Reliable Auto DB

2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV over 5 years — 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Escalade ESV years here — over the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Control module, software, Internal engine parts, and Lighting control module, software.

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

56

Per year

2

Recalls

4

Years on the road

5

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (43 of 56), then Powertrain (12) and Fuel and propulsion system (8). The most filings arrived in 2025 (30 of 56). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2021 and 2023

The 2021 Escalade ESV has 71 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2023 has 88 complaints, 14 per year. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

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 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, control module, software 2026-02-13 · NHTSA campaign 26V085000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with 10 Speed Transmission with ETRS (Electronic Transmission Range Select). The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.
Remedy Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2026. 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 N252536750. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.
Recall engine and cooling, engine, internal engine parts 2025-04-24 · NHTSA campaign 25V274000
Summary 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.
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 exterior lighting, lighting control module, software 2022-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 22V903000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL 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."
Remedy The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC 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 N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
Recall seat belts, critical fasteners 2022-08-11 · NHTSA campaign 22V617000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (56 total)

Engine
43
Powertrain
12
Fuel and propulsion system
8
Electrical system
7
Engine and engine cooling
3
Forward collision avoidance
3
Speed control
3
Lane departure
1
Steering
1
Show 1 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120223202322024302025202026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "On XXX, at approximately 6:30 AM, I was driving my Cadillac Escalade ESV when the vehicle suddenly and completely lost engine power while I was traveling on the roadway. The engine stopped without any warning.There were…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "My wife's 2022 Cadillac Escalade was recalled for possible engine failure. The vehicle passed the recommended engine inspection procedure; new weight oil was installed, and I was assured that the Cadillac was safe to…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-13
  • "The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly loss power and was unable to exceed 30 MPH. The engine was knocking prior to the vehicle losing…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-02
  • "Engine knocking on cold start up. Second time hearing this. Loud “rattling” noise emanating from exhaust tips on rear of vehicle. I experienced this once before and notified my dealer. Additionally, at that time, I had…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-08-25
  • "The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 75 MPH, the vehicle loss automotive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact shifted to…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-07-17

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 2WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV 4WD 4 stars 4 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

T1 generation, 2021–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 full synthetic (6.2L V8 gas; ~8.0 qt with filter per 2021 owner’s manual—diesel differs) , 8 qt capacity
Tire size 275/50R22, 275/60R20 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 25V-274 covers certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine, and also Escalade and other GM full-size trucks and SUVs: dealers inspect the engine and, as necessary, repair or replace it; vehicles that pass inspection receive higher-viscosity oil and related updates. Recall 22V-617 covers certain 2021-2022 Escalade ESV vehicles with third-row seats among other GM SUVs: dealers inspect third-row seat belt buckle rivets and replace buckle assemblies as necessary.

Compare

Previous year 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV Next year 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV See every Cadillac Escalade ESV model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliable?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV over 5 years — 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Escalade ESV years here — over the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Control module, software, Internal engine parts, and Lighting control module, software.

What are common problems with a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (43 of 56), then Powertrain (12) and Fuel and propulsion system (8). The most filings arrived in 2025 (30 of 56). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2021 Escalade ESV has 71 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2023 has 88 complaints, 14 per year. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Owners have filed 56 complaints about the 2022 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).