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2018 Cadillac Escalade

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
84 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA36
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA17 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escalade 2WD, is EPA-rated at 17 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 36 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Escalade 2WDGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl142317$4,550
Escalade 4WDGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl142117$4,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39003, 39015.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N202300860
14,620 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.RiskA decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
NHTSA campaign 20V603000reported Oct 1, 2020General Motors LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

18315
15,800 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."RiskIf the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact 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 18315.
NHTSA campaign 18V673000reported Sep 26, 2018General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
36complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 6

Most-cited components

Engine19
Electrical System8
Power Train4
Service Brakes3
Unspecified2
Exterior Lighting2

What owners describe

“We were on our way home from charlotte nc where the suv sat for a week while we were on vacation. Less than an hour of traveling home we smelled something burning so my husband pulled over, turns the suv off, and we looked on the outside at the tires. We didn’t see anything no smoke, no flat tires, so we look back in…”May 5, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, 6.2L V8 L86 engine, under 100,000 miles. Engine seized and was towed to an authorized GM dealership. Teardown confirmed a spun and twisted rod bearing resulting in complete crankshaft seizure, documented by the dealer as non-serviceable per GM, requiring full engine replacement. Com…”May 1, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Traction light and engine light flashing at 95,900 miles took Cadillac ESV to authorized dealer and he advised their was a misfire on cylinder 3 after several attemps to repair now advising he hear a knocking in engine that needs to be replaced.”Feb 2, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆23%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆21%
SUV RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
SUV RWD★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆20%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Escalade model years

F

2026 Cadillac Escalade

4 recalls · 41 complaints

A

2025 Cadillac Escalade

1 recalls · 37 complaints

B

2024 Cadillac Escalade

2 recalls · 68 complaints

C

2023 Cadillac Escalade

4 recalls · 218 complaints

C

2022 Cadillac Escalade

4 recalls · 134 complaints

F

2021 Cadillac Escalade

12 recalls · 155 complaints

C

2020 Cadillac Escalade

2 recalls · 35 complaints

A

2019 Cadillac Escalade

1 recalls · 57 complaints

B

2017 Cadillac Escalade

2 recalls · 88 complaints

D

2016 Cadillac Escalade

4 recalls · 104 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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