Cadillac

Escalade

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 1999 to 2026

Includes Escalade 2WD, Escalade 4WD, Escalade AWD and 2 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 75 Escalade trims All Cadillac cars

The verdict

Best year: 2019. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 21; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2015. complaints: 102, about 2.4x this model's typical 42; recalls: 9, about 3x this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Cadillac Escalade
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1999	1Gas	13	no data	$4,800	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1999
2000	1Gas	13	no data	$4,800	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2000
2002	2Gas	13	no data	$4,825	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2002
2003	2Gas	13.5	no data	$4,625	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2003
2004	2Gas	13.5	no data	$4,625	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2004
2005	3Gas	14	no data	$5,500	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2005
2006	2Gas	13.5	no data	$5,725	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	2Gas	14	no data	$5,500	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	2Gas	14	no data	$5,500	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	3Gas, Hybrid	15	no data	$4,150	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	3Gas, Hybrid	16	no data	$3,900	3	43	2 (1 open)	1,282	AIR BAGS 45%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, ENGINE 5%
complaints: 43, above this model's typical 32 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 52 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	4Gas, Hybrid	18.5	403	$3,425	6	65	2 (1 open)	1,332	AIR BAGS 57%, STRUCTURE 10%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7%
complaints: 65, about 1.6x this model's typical 42 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 22 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	4Gas, Hybrid	18.5	403	$3,425	3	26	2 (1 open)	1,333	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29%, AIR BAGS 10%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 26, below this model's typical 42 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	4Gas, Hybrid	18.5	403	$3,425	4	17	2 (1 open)	1,394	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, POWER TRAIN 17%, AIR BAGS 13%
complaints: 17, below this model's typical 42 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	2Gas	15.5	425	$4,025	2	19	1 (1 open)	1,213	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28%, AIR BAGS 17%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 19, below this model's typical 21 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	4Gas	17	425	$3,650	9	102	1	1,951	ENGINE 18%, POWER TRAIN 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 102, about 2.4x this model's typical 42 recalls: 9, about 3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 NHTSA advised parking the 2015 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	17	425	$3,650	4	101	1	1,443	ENGINE 21%, POWER TRAIN 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 101, about 4.8x this model's typical 21 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 NHTSA advised parking the 2016 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	17	425	$3,650	2	85	0	1,184	ENGINE 24%, SERVICE BRAKES 16%, POWER TRAIN 15%
complaints: 85, about 4.1x this model's typical 21 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	17	420	$4,550	1	20	0	909	ENGINE 37%, POWER TRAIN 11%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 20, below this model's typical 21 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	17	420	$4,550	0	0	0	621	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 21 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	17	420	$4,550	2	13	0	545	ENGINE 40%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 13%
complaints: 13, below this model's typical 21 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 Score: 79 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Diesel, Gas	16.5	425	$4,675	9	71	4 (2 open)	536	ENGINE 36%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%
complaints: 71, above this model's typical 63 recalls: 9, about 3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 open NHTSA investigations: 2 Score: 18 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	6Diesel, Gas	16	425	$4,800	4	67	3 (2 open)	703	ENGINE 55%, POWER TRAIN 11%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%
complaints: 67, above this model's typical 63 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 open NHTSA investigations: 2 Score: 42 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	4Diesel, Gas	19	351	$4,175	4	117	3 (2 open)	596	ENGINE 52%, POWER TRAIN 8%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 117, about 2.8x this model's typical 42 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 open NHTSA investigations: 2 Score: 5 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	4Diesel, Gas	19	351	$4,175	2	39	3 (2 open)	502	ENGINE 46%, POWER TRAIN 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 39, below this model's typical 42 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 open NHTSA investigations: 2 Score: 57 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	2Gas	16.5	no data	$4,600	1	14	1	369	ENGINE 35%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 14, below this model's typical 21 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 Score: 82 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	2Gas	16.5	no data	$4,600	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2026

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1999: 13 to 2026: 16.5

Owner complaints2010: 43 to 2025: 14

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Cadillac Escalade to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.