2025 Cadillac Escalade
Gas Midsize / large SUV
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escalade 2WD, is EPA-rated at 17 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 37 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade 2WD | Gas | RWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 15 | 19 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Escalade 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 18 | 16 | $4,850 |
| Escalade V AWD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 11 | 17 | 13 | $5,950 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (1)
Wheels
highProblem: General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2025–2026 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban 1500, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 24-inch wheels. Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time.
Risk: A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front left and right wheel hub bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262554630. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 14, 2026.
NHTSA 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 o
Opened Aug 20, 2026 · action EA26005
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 L8
Opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25001
Owner complaints
37 complaints filed
0 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2025: 7 · 2026: 30
Most-cited components
- Engine — 21
- Electrical System — 10
- Power Train — 6
- Unknown Or Other — 4
- Service Brakes — 2
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
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 21% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 21% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Other Escalade model years
2026 Escalade
4 recalls · 41 complaints
B2024 Escalade
2 recalls · 68 complaints
C2023 Escalade
4 recalls · 218 complaints
C2022 Escalade
4 recalls · 134 complaints
F2021 Escalade
12 recalls · 155 complaints
C2020 Escalade
2 recalls · 35 complaints
A2019 Escalade
1 recalls · 57 complaints
B2018 Escalade
2 recalls · 36 complaints
B2017 Escalade
2 recalls · 88 complaints
D2016 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 (ids 48620, 48629, 48556). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.