2019 Cadillac ESCALADE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2019 Cadillac ESCALADE has 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (57% of all complaints), specifically: active fuel management system is starving the lifters of lubrication. push rod got snapped in half and lifters needed to be replaced. then the headers had to be fixed because of all of this. with a complete repair done, the push rod has again malfunctioned one month after the new one was put in. my .

1 crash report 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

16 complaints

57%

• Active Fuel Management system is starving the lifters of lubrication. Push rod got snapped in half and lifters needed to be replaced. Then the headers had to be fixed because of all of this. With a complete repair done, the push rod has again malfunctioned one month after the new one was put in. My
• I currently own a 2019 Cadillac Escalade with a 6.2L V8 gas engine problems. We have issues with knocking or banging sound from the engine, the check engine light turns on and other engine performance issues like abnormal shifting, hesitation or reduced propulsion it has caused engine failure to my
• At around 70,000 miles the engine light came on and a strange noise was coming from the engine. I immediately took it in for inspection. The mechanic said he knew right away what it was because its a common failure with this engine. He said the lifters had gone bad and the entire top half of the eng

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

“Active Fuel Management system is starving the lifters of lubrication. Push rod got snapped in half and lifters needed to be replaced. Then the headers had to be fixed because of all of this. With a complete repair done, the push rod has again malfunctioned one month after the new one was put in. My ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

11%

• This vehicle was sold to me with severe frame damage, which was not reported on the carfax, and was not reported at the dealership. If you turn the steering wheel to the right, you will hear a scraping noise under the right front tire, as the suspension is off because of the frame damage caused from
• When I am driving the car shutters a lot especially during acceleration. When I stop no shutters but when I begin to go shutters. I have been to the Pepboys where I get my car fixed all the time and they can’t find the problem. I spent lots of money on the suspension system already and still the sam
• My wife and I purchased this vehicle in 2023 with 33,xxx miles on it and since we’ve had it, the vehicle has locked itself with the key fob inside 3 different times, we’re going on the third suspension replacement with normal driving that is ruining alignment and tires, we’ve had multiple issues wit

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

“This vehicle was sold to me with severe frame damage, which was not reported on the carfax, and was not reported at the dealership. If you turn the steering wheel to the right, you will hear a scraping noise under the right front tire, as the suspension is off because of the frame damage caused from”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

11%

• The car seat was in the locked rear facing position without it in use (thankfully) and I got rear ended on the freeway and the car seat became detached from the base that was anchored to my car. The car seat ended on the floor between my two middle seats.
• When I am driving the car shutters a lot especially during acceleration. When I stop no shutters but when I begin to go shutters. I have been to the Pepboys where I get my car fixed all the time and they can’t find the problem. I spent lots of money on the suspension system already and still the sam
• My wife and I purchased this vehicle in 2023 with 33,xxx miles on it and since we’ve had it, the vehicle has locked itself with the key fob inside 3 different times, we’re going on the third suspension replacement with normal driving that is ruining alignment and tires, we’ve had multiple issues wit

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“The car seat was in the locked rear facing position without it in use (thankfully) and I got rear ended on the freeway and the car seat became detached from the base that was anchored to my car. The car seat ended on the floor between my two middle seats.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

1 complaints

• THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO THE 2017-2019 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE BLINDINGLY BRIGHT -- ENOUGH TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ARE WAY TOO BRIGHT IF THEY SHINE DIRECTLY IN YOUR EYES OR SIDE MIRROR WHILE DRIVING A CAR. THEY ARE AN UNUSUAL DESIGN, WITH VERTICALLY STACKED PO

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

“THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO THE 2017-2019 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE BLINDINGLY BRIGHT -- ENOUGH TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ARE WAY TOO BRIGHT IF THEY SHINE DIRECTLY IN YOUR EYES OR SIDE MIRROR WHILE DRIVING A CAR. THEY ARE AN UNUSUAL DESIGN, WITH VERTICALLY STACKED PO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

1 complaints

• CAR PURCHASED FEBRUARY 2019 BRAND NEW. WHEN SEAT COOLING, THE BACK OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HEAT UP IN ALL COOLING MODES FROM HIGH TO LOW. RETURN VENTS ON BACK SIDE OF DRIVER/PASSENGER SEATS BLOW OUT VERY HOT AIR PROVIDING SAFETY CONCERN IF TOUCHED BY PASSENGER. INFRARED THERM. PERSONALLY

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

“CAR PURCHASED FEBRUARY 2019 BRAND NEW. WHEN SEAT COOLING, THE BACK OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS HEAT UP IN ALL COOLING MODES FROM HIGH TO LOW. RETURN VENTS ON BACK SIDE OF DRIVER/PASSENGER SEATS BLOW OUT VERY HOT AIR PROVIDING SAFETY CONCERN IF TOUCHED BY PASSENGER. INFRARED THERM. PERSONALLY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 28 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: Active Fuel Management system is starving the lifters of lubrication. Push rod got snapped in half and lifters needed to be replaced. Then the headers had to be fixed because of all of this. With a complete repair done, the push rod has again malfunctioned one month after the new one was put in. My
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: This vehicle was sold to me with severe frame damage, which was not reported on the carfax, and was not reported at the dealership. If you turn the steering wheel to the right, you will hear a scraping noise under the right front tire, as the suspension is off because of the frame damage caused from
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: The car seat was in the locked rear facing position without it in use (thankfully) and I got rear ended on the freeway and the car seat became detached from the base that was anchored to my car. The car seat ended on the floor between my two middle seats.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO THE 2017-2019 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE BLINDINGLY BRIGHT -- ENOUGH TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ARE WAY TOO BRIGHT IF THEY SHINE DIRECTLY IN YOUR EYES OR SIDE MIRROR WHILE DRIVING A CAR. THEY ARE AN UNUSUAL DESIGN, WITH VERTICALLY STACKED PO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)