2016 Cadillac Escalade: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2016 / cadillac / escalade
known issues8 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-26)
complaints104 on file (2016-01-05 → 2026-08-15)
recalls4
investigations1
fars14 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Transmission harsh shifting and driveline shudderPOWER TRAIN32 complaints2016-01 → 2026-08cadillac-escalade-2016-transmission-shudder
  • 11402889 THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ONGOING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 9 TIMES AND THEY CLAIM EVERYTHING IS OK BUT IT IS NOT. IT IS SLUGGISH SHIFTING, HUNTS FOR GEARS, SOMETIMES BANGS INTO GEAR SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT
  • 11339586 VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES RELATED TO HARSH SHIFTING, STUTTERING, SLAMMING INTO GEAR AND OTHERWISE TERRIBLE SHIFTING. THE FLUID HAS BEEN FLUSHED 4 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEMS
  • 10823280 CAR VIBRATES FROM 35MPH UP TO 80 PLUS. HAD IT TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A VIBRATION. THEY SAID GM SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND GM WAS DESIGNING A FIX
CUE touchscreen unresponsive and crackingELECTRICAL SYSTEM4 complaints2020-05 → 2022-12cadillac-escalade-2016-cue-touchscreen-failure
  • 11385624 INFOTAINMENT SCREEN SHOWS CRACKING, BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND CLICKS ON IT'S OWN INTERMITTANTLY. RENDERS ALL FUNCTIONALITY INCLUDING ALL RADIO/SOUND, NAVIGATION, PROJECTION, ETC... USELESS
  • 11385703 TOUCH SCREEN HAS BECOME NONE RESPONSIVE WITH A VISIBLE WEBBING EFFECT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO USE WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSES DISTRACTIONS
  • 11325458 CUE SPIDER WEBBING CUE WILL GO BLANK NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. *TR
Brake pedal failure and loss of stopping powerSERVICE BRAKES4 complaints2019-06 → 2024-08cadillac-escalade-2016-brake-failure
  • 11608803 The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the noticed a failure with the brake pedal. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed with no warning light illuminated
  • 11219769 VACUUM PUMP DETERIORATION OR FAILURE CAUSED REDUCED STOPPING OF VEHICLE. BACKED UP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUMPED BRAKE PETAL SEVERAL TIMES. AND FINALLY STOPPED
  • 11434187 I bought my 2016 Escalade and was told there was a safety recall on the car. After 3 days, I took the car to a Cadillac dealership to have the recall fixed. When returning to pick the car up, I was told that the vehicles EBCM unit was faulty
Suspension upper control arm separationSUSPENSION5 complaints2018-04 → 2025-05cadillac-escalade-2016-control-arm-separation
  • 11516890 The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home
  • 11082368 FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND EATING MY TIRES FROM INSIDE. I WENT TO GET MY ALIGNMENT DONE BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND HE CAN NOT DO THE ALIGNMENT
  • 11221207 06/14/2019 I WAS DRIVING MY CADILLAC TO ESCALATE ESV TRAVELING FROM BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON DC 95 SOUTH BAND. 12:04 PM MY VEHICLE FLIP OVER. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE
Engine lifter and camshaft failure requiring replacementENGINE20 complaints2022-10 → 2026-07cadillac-escalade-2016-engine-lifter-failure
  • 11752185 At highway speed, the engine lifters associated with the Active Fuel Management system failed and caused catastrophic damage throughout the engine. The sudden loss of power on the highway almost caused vehicles traveling behind me to collide
  • 11729944 While driving in rush hour traffic, engine completely stopped. We were stranded in traffic for 2 hours until the police came to help push us out of the street. It was 20 degrees and we sat for 4 hours to get towed
  • 11702045 I purchased a car from a used car dealer in Sacramento. Two days later, the lifters went bad. This truck only has 115,000 miles on it. This is a know issue that GM has and they're doing nothing to remedy the issue
Engine stall with steering and StabiliTrak faultsELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 complaints2017-03 → 2025-08cadillac-escalade-2016-electrical-stall
  • 11668491 While I was driving the car turned off and the steering wheel got really hard, making it harder to get out of the road to keep my children safe since we were in the highway. Second time it happened the stabilitrack service message came up, and also the steering assist is reduced
  • 11667098 The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while coming to a stop to park the vehicle, the vehicle turned off and restarted continuously, and the steering wheel straightened unintendedly
  • 11442776 The Escalade radio console keeps shorting out, operating irregularly, and stays "on" after the car has been turned off resulting in a stall and/or battery to drain leading to the car not starting, which has required several battery jumps
Inadvertent airbag deployment and warning lightAIR BAGS5 complaints2016-08 → 2024-03cadillac-escalade-2016-airbag-deployment
  • 11579900 The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at 40-45 MPH, the driver-side air bag deployed without any impact. No warning lights were illuminated
  • 11312058 WHILE IN MOTION - THE CADILLAC ESCALADE'S AIRBAGS ALL SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR IMPACT THAT PRECEDED THE INCIDENT. THE POLICE OFFICER ON SCENE WAS ALSO QUITE SURPRISED
  • 10897993 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED
Electric power steering assist lossSTEERING3 complaints2017-05 → 2026-03cadillac-escalade-2016-power-steering-loss
  • 11722231 Experienced loss of electric power steering while driving at 60 MPH on interstate. Had 6 passengers in vehicle at the time and could have crashed if another vehicle was in other lane next to us during steering loss
  • 11481903 At low speed electric power steering failed. Cannot steer vehicle. Will have vehicle towed to a service center
  • 10992105 MY VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AGGRESSIVELY NONE STOP AND ITS BAD ENOUGH TO WERE YOU TAKE YOUR EYES FOR A SECOND TO LOOK AT THE FUEL GAUGE AND YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OTHER LANE

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
1042016-01-052026-08-1543ENGINE:31; POWER TRAIN:22; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:18; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:17; SUSPENSION:15

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
19V64500006/09/2019SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUMGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
16V65100008/09/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, 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 16007.
17V43700010/07/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, 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 17287.
16V25600028/04/2016SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARMGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
PE18012closedBrake Vacuum Pump FailureSERVICE BRAKES2018-11-202022-04-1019V645000On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extendi

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202414legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2016 Cadillac Escalade vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2016/cadillac/escalade
@misc{wrenchpro_2016_cadillac_escalade_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2016 Cadillac Escalade},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2016/cadillac/escalade}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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