VehicleVerdict

Cadillac Escalade years to avoid

The Cadillac Escalade years to avoid are 2007, 2008, 2023, 2002, 2015, 2016, 2003, 2004, 2022, 2000, 2009, 2021, 2024, 2011, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2013 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2001 is the cleanest year on record.

2,244

Total complaints

56

Recall campaigns

1999–2026

Years covered

18

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Cadillac Escalade NHTSA complaints by model year317 complaints1999: 46 complaints2000: 96 complaints2001: 3 complaints2002: 164 complaints2003: 111 complaints2004: 99 complaints2005: 63 complaints2006: 26 complaints2007: 317 complaints2008: 180 complaints2009: 89 complaints2010: 47 complaints2011: 53 complaints2012: 32 complaints2013: 23 complaints2014: 29 complaints2015: 141 complaints2016: 120 complaints2017: 76 complaints2018: 29 complaints2019: 28 complaints2020: 15 complaints2021: 85 complaints2022: 98 complaints2023: 176 complaints2024: 58 complaints2025: 24 complaints2026: 16 complaints
Cadillac Escalade NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Escalade years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2007High complaints + open investigation317
2008High complaints + open investigation180
2023High complaints + open investigation176
2002High complaint rate164
2015High complaint rate141
2016High complaint rate120
2003High complaint rate111
2004High complaint rate99
2022High complaints + open investigation98
2000High complaint rate96
2009Open safety investigation89
2021Open safety investigation85
2024Open safety investigation58
2011Open safety investigation53
2010Open safety investigation47
2012Open safety investigation32
2014Open safety investigation29
2013Open safety investigation23

Every Escalade year

YearComplaintsRecalls
2026163
2025241
2024avoid582
2023avoid1764
2022avoid984
2021avoid859
2020152
2019280
2018291
2017762
2016avoid1204
2015avoid1419
2014avoid292
2013avoid234
2012avoid323
2011avoid536
2010avoid473
2009avoid895
2008avoid1804
2007avoid3174
2006262
2005634
2004avoid994
2003avoid1116
2002avoid1643
200131
2000avoid964
1999465

Common questions

What are the worst Cadillac Escalade years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Escalade years to avoid are 2007, 2008, 2023, 2002, 2015, 2016, 2003, 2004, 2022, 2000, 2009, 2021, 2024, 2011, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2013. The cleanest year on record is 2001.

What is the best year for the Cadillac Escalade?

By complaint volume, 2001 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Escalade years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the Cadillac Escalade have?

Across all model years, the Escalade has 56 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,244 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.