The 2021 Cadillac Escalade has 9 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA, including 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (46 reports).
2021 Cadillac Escalade recalls
Wrong Fuel Tank Can Leak in Rollover, Raising Fire Risk
Certain diesel-equipped Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon vehicles may have had their original fuel tank replaced with an incorrect one.
Engine may fail unexpectedly, raising crash risk
Certain 2021 full-size Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC SUVs and pickups equipped with the 6.2L V8 gas engine may have a connecting rod or crankshaft with a manufacturing defect.
Rear Wheels Can Lock Up, Raising Crash Risk
Certain 2020-2021 GM full-size pickups and SUVs equipped with diesel engines may have a transmission control valve that can fail.
Daytime Running Lights May Stay On With Headlights, Causing Glare
Certain 2021 full-size SUVs may have a software fault in the lighting control module that keeps the daytime running lights on when the headlights are also on.
Third-Row Seat Belts May Not Hold Occupants in a Crash
Some 2021-2022 full-size SUVs with third-row seats may have a seat belt buckle assembly where the rivet attaching the buckle to its mounting bracket was improperly formed.
Rear driveshaft may fail, causing sudden loss of power
Some rear driveshaft assemblies may contain internal parts that were not heat-treated properly.
Fuel Pump Module May Fail, Causing Engine Stalls
The fuel pump power control module in these vehicles can cause the fuel pump to fail or run intermittently.
Air Bag Warning Light May Not Alert You to Faults
Some 2021 GM vehicles have a software problem in the communications gateway module.
Third-Row Seat Belts May Be Damaged, Risking Failure in a Crash
Some 2021 full-size SUVs have third-row outboard seat belts that may have been trapped or routed incorrectly behind the seat-folding mechanism.
Most common 2021 Cadillac Escalade problems
Problem areas named in the 79 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 46 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Lane Departure | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
What owners report
I own a 2021 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury with approximately 47,000 miles. On Oct 11, 2026, after stopping for gas, I noticed shortly after driving away that my entire digital instrument cluster was black. I had no speedometer, fuel gauge, mileage display, or dashboard warning indicators, although the center infotainment screen worked. I do not know whether the display went black when I restarted the vehicle or while driving; I discovered it while driving. The display worked again after I shut off and restarted the vehicle after a few hours. I scheduled an appointment with Cadillac of Calabasas on Oct 11, but the earliest available appointment was Oct 21, 10 days later. Around Oct 13, my
There is internal engine failure. Yes it is available for inspection. My safety as well as others were at risk when the engine started to fail, without warning, causing my car to jolt and briefly lose control of steering. If complete engine failure happened while driving, I would not have control over my car. My life and other's lives would severely be at risk. Car has been inspected and confirmed engine failure. Car is unable to be driven as we do not want to put anyone else at risk or make the problem worse. Car will be towed on Monday. There was absolutely no warning of this occurring. The symptoms first appeared while driving and the incident happened shortly after. There was a loud nois
After soft-close, left-side passenger door won't open. Not form the outside, not from the inside. Happened before about a year ago. logged into dealer system but the were unable to identify (and correct) the issue. This presents a big hazard in case of an accident, roll-over etc - unable to exit the vehicle swiftly.
While driving in a heavy rainstorm on October 15, 2026, the vehicle hydroplaned and every brake warning light came on at once, and the dashboard displayed a message that the brake system had failed and the brakes did not work. I believed I had no brakes while crossing a river bridge and thought I was going to die. The brakes actually worked and I got home, but a vehicle should never tell a driver its brakes have failed when they have not, especially in an emergency. All brake warning lights stayed on after I parked. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for this failure.
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle completely stalled. The check engine warning light was flashing, and the Stability, Parking, and Collision warning lights were illuminated alongside several other unknown alerts. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where two failed lifters were initially replaced. However, due to an abnormal sound, the vehicle was returned to the dealer, where the engine was replaced with a remanufactured engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 67,300.
2021 Cadillac Escalade questions
Does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade: Wrong Fuel Tank Can Leak in Rollover, Raising Fire Risk; Engine may fail unexpectedly, raising crash risk; Rear Wheels Can Lock Up, Raising Crash Risk; Daytime Running Lights May Stay On With Headlights, Causing Glare; Third-Row Seat Belts May Not Hold Occupants in a Crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade?
Based on 79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (46), Electrical System (10), Power Train (10).
How do I check if a recall on my 2021 Cadillac Escalade has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.