2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV has a complaint index of 45, ranking 12th out of 21 model years, and earns a Good verdict. It had 15 complaints, 1 recall, and 2 reported fires, with engine problems the top concern.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 45/100
- #12 of 21 Escalade ESV years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 15
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine9 (60%)
- Electrical System5 (33%)
- Seat Belts2 (13%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (7%)
- Other1 (7%)
- Steering1 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (7%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine develops internal knocking or misfire, with owners reporting bent lifters, rods, or camshafts requiring engine replacement.
- Vehicle loses power and fails to accelerate past low speeds while the steering wheel becomes stiff and dashboard warning lights activate.
- Electrical system shuts the vehicle off entirely while driving at highway speed with no warning.
- Front cue display screen develops spiderweb cracking from sun exposure, disabling safety radar features.
- Front struts fail, causing loss of steering control on rough road surfaces.
2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V673000Sep 26, 2018Seat Belts15,800 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other
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."
Risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
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.
2018 compared with other Escalade ESV years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV reliable?
- It has a complaint index of 45 and ranks 12th out of 21 model years for this model, earning a Good verdict relative to other Escalade ESV years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
- Engine complaints make up 60% of reports, with owners describing knocking noises, misfires, and full engine failures, some occurring at a median mileage of 104,107.
- Does the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for 2018, covering rear seatbelt retractors that may not automatically retract; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- Are there fire risks with the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
- NHTSA lists 2 reported fires for 2018, tied to Electrical System and Seat Belts complaint categories, with no crashes or injuries reported.
- How does the 2018 model compare to nearby Escalade ESV years?
- The 2018 Escalade ESV (index 45, Good) rates better than 2017 (index 85, Avoid) and 2019 (index 65, Caution), both of which have higher complaint indexes.