2015 Cadillac ESCALADE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Cadillac ESCALADE has 141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: engine noise and vibration on cold start. very loud grinding noise coming from engine. had it looked at 2 times. dealer service manger jimmie states its normal. they all make that noise. i am 54 years old owned more than 15 cars in my life . this is not normal. they do not want to fix it.. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 4 crash reports 7 injuries

141

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

26 complaints

18%

• ENGINE NOISE AND VIBRATION ON COLD START. VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD IT LOOKED AT 2 TIMES. DEALER SERVICE MANGER JIMMIE STATES ITS NORMAL. THEY ALL MAKE THAT NOISE. I AM 54 YEARS OLD OWNED MORE THAN 15 CARS IN MY LIFE . THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT SHIFTED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V586000 (STEERING) AT OPEN ROAD CAD
• I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. ALL DOORS LOCKED WHEN THEY WERE CLOSED. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR HANDLE EVEN THOUGH THE FOB WAS ON ME. I WENT TO THE BACK TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. I COULD NOT. THE V

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ENGINE NOISE AND VIBRATION ON COLD START. VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD IT LOOKED AT 2 TIMES. DEALER SERVICE MANGER JIMMIE STATES ITS NORMAL. THEY ALL MAKE THAT NOISE. I AM 54 YEARS OLD OWNED MORE THAN 15 CARS IN MY LIFE . THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

25 complaints

18%

• MY 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 130+ DAYS IN THE FIRST CALENDAR YEAR FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL, AND HVAC. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP FOR PROBLEMS AND IT IS NOT A VEHICL
• VEHICLES START VIBRATING WHEN HIT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 40 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR. DEALER DOESN'T TAKE SERIOUSLY..I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
• MY CONDENSER AN MY WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WENT OUT. I HAD TO GET IT COMPLETELY REDONE.

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

“MY 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 130+ DAYS IN THE FIRST CALENDAR YEAR FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL, AND HVAC. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP FOR PROBLEMS AND IT IS NOT A VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

18 complaints

13%

• SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION OF SUNROOF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SENDING A SHOWER OF GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO OVERPASS - THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF A ROCK OR SOMETHING HITTING. SUNROOF SIMPLY SHATTERED FOR NO REASON.
• WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL IN TOWN, MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. ONLY COMPONENT STILL WORKING WAS THE RADIO. NO FLASHERS, NO TURN SIGNALS. WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. DASH LOOKED DIFFERENT AFTER RESTART, INFO MISSING. DROVE A F
• DRIVING OUR 2015 ESCALADE ON I-45 JUST NORTH OF HUNTSVILLE, TX ABOUT 11:30 AM. DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH. THERE WAS A PEEP, CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED TO BELOW 50, AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN CLOSE BEHIND ME, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BEFORE I

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

“SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION OF SUNROOF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SENDING A SHOWER OF GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO OVERPASS - THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF A ROCK OR SOMETHING HITTING. SUNROOF SIMPLY SHATTERED FOR NO REASON.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

10%

• THE CUE SYSTEM GETS STUCK AN SOMETIMES IT CHANGES BUY ITSELF. IT WILL NOT LET YOU CHANGE THE IT WILL FREEZE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
• I HAVE EXPERIENCE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WENT BACK TO GET IN MY VEHICLE AN IT WOULDN'T START. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK. IU AM SO UPSET WITH GMC.
• I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER OCTOBER 2018 STATING THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. I HAD WORK DONE ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 AT CASTLE BUICK FOR THAT PROBLEM. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIR THAT WAS COVERED BY MY OWN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT COST ME $

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE CUE SYSTEM GETS STUCK AN SOMETIMES IT CHANGES BUY ITSELF. IT WILL NOT LET YOU CHANGE THE IT WILL FREEZE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

10 complaints

• THERE IS A KNOCKING / POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ON TURNS AND LOW SPEED DRIVING. HAPPENS CONSTANTLY NOW AND WE'RE JUST OUT OF 50K WARRANTY BY 2000MI.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT SHIFTED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V586000 (STEERING) AT OPEN ROAD CAD
• I JUST RECEIVED THE POWER STEERING SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING LAST WEEK. ABOUT FIVE OR SIX TIMES NOW THE STEERING HAS BEEN VERY HARD AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THERE IS A KNOCKING / POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ON TURNS AND LOW SPEED DRIVING. HAPPENS CONSTANTLY NOW AND WE'RE JUST OUT OF 50K WARRANTY BY 2000MI.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 141 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ENGINE NOISE AND VIBRATION ON COLD START. VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. HAD IT LOOKED AT 2 TIMES. DEALER SERVICE MANGER JIMMIE STATES ITS NORMAL. THEY ALL MAKE THAT NOISE. I AM 54 YEARS OLD OWNED MORE THAN 15 CARS IN MY LIFE . THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MY 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 130+ DAYS IN THE FIRST CALENDAR YEAR FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL, AND HVAC. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP FOR PROBLEMS AND IT IS NOT A VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION OF SUNROOF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SENDING A SHOWER OF GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO OVERPASS - THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF A ROCK OR SOMETHING HITTING. SUNROOF SIMPLY SHATTERED FOR NO REASON.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE CUE SYSTEM GETS STUCK AN SOMETIMES IT CHANGES BUY ITSELF. IT WILL NOT LET YOU CHANGE THE IT WILL FREEZE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)