Reliable Auto DB

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 15 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Escalade ESV years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Rear or other.

2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

15

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (9 of 15), then Electrical system (5) and Seat belts (2). The most filings arrived in 2025 (9 of 15). Those filings include 2 that report a fire.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Escalade ESV has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 34 complaints, 1 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall seat belts, rear or other 2018-09-26 · NHTSA campaign 18V673000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact 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 18315.

Complaints by component (15 total)

Engine
9
Electrical system
5
Seat belts
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Powertrain
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12020120219202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "We were on our way home from charlotte nc where the suv sat for a week while we were on vacation. Less than an hour of traveling home we smelled something burning so my husband pulled over, turns the suv off, and we…"
    Electrical system, Seat belts · filed 2026-05-05
  • "2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, 6.2L V8 L86 engine, under 100,000 miles. Engine seized and was towed to an authorized GM dealership. Teardown confirmed a spun and twisted rod bearing resulting in complete…"
    Engine · filed 2026-05-01
  • "Traction light and engine light flashing at 95,900 miles took Cadillac ESV to authorized dealer and he advised their was a misfire on cylinder 3 after several attemps to repair now advising he hear a knocking in engine…"
    Engine · filed 2026-02-02
  • "Cue system delamenated cracking glass options not working correctly Many recalls for cue GPS entertainment system in all Cadillacs. This needs to be addressed because safety system backing up doesn't work properly.…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-11-06

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV RWD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

K2 generation, 2017–2020
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 full synthetic (6.2L V8) , 8 qt capacity
Tire size 275/55R20 (base), 285/45R22 (Luxury/Premium/Platinum)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V-837 covers certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles, and also Escalade and other GM full-size trucks and SUVs: the fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing over-pressurization of the fuel system. Dealers replace the fuel pump. Recall 18V-673 covers certain 2018-2019 Escalade ESV vehicles among other GM models: certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelt retractors may not lock; dealers inspect and replace retractors as necessary.

Compare

Next year 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV See every Cadillac Escalade ESV model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliable?

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 15 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Escalade ESV years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Rear or other.

What are common problems with a 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (9 of 15), then Electrical system (5) and Seat belts (2). The most filings arrived in 2025 (9 of 15). Those filings include 2 that report a fire.

Is the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Escalade ESV has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 34 complaints, 1 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV with NHTSA.

What oil does a Cadillac Escalade ESV take?

Gas 6.2L V8 models use 0W-20 full synthetic; the 2021+ owner’s manual lists about 8.0 quarts with filter for that engine. Diesel capacity differs—check the Duramax supplement.

What does recall 25V-274 cover on Escalade ESV?

Certain 2021-2024 Escalade ESV vehicles with a 6.2L V8 gas engine (and related Escalade/GM trucks): dealers inspect the engine and, as necessary, repair or replace it; vehicles that pass inspection receive higher-viscosity oil and related updates.

Which Escalade ESV generations does this site track?

K2 (2017-2020) and T1 (2021-on).