that I have to wait for the person who was assigned to my case to call me. They informed me that it may take a while because Cadillac had cut the help center's (including recall department) work hours to save money, while they should have been increasing it during this massive recall. Now I have no car to drive my family in, and no response from Cadillac, with no resolution in site.

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving the 2022 Cadillac Escalade engine recall (GM 6.2L V8, RPO L87). My vehicle is used to tow a trailer regularly. The potential for engine failure due to defective connecting rods or crankshaft components poses a severe risk—especially while towing at highway speeds or on inclines. Loss of power while towing could compromise braking and control, endangering both myself and others. This concern should be escalated for owners who rely on these vehicles for towing. I am asking NHTSA to review how GM is prioritizing recall repairs for towing-use customers and to consider this a higher-risk category for resolution. My current situation is I have an appointment with Williamson Cadillac in Miami to scan the vehicle. If they determine its satisfactory to drive I will be towing a 7000 lb. trailer from Florida to Upstate New York. I'm very concerned that if I lose the engine I will have an exasperated safety issue because of the large trailer. There will be greatly reduced stopping power and limited room to pull off the highway. I need to be in Saratoga Springs with the trailer and its contents before May 19. Please advise, as I do not want to cause a fatal accident that could have been avoided.

I was driving down the road and heard a loud knocking noise then my engine died. I Was unable to get it to restart again.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine shut off without warning. Despite the failure, the engine restarted immediately after the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the dealer failed to duplicate the failure. The failure persisted, and the contact had the vehicle towed back to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact waited two months for parts since the parts were on backorder. After the engine was replaced, the contact stated that vehicle started to hesitate while depressing the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact requested a vehicle buyback which was denied. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.