YearToAvoid

2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#17 most-complained of 21 Escalade ESV years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 5 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 20 out of 100 — #17 highest of 21 Escalade ESV model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (2 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 1 injury.

Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
13
12 city / 16 hwy

Top 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine2 (40%)
  2. Airbags1 (20%)
  3. Brakes1 (20%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain1 (20%)
2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2007Jul 2008Feb 2015Feb 2019
5 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2007 to Feb 2019; peak Jul 2008 (2).

2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 05V552000Dec 7, 2005Other32,068 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.

    Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on march 31, 2006. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, hummer at 1-800-732-5493, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.

2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12 MPG
Highway
16 MPG
Combined
13 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$6,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Escalade ESV years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good2514113
2006Best205113
2007Avoid75394—
2008Good3017414

All Cadillac Escalade ESV years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV ranks #17 of 21 among Escalade ESV model years (Complaint Index 20/100, verdict: Best). It has 5 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The most reported problem areas are engine (2 complaints), airbags (1 complaints), and brakes (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 36,500 miles.
Does the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV, most recently reported 2005, covering other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
EPA rates the 2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV at 13 MPG combined (12 city / 16 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $6,150. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.