Cadillac

Escalade ESV

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 2003 to 2015

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

See all 19 Escalade ESV trims All Cadillac cars

The verdict

Best year: 2006. complaints: 5, below this model's typical 6; recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2008. complaints: 17, about 2.8x this model's typical 6; recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Cadillac Escalade ESV
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2003	1Gas	13	$4,800	1	12	0	no data	AIR BAGS 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE 15%
complaints: 12, about 2x this model's typical 6 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 Score: 47 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	1Gas	13	$4,800	1	22	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, POWER TRAIN 18%, AIR BAGS 14%
complaints: 22, about 3.7x this model's typical 6 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 30 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	1Gas	13	$5,950	1	14	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26%, SERVICE BRAKES 16%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 14, about 2.3x this model's typical 6 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 31 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	1Gas	13	$5,950	1	5	0	no data	AIR BAGS 20%, ENGINE 20%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 20%
complaints: 5, below this model's typical 6 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 79 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	1Gas	14	$5,500	4	17	0	no data	AIR BAGS 63%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%
complaints: 17, about 2.8x this model's typical 6 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 Score: 23 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	1Gas	15	$4,150	5	6	0	no data	AIR BAGS 30%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 30%, ENGINE 20%
complaints: 6, in line with this model's typical 6 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 56 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	1Gas	16	$3,900	3	4	1 (1 open)	1,189	AIR BAGS 67%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 17%, SUSPENSION 17%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 6 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	2Gas	15	$4,175	5	13	1 (1 open)	1,203	AIR BAGS 28%, STRUCTURE 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 13, above this model's typical 11 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	2Gas	15	$4,175	3	3	1 (1 open)	1,273	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 40%, AIR BAGS 20%, ENGINE 20%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 11 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	2Gas	15	$4,175	4	2	1 (1 open)	1,285	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%, ENGINE 33%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 33%
complaints: 2, below this model's typical 11 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	2Gas	15	$4,175	2	0	1 (1 open)	1,096	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 11 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	4Gas	17	$3,650	6	8	1	1,703	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%
complaints: 8, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 NHTSA advised parking the 2015 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 35 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2003: 13 to 2015: 17

Owner complaints2003: 12 to 2015: 8

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Cadillac Escalade ESV 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.