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2023 Cadillac Escalade

Gas Diesel

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4

Complaints6 crash · 2 injured reported 234

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escalade 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 234 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Cadillac Escalade — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Cadillac Escalade · Photo: BuickCentury04 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitCompare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
Luxury	Gas	2WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Luxury	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Premium Luxury	Gas	2WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Premium Luxury	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Premium Luxury Platinum	Gas	2WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Premium Luxury Platinum	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Sport	Gas	2WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Sport	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Sport Platinum	Gas	2WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in
Sport Platinum	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	72.9 cu-ft	22 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Escalade 2WD	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	14	19	16	$5,150
Escalade 4WD	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	14	18	16	$5,150
Escalade V 4WD	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	11	16	13	$6,300
Escalade 2WD	Diesel	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	21	27	23	$4,150
Escalade 4WD	Diesel	4WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	26	22	$4,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45620, 45633, 45581, 45563, 45580.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Escalade 2WD, Escalade 4WD	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III ULEV50	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Escalade 2WD, Escalade 4WD, Escalade V 4WD	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

N252494000

597,571 vehicles 88% reported repaired

Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. Risk Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V274000 reported Apr 24, 2025 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N242447990

449,671 vehicles 91% reported repaired

Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." Risk Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash. Fix The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V674000 reported Sep 12, 2024 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Suspension

N232415910

189 vehicles 94% reported repaired

Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break. Risk A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232415910.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V642000 reported Sep 20, 2023 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Exterior Lighting

N222386380

740,108 vehicles 98% reported repaired

Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Risk DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V903000 reported Dec 8, 2022 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy open

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or a

Opened Aug 20, 2026 · action EA26005 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy closed

Opened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026 · action RQ26001 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001). GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supplie

Opened Oct 23, 2025 · action EA25007 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure closed

On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L87 en

Opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25001 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Escalade

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Cadillac publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Cadillac’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

234complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

43 per 10,000 built · Cadillac reported 54,819 Escalade built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 4 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 115 · 2026: 93

Most-cited components

Engine → 193

Power Train 41

Electrical System 26

Fuel/Propulsion System 25

Unspecified 16

Forward Collision Avoidance 12

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Vehicle: 2023 Cadillac Escalade Mileage at Incident: Approx. 43,000 Date of Incident: April 1, 2025 I had my 2023 Cadillac Escalade serviced at the dealership to replace two tires and perform an oil change.

Engine Apr 23, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11656317

My was sleeping in the parked car. My wife was also in the car with her. Engine and AC were on. The key was inside. Doors and trunk were unlocked. I got outside the car and got my older kid. The doors opened as usual.

Electrical System Apr 8, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11653485

Vehicle: 2023 Cadillac Escalade purchased in Oct 2022. At the time of new vehicle delivery the Dealer in Atlanta Peachtree Blvd, informs the Reverse Camera is not working completely - Has issues - 1.) Missing Gridlines 2.) Blue Hour Glass reducing the visibility while reversing the vehicle.

Back Over Prevention May 15, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11522093

UNKNOWN. The car decelerated on the freeway from 80 mph by automatically going into N. Once we managed to pull over to the shoulder, the car would not turn on again or shift gears. The dealership thinks it's an engine failure and they have multiple escalades in the shop for the same issue

Power Train Dec 4, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11628745

The tires that were delivered on my new auto were deflective and dangerous as reported by the dealer on 10/1/24. The tires were wearing abnormally. One of the tires was worn so badly that I was warned that it could have blown at any moment. The tires had less than 16,000 miles. The car was maintained at the dealer every 5,000 miles.

Wheels Nov 11, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11624591

Was at red light my light turned green proceed threw the light, another vechile ran the red light hitting my car at 50 mph. Sending the car into a 360 air bags did not deploy and on star never called

Air Bags Mar 11, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11576528

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.

Reported by Cadillac itself: 20 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 22 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 36 per 100,000 built. Every Escalade model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 30k

miles, typically

Half the 25 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 17,000 and 45,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 25 on file: 4 under 10k, 6 10k–20k, 1 20k–30k, 4 30k–40k, 5 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 4 60k–70k.

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	24	30,000	0.9×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2023-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	—
SUV 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	—
SUV 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	—
SUV 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	—

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Driver-assist crash reports (3)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01

3reports filed

1 no injury reported · 2 severity unknown

Apr 2024 to Sep 2025 · 3 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Level 2 (2), level 2 (1)

Crash partner: Other 2 · Pole / Tree 1

Filed by: General Motors, LLC

Incident	System	Struck	Injury alleged	State	Speed	Report
Sep 2025	Level 2 · level 2	Other	unknown	MS	33 mph	540-11705
Jan 2025	Level 2 · Level 2	Pole / Tree	unknown	IN	68 mph	540-9753
Apr 2024	Level 2 · Level 2	Other	no injury reported	OH	—	540-7579

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

On April [redacted], 2024, a 2023 Escalade was traveling northeast on [redacted] in Cleveland, Ohio with Super Cruise engaged. According to the OnStar call, the driver claims the vehicle was engaged in Super Cruise mode and disengaged suddenly, causing the vehicle to veer to the left, hitting a cement barrier.

General Motors, LLC report 540-7579 Apr 2024 NHTSA SGO filing

On January [redacted], 2025, a 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV was travelling east on [redacted], in New Carlisle, Indiana with Super Cruise engaged and active. According to the OnStar recording, the the vehicle left the road to the right and impacted a pole. Crash data indicates a frontal impact that deployed airbags and front seatbelt pretensioners.

General Motors, LLC report 540-9753 Jan 2025 NHTSA SGO filing

On September [redacted], 2025, a Cadillac Escalade ESV was traveling westbound on [redacted] in Liberty, Mississippi, with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data indicated a rollover impact occurred that deployed the airbags and front seat belt pretensioners. The driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

General Motors, LLC report 540-11705 Sep 2025 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N252494003-02Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and…
10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N252494003-01Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and…
10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N252494003Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · GM warranty extension 22-NA-244This warranty administration service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,709

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-07

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1657 service bulletins, 39 service campaigns, 9 over-the-air updates

Most often about: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Equipment, Power Train.

PIT6110L Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is currently investigating.
PIT6477D Service bulletin
2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary PI was created to advise techniians in the field that they will not be able to perform a GDS automated bleed with the scan tool dues to a issue with the software in the scan tool
PIT6457C Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform any part replacements. They should follow the notes mentioned prior to anything being replaced.
PIC6540K Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio.
PIT5698F Service bulletin
2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
PIT5801F Service bulletin
2026-09-10 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information communicates diagnostic tips for air leveling suspension system.
PIP4902W Service bulletin
2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
PIT6516C Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates ordering process for the night vision camera that are on restriction for all listed vehicles for Technical Assistance review.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P062B P062B on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	25 bulletins
U3000 U3000 on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	14 bulletins
C1197 C1197 on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Suspension · Struts and shocks →	13 bulletins
C1114 C1114 on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	12 bulletins
P0606 P0606 on Cadillac →	An internal processor fault in the engine control module.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	11 bulletins
P023F P023F on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	10 bulletins
P129F P129F on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	10 bulletins
P2714 P2714 on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	9 bulletins
C055F C055F on Cadillac →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	8 bulletins
P0016 P0016 on Cadillac →	The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.	Unknown Or Other	8 bulletins
P0562	System voltage is below the operating range.	Service Brakes · Alternator →	8 bulletins
B2BA1	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 4.8%

failed emissions

1,927 initial inspections of 1,864 vehicles.

Measure	The 2023 Escalade	Every 2023 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	4.8%	1.6%	1,922
Failed the safety inspection	0.67%	1.1%	1,927
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.21%	0.16%	1,927
Miles driven a year	11,788	10,038	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	37,959	32,673	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Escalade by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 17 mpg 2026 D 4 54 Do not drive 2025 A 1 39 17 mpg 2024 B 2 74 23 mpg 2023 this page C 4 234 23 mpg 2022 C 4 142 23 mpg 2021 F 12 169 23 mpg 2020 B 2 36 17 mpg 2019 A 1 59 17 mpg 2018 B 2 36 17 mpg 2017 B 2 89 17 mpg 2016 D 4 104 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2023 Escalade

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The most serious on file is 25V274000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Cadillac Escalade 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?

Owners have filed 234 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade runs 3 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade?

The manufacturer has filed 1709 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, most often covering electrical system, unknown or other, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-07. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Cadillac Escalade do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Cadillac Escalade failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.67% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	5 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	5 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	234	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	1709	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	4	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	3	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	10 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API