2016 Cadillac Escalade Reliability

In-car Electronics

CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

What Owners Say

Apple CarPlay

"at times it just doesn't work and I have to use the phone's speaker"

Anonymous, CA (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Backup or other camera/sensors

"Around view camera was misaligned. Needed to be calibrated"

James H., FL (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

Display screen freezes up

"Screen freezes and must be reset with ignition"

Anonymous, ON (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

"The CUE either freezes where you cannot input any commands into it or it makes changes all by itself with no manual input from anyone."

Anonymous, MS (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

"Everything froze om the screen."

Anonymous, FL (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

"Display screen froze, making all functions, (radio, navigation, backup camera, climate control, etc., inoperable. Screen went back to normal after 2 days, but was replaced by dealer anyway"

C B., OH (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

In-dash navigation system (GPS)

"The GPS receiver in my vehicle failed and had to be replaced. This was done under warranty"

Anonymous, MS (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Voice control commands

"Screen freeze, will rest it self after vehicle ignition is switch off and back on after a few minutes. GPS frequently does not understand what your instructions are."

Anonymous, ON (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

"from time to time it does not recognize voice commands that had previously worked well"

S Z., CT (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

"very confusing to use and nothing in the manual helps"

Anonymous, CA (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Climate System

Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

What Owners Say

A/C compressor

"A knocking sound like valve lifters. After 3 trips to dealer was told that was normal—drove to Florida a entire a/c system went out. Took 3 days to fix"

Anonymous, IN (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

"Apparently there was a known issue they discovered with the escalade and many people had to get their A/C fixed. The A/C suddenly stopped working"

Anonymous, MD (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Condenser

"The condenser failed. This was a design failure known to GM and they provided an extended warranty to cover the cost of the repairs."

Anonymous, MS (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

"Weld failures in the AC condenser unit. GM covered the cost of these failures (not a recall though). Similar weld failures were found in the radiator, requiring a $1500 replacement, but GM did not cover these costs. Generally, this vehicle has had persistent problems throughout our 3 years of ownership. CR recommended this vehicle prior to our purchase. Very disappointed."

Anonymous, MO (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

Refrigerant leaks

"Had to be taken to the shop, and took several days for repairs."

Paul S., TX (2016 Cadillac Escalade 6.2-L V8)

Transmission Minor

Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

What Owners Say

Gear selector or linkage

"The car wouldn't change gears. I needed to drive it under 30 MPH to get home. It was a computer problem that was repaired at the dealer."

Anonymous, NY (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Rough shifting

"Rough down shifting when coming to a stop"

Anonymous, FL (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

"it started at 20,000 miles. It was corrected by dealer installing the latest software"

Anonymous, TX (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Transmission computer

"I was told the rough shifting was caused by the computer"

Anonymous, FL (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.

What Owners Say

Torque converter

"Torque converter shudder returned for a second time on this vehicle. The dealer replaced the transmission fluid with a new type of fluid but the repair cost almost $450."

Anonymous, MS (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

"This engine and transmission combination had many reports of torque convertor issues. The torque converter on my vehicle had to be replaced at 30,000 miles"

Anonymous, MS (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Transmission rebuild or replacement

"Escalade makes rumbling, driving-over-tracks noise at 1100 rpm. A known fault and yet many dealers pretend it's not a thing. Replace transmission fluid and cylinder over and over again and the problem returns. Also, car would have suddenly electrical death In parking lots, on highway wherever. 7 trips tp the dealer, corporate involved and finally it's decided that one lead of the battery has an excessively high resistance. NOT covered under warranty???"

Anonymous, WI (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Brakes

Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

What Owners Say

Premature brake wear

"Reported by the dealer during routine inspection. Front brake pads replaced"

Anonymous, CA (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

Rotors

"Any turn would create squeal which I couldn’t hear but wife and other passengers could hear. Took to dealer they said had a letter out on rotors needed to be replaced. Two days in a loaner"

Anonymous, IN (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Electric System

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

What Owners Say

Cruise control

"The Active Cruise Control turns off randomly on long road trips, it might be inoperable for 2 minutes, or 40. Along with this, the controls on the steering wheel lose power. The best the Cadillac technicians could do was reset the vehicle's electronics."

Colin K., MN (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

"Quit working"

Alvin S., TX (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Fuel System

Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

What Owners Say

Fuel injection system

"The dealer replaced one of the fuel injectors during the fixing of the fuel pump leak"

J O., NC (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

Fuel pump

"The fuel pump developed a crack in the fuel line"

J O., NC (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Engine mounts

"The car has an irregular idle. It has been to the service department 3 times for this complaint including changing the engine mounts. The problem has not been corrected. I do not think the irregular idle is related to the engine mounts"

Anonymous, LA (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

What Owners Say

Electrical failure

"The truck would just randomly go dead while driving. At highway speed, in a parking lot, while turning. First the electrical system would go dark and then ...nothing. Scary as hell and Cadillac service was AWFUL in diagnosing the problem. Drove my truck over 1000 miles trying to replicate because apparently detailed descriptions of the specific circumstances of each failure weren't enough. They never could replicate it, but after 7 visits, they finally concluded that a battery lead had excessive resistance , that when replaced, allowed the whole system to function normally. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY."

Anonymous, WI (2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV 6.2-L V8)

Body Integrity

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

What Owners Say

Seals and/or weather-stripping

"Water leak due to failed seal/gasket with Satellite antenna"

Anonymous, ON (2016 Cadillac Escalade Base 6.2-L V8)

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