2021 Cadillac Escalade problems and complaints
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The most-reported areas: Engine (50), Power Train (10), Engine And Engine Cooling (10).
Key takeaways
- 89 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 2 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50 | 56% |
| Power Train | 10 | 11% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 10 | 11% |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 | 8% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4% |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4% |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cadillac Escalade SUV 4WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| 2021 Cadillac Escalade SUV 2WD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-20
On Saturday August 16, 2026, my family and I were in Laredo Texas and when we were driving on the freeway the motor blew out on my 2021 Cadillac escalade. One month before this occurred the dealership contacted me to replace the oil to a thicker oil because my trucks vin was on the recall and replacing the oil would h...
Engine - filed 2026-09-15
There was knocking and stalling happening. I looked up the issue and saw that there was a recall on all 2021 Cadillac escalades with my exact engine. Unfortunately my vin did fall in the recall but I have the same issues and now my car has been at the service station for almost 2 weeks trying to figure this out and get...
Engine - filed 2026-09-11
The same exact engine make and model was recalled and mine didnt fall under it but I am having the same exact issues. And now my car is in the shop and im having to pay an outlandish amount of money to get my car fixed from a known recall on my exact vehicle and engine.
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More for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.