2011 Cadillac ESCALADE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Cadillac ESCALADE has 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (64% of all complaints), specifically: cracked dashboard on 2 out of every 3 gm suv / trucks. mine is one of them. it is a safety issue that if i were involved in a crash, would my airbag deploy properly, would the dash shatter into tiny pieces and be like shrapnel. gm knows that this is a huge problem with most 2007-present suv / truck.
53
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
34 complaints- • CRACKED DASHBOARD ON 2 OUT OF EVERY 3 GM SUV / TRUCKS. MINE IS ONE OF THEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IF I WERE INVOLVED IN A CRASH, WOULD MY AIRBAG DEPLOY PROPERLY, WOULD THE DASH SHATTER INTO TINY PIECES AND BE LIKE SHRAPNEL. GM KNOWS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MOST 2007-PRESENT SUV / TRUCK
- • TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER W
“CRACKED DASHBOARD ON 2 OUT OF EVERY 3 GM SUV / TRUCKS. MINE IS ONE OF THEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IF I WERE INVOLVED IN A CRASH, WOULD MY AIRBAG DEPLOY PROPERLY, WOULD THE DASH SHATTER INTO TINY PIECES AND BE LIKE SHRAPNEL. GM KNOWS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MOST 2007-PRESENT SUV / TRUCK”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V
- • MY DASH HAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED EVERY DAY SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2011 AND HAS NOT EVER BEEN MISTREATED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.
- • THE REAR LIFT DOOR ACCESS UNLOCKS ON IT'S OWN FREQUENTLY. THE WHOLE REAR DOOR LIFTED OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
3 complaints- • BLACK CHROME PAINT ON WINDOW FRAMES PEELING AWAY. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE LOCKED AND THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER (POTAMKIN CADILLAC OF MANHATTAN, 706 11TH AVE, NEW YORK
- • THE REAR LIFT DOOR ACCESS UNLOCKS ON IT'S OWN FREQUENTLY. THE WHOLE REAR DOOR LIFTED OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
“BLACK CHROME PAINT ON WINDOW FRAMES PEELING AWAY. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V
- • WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND BRAKING (AT LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS) VEHICLE SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS THEN BRAKES KICK IN. BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME NOW. ITS VERY COMPARABLE TO THE RECALL ON THE 2015-2017 MODELS THAT WERE AFFECTED. ALSO ANOTHER COMMON ISSUE I HAVE IS THE POWER FROM THE CIGARETTE L
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V
- • Swaybar mount is ripped from the frame. Only on the passenger side
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 53 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: CRACKED DASHBOARD ON 2 OUT OF EVERY 3 GM SUV / TRUCKS. MINE IS ONE OF THEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IF I WERE INVOLVED IN A CRASH, WOULD MY AIRBAG DEPLOY PROPERLY, WOULD THE DASH SHATTER INTO TINY PIECES AND BE LIKE SHRAPNEL. GM KNOWS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MOST 2007-PRESENT SUV / TRUCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: BLACK CHROME PAINT ON WINDOW FRAMES PEELING AWAY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Cadillac ESCALADE — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 53
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Cadillac ESCALADE