2023 Cadillac Escalade Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 16 Escalade years
The 2023 Cadillac Escalade ranks worst of 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 136 complaints, mostly engine-related (85% share). NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering engine, brakes, suspension, and electrical systems, making it the year to avoid for this model.
- Complaints
- 136
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 19 hwy
Top 2023 Cadillac Escalade problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine115 (85%)
- Transmission & Powertrain19 (14%)
- Electrical System17 (13%)
- Fuel System14 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras9 (7%)
- Other9 (7%)
- Brakes5 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (1%)
- Airbags1 (1%)
What owners report
- Engine loses power or stalls suddenly at speed, sometimes with a whistling noise before failure.
- Some engines show low oil pressure warnings followed by complete engine failure on the highway.
- Brake pedal reportedly fails to respond fully, leading to a collision at around 42,000 miles median mileage for brake complaints.
- Backup camera and rear parking guide lines stop working or display gridline and visibility errors shortly after delivery.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a 360-degree crash impact.
- Sunroof cracked while driving on the highway at 18,200 miles, leaving a hand-sized hole.
2023 Cadillac Escalade recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V274000Apr 24, 2025Engine597,571 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 24V674000Sep 12, 2024Brakes449,671 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module:software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.
- NHTSA 23V642000Sep 20, 2023Suspension, Wheels & Tires189 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break.
Risk: A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. 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 N232415910.
2023 Cadillac Escalade fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 19 MPG
- Combined
- 16 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $5,000
- 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.
2023 compared with other Escalade years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 Escalade ranks worst among the 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 136 complaints, mostly tied to the engine.
- What is the top problem area for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?
- Engine issues account for 85% of complaints (115 of 136), with a median failure mileage of 30,000 miles.
- Does the 2023 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Escalade, covering the engine, electronic brake control module, rear suspension control arm bolts, and body control module software.
- How does the 2023 Escalade compare to other years?
- The 2023 model has a complaint index of 100, higher than every other year listed, including 2022 (93) and 2024 (80), making it the worst-ranked year for this model.
- How many complaints involve crashes or injuries in the 2023 Escalade?
- NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 2 injuries reported among the 136 complaints for the 2023 Escalade, with no fires or deaths recorded.