Is the 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV reliable?

The 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV has 88 complaints filed with NHTSA (3.4x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV?

Top problems: ENGINE (49 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (11 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (11 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV?

Yes, there are 10 recall(s): STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, SEAT BELTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE, AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT, SEAT BELTS, SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL. Contact any Cadillac dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV is approximately $2,205/year (sedan-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV has 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.4x the segment average of 26. The most common issue is engine problems (56% of all complaints), specifically: 2021 cadillac escalade. consumer writes in regards t0 engine failure.. There are 10 recalls issued for this model year.

3 crash reports 9 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

3.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

49 complaints

56%

• 2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS T0 ENGINE FAILURE.
• At 3,000 miles on this new car, the motor began to rattle, shake, and then heat up to 240-260 degrees when the dashboard flashed and the vehicle and lights turned off. The brakes were not powered and because I was towing a trailer at night, I nearly crashed. My wife and 5 children were in the car
• On November 29th 2021, I cranked up my ESV headed to work. To my surprise, I heard which to me sounds like metal hammers clanking together. I immediately turn off the truck. In my experience it sounded like lifters and pistons out of sync. If I had been traveling to work this would have left me stra

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS T0 ENGINE FAILURE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV

Based on 14 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 63K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 70K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (10)

STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE17/06/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

Risk: Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,205

Full coverage / month

$184

Liability only / year

$696

vs US avg

+32%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-luxury)1.28x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$2205

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Cadillac New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

6 yr / 70K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

6 yr / 70K mi

These are the terms for a new Cadillac. If you're buying a used 2021 ESCALADE ESV, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Cadillac dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 88 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS T0 ENGINE FAILURE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V036000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while her husband was driving 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the e
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: Ever since the lifters broke in the new vehicle (which the dealer now tells us is a defect in the engine and that the lifters keep breaking; it was not a "bad delivery of lifters" as we were initially told), the car idles very rough and has power surges. Today sitting at a red light with the foot l
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 10 recalls have been completed — free at any Cadillac dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)