Model year record

2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV

10 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 178 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V274000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
597,571
Reported to NHTSA
2025-04-24
Owners notified
2025-06-18

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

Safety risk

Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V797000

Power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: valves/valve body

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: valves/valve body
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
463,295
Reported to NHTSA
2024-10-24
Owners notified
2024-12-12

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Safety risk

Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V827000

Exterior lighting: lighting control module: software

Component
Exterior lighting: lighting control module: software
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
338,735
Reported to NHTSA
2022-11-03
Owners notified
2022-12-15

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety risk

Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222382220.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V617000

Seat belts: critical fasteners

Component
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
484,155
Reported to NHTSA
2022-08-11
Owners notified
2022-11-01

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

Safety risk

A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V036000

Power train: driveline: driveshaft

Component
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
1,789
Reported to NHTSA
2022-01-27
Owners notified
2022-03-14

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.

Safety risk

Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. 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 N212351030.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V739000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
14,939
Reported to NHTSA
2021-09-23
Owners notified
2021-10-14

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.

Safety risk

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 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 N212332040.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V455000

Steering: steering control module

Component
Steering: steering control module
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
26,847
Reported to NHTSA
2021-06-17
Owners notified
2021-07-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V421000

Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light

Component
Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
285,622
Reported to NHTSA
2021-06-10
Owners notified
2021-07-01

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

Safety risk

The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V190000

Seat belts

Component
Seat belts
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
94,641
Reported to NHTSA
2021-03-18
Owners notified
2021-04-21

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.

Safety risk

A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V811000

Seat belts: critical fasteners

Component
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
470
Reported to NHTSA
2020-12-23
Owners notified
2021-01-29

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

Safety risk

If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine9290,000 mi
Electrical system1971,000 mi
Power train1825,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling1457,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system11
Service brakes7
Unknown or other4
Seat belts2
Steering2
Structure: body2
Suspension2
Wheels2
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control1
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking1
Forward collision avoidance: warnings1

The 2020 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. The 2022 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA26005Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

Engine

EA25007Loss of motive power due to engine failure

Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.