YearToAvoid

2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

65/100

#8 most-complained of 21 Escalade ESV years

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

The 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 34 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 65 out of 100 — #8 highest of 21 Escalade ESV model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (22 complaints, 65% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash, 1 fire, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
34
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems

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

  1. Engine22 (65%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain9 (26%)
  3. Electrical System6 (18%)
  4. Other5 (15%)
  5. Fuel System3 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (9%)
  7. Brakes2 (6%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (6%)
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV complaints: complaints filed per month7Feb 2019Mar 2022Jan 2025May 2025Nov 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026
52 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2026 (7).

2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2019 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
2017Avoid85381—
2018Good45151—
2019Caution65341—
2020Avoid80222—
2021Avoid957110—

All Cadillac Escalade ESV years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV ranks #8 of 21 among Escalade ESV model years (Complaint Index 65/100, verdict: Caution). It has 34 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 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
The most reported problem areas are engine (22 complaints), transmission & powertrain (9 complaints), and electrical system (6 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 108,350 miles.
Does the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV, most recently reported 2018, covering seat belts.

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.