⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Cadillac›Escalade› 2026
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Cadillac · Large SUV

2026 Cadillac Escalade

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
65 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 4
Complaints1 crash reported 54
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 17 mpg
Starting MSRP11 trims · manufacturer $93,995
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escalade 2WD, is EPA-rated at 17 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 54 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $93,995 to $170,895 across 11 trims.

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

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueMPG combSeatsCargo (2nd row)Wheels
1SAGasRWD$93,995420 hp460 lb-ft17 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
LUXURYGasRWD$104,995420 hp460 lb-ft17 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
SPORTGasRWD$105,595420 hp460 lb-ft17 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
PLATINUM LUXURYGasRWD$122,795420 hp460 lb-ft17 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
PLATINUM SPORTGasRWD$123,295420 hp460 lb-ft17 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
1SAGas4WD$96,995420 hp460 lb-ft16 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
LUXURYGas4WD$107,995420 hp460 lb-ft16 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
SPORTGas4WD$108,595420 hp460 lb-ft16 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
PLATINUM LUXURYGas4WD$125,795420 hp460 lb-ft16 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
PLATINUM SPORTGas4WD$126,295420 hp460 lb-ft16 mpg772.9 cu-ft22 in
V-SERIESGasAWD$170,895682 hp653 lb-ft13 mpg772.9 cu-ft24 in
Warranty basic 4 yr / 50,000 mi · powertrain 6 yr / 70,000 mi · roadside 6 yr

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
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Escalade 2WDGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl151917$4,850
Escalade 4WDGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl141816$5,150
Escalade V AWDGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl111713$6,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 50138, 49899, 49898.

Also on file Beside the 2026 Escalade
Ranking Safest large SUVs Report card The 2026 year, graded Other years The 2027 Escalade Lineup The 2026 lineup
Advertisement

The cheapest ownership win

Insurers price the 2026 Escalade very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.

How to compare cover →

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
!critical

Electrical System

N262562600
11 vehicles 9% reported repaired built May 8, 2026 – May 12, 2026
Problem General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, GMC Sierra EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup vehicles. The high voltage battery may have an improperly secured internal module component. Risk A loose component may move and damage the high voltage battery, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262562600. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 30, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V494000 reported Jul 30, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Wheels

N262554630
2,457 vehicles 64% reported repaired built Sep 11, 2025 – Apr 21, 2026
Problem 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V304000 reported May 14, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Power Train

N262557620
Do not drive 66 vehicles 64% reported repaired built Sep 13, 2025 – Mar 24, 2026
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver. Risk Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash. Fix Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 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 N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V289000 reported May 7, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

N252540430
5,861 vehicles 74% reported repaired built Jun 24, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026
Problem General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the req Risk Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26,
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V114000 reported Feb 26, 2026 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 →

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 2026 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 2026 Cadillac Escalade, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Escalade →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
54complaints filed

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

20 per 10,000 built · Cadillac reported 26,977 Escalade built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2026: 54

Most-cited components

Engine 48
Electrical System 9
Fuel/Propulsion System 6
Power Train 5
Unspecified 4
Visibility/Wiper 2

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.

On Friday, XXX, my 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV (VIN: ), with approximately 10,000 miles, experienced a sudden and complete engine failure while I was driving on a busy highway exit ramp. My wife, daughter, and dog were in the vehicle. The engine died without warning, resulting in total loss of power.
Engine Oct 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11770943
At 9,000 miles the engine on my 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV started knocking and the dealership replaced it. They did not provide a loaner or a rental vehicle for the time the vehicle was at the shop. After the replacement, the new engine sounds the same and will probably needs replacing as well.
Electrical System Aug 28, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11760228
An over-the-air software update installed on my 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ on September 11, 2026 removed the side-view camera display that previously appeared on the center infotainment screen whenever the turn signal was activated.
Visibility/Wiper Sep 12, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11763804
The Cadillac Escalade IQL has a blind spot on the passenger side of the vehicle that is the worse I’ve ever experienced. The side mirror is set to view the vehicle on the side but even at the optimal safety settings I can’t see a car to my right unless I can see them out my passenger window or the turn signal camera is on
Lane Departure Aug 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11754405
On february 16, 2026, around 4:30 p.m. We were driving our new Cadillac Escalade sport v-series with only 900 miles on the odometer at around 50 miles per hour on highway t in franklin county to our home from the dog groomer with our 2 large breed newfoundland dogs who weigh 130 pounds each named and squiggy who were laying down in the…
Service Brakes Feb 20, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11719336
Vehicle Issues / Defects 1. Damaged Passenger Entertainment Screen at Delivery The passenger-side entertainment screen was damaged when the truck was delivered. The damage was present from the time the vehicle was received and was not caused by the owner. 2.
Engine Sep 22, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766248

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: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 3 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 3.7 per 100,000 built. Every Escalade model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover 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.

Driver-assist crash reports (1)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
1report filed

1 severity unknown

Jun 2026 to Jun 2026 · 1 with an air bag deployment · 0 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Super Cruise 2.0 (1)

Crash partner: Unknown 1

Filed by: General Motors, LLC

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Jun 2026Level 2 · Super Cruise 2.0UnknownunknownDE46 mph540-15332

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 June [redacted], 2026, a 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV was travelling northbound on [redacted] in New Castle, Delaware, with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data indicates there was a frontal impact, left impact, and rollover that deployed the airbags and front seat belt pretensioners. The driver was not wearing their seat belt at the time of crash.
General Motors, LLC report 540-15332 Jun 2026 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
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 884
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-19
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 785 service bulletins, 60 over-the-air updates, 33 service campaigns

Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Fuel/Propulsion System, Service Brakes, Steering.

  • PIT6558 Service bulletin
    2026-10-19 · Unknown Or Other
  • Squeaking or creaking noise from the rear upper front control arm bushing, over bumps or when turning.
  • 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
  • PIT6554 Service bulletin
    2026-10-02 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information is to help technicians decide if the DTC needs to be diagnosed if relating to the concern and if it is not, the DTC can be ignored.
  • 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.
  • PIT6551A Service bulletin
    2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates an issue with of a service theft message after using the rear window defogger. Engineering is currently investigating.
  • PIC6540K Service bulletin
    2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio.
  • PIT6368E Service bulletin
    2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the virtual garage door opener not programming to a garage opener. Engineering is working on a new module.

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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
U3000
U3000 on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other12 bulletins
C055F
C055F on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other10 bulletins
P062B
P062B on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other8 bulletins
U0140
U0140 on Cadillac →		A module has stopped hearing from the body control module.Unknown Or Other8 bulletins
U023BManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other8 bulletins
U053C
U053C on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other8 bulletins
U1624
U1624 on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other8 bulletins
P16F4Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other7 bulletins
B1B5F
B1B5F on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other6 bulletins
B1B60
B1B60 on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other6 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other6 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Cadillac →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other6 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.

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.

Escalade by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 17 mpg2026 this page D 4 54 Do not drive2025 A 1 39 17 mpg2024 B 2 74 23 mpg2023 C 4 234 23 mpg2022 C 4 142 23 mpg2021 F 12 169 23 mpg2020 B 2 36 17 mpg2019 A 1 59 17 mpg2018 B 2 36 17 mpg2017 B 2 89 17 mpg2016 D 4 104 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2026 Escalade

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2026 Cadillac Escalade cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $93,995 for the 1SA RWD to $170,895 for the V-SERIES AWD, across 11 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2026 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V494000, covering Electrical System. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 Cadillac Escalade?

NHTSA gave the 2026 Cadillac Escalade 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (65/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade, the best EPA combined figure is 17 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Cadillac Escalade?

Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Cadillac Escalade, most often about engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade?

The manufacturer has filed 884 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Cadillac Escalade, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. The most recent is dated 2026-10-19. 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.

Which 2026 Cadillac Escalade trim is the best value?

$76,900 separates the cheapest of the 11 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificatesnoneEPA emission certificatesThe EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints54NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins884NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports1NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes 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 NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment11 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Ranking Safest 2026 large SUVs Every large SUV of this model year by NHTSA recall record, best first.Report card Every 2026 vehicle graded D The 2026 model year graded A–F; this one sits in the D group.Other years The 2027 Escalade The Escalade model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recall Watch Watch this Escalade by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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