Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Cadillac Escalade - part 1

I was driving and the highway speed was about 55 mph and suddenly the car shut off and I was in a very dangerous spot.

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Following a recent oil change, I started the vehicle back up to drive approximately an hour to another city and the engine was making a horrible “knocking” sound. Took the vehicle back to the dealership and it was confirmed catastrophic engine failure which fell under gm’s known 6. 2l engine issues. My safety and my children’s safety were put at risk because had I not drove directly to the dealership instead of getting on the highway as planned, the vehicle could have died at highway speeds posing a serious safety risk. No warning signs, no engine light, nothing prior to the failure.

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My vehicle, a 2022 Cadillac Escalade with a 6. 2l l87 engine, had the l87 recall completed withing the past year. The remedy was that it passed the inspection and engine oil was replaced with 10w-40 weight oil. Just yesterday 6/25/26, my engine quit working while driving on interstate 265 in louisville, ky. Luckily, I was able to coast to the side of the highway where I stopped and was unable to restart the vehicle. After subsequent towing to the local Cadillac dealership, today 6/26/26, I was contacted by the service department that stated my engine needed to be replaced and would be covered under the l87 recall and under warranty.

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Driving on [xxx] in missouri, on the way to kentucky for business. Outside of st. Robert, motor started knocking and losing power. Ac quit, knocking got worse the power loss continued. I limped it to the top of the hill with hazards on, pulled off the interstate on a large shoulder, not safe. Could not stand in the ditch due to all the ticks, stood in front of the car then it started raining. Oncoming traffic started getting very close due to low visibility/heavy rain. Tow truck arrived in 2 hours. Towed to thompson Cadillac in springfield, cost me extra since it was beyond 100 miles. Diagnosed as engine failure, will be 3 months in the shop, and I get a Buick subcompact as my rental, all they would approve. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2024 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact heard a ticking noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was dignoased that the engine needed to replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

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This vehicle is equipped with the 6. 2 v8 engine we have experienced catastrophic engine failure twice. The vehicle is relatively low mileage.

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We were driving on an interstate in indiana and the car jerked and then automatically went into neutral. We couldn’t accelerate or put the car back into drive. We had to get over 2 lanes and onto the shoulder. We were able to put the car in park once on the shoulder but the car would not turn on or off. We couldn’t do anything. All electronics were still running but the engine was not running. The emergency break went on as well. The car sat on the side of the road for 3 hours with the electronics going while waiting for a tow which then wore out the battery. Because the car switched on the emergency break, the towing company had a difficult time getting it up on the tow truck. There were no warning lights going off. We were going 75mph on a highway with my children in the car! scariest thing ever. I can only imagine what could have happened. We were so lucky to not be hit on the highway trying to change lanes and not being able to accelerate. Then we had to sit on the side of a highway for 3 hours in 95 degree weather and we were 2. 5 hours from home! after 3 hours, a tow truck finally showed up. My family had to take a taxi to the nearest dealership because the tow truck would not take us. After 4 days, the dealership finally ran the diagnostic test and said the engine had seized up and we need a new engine which is on backorder. That dealership is 2. 5 hours from home, so we then had to pay for another tow truck to get my vehicle back up to home so the local dealership could work on it. It has been one week since this incident happened and we have no idea how long the repairs will take but it’s my understanding that they are just replacing the faulty engine with another faulty engine because gm has no fix for this engine failure issue so it will happen again!!!.

I purchased a 2021 Cadillac Escalade esv and shortly thereafter experienced an engine malfunction. The vehicle developed a misfire, rough idle, loss of power, and produced significant blue/white exhaust smoke. The check engine light illuminated and the vehicle began running abnormally. An independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and reported oil-related issues affecting a cylinder and spark plug. The repair facility also observed excessive exhaust smoke during diagnosis. The condition raises concerns about potential engine failure while driving, which could result in loss of power and create a safety hazard in traffic. The vehicle is currently undergoing diagnostic testing, including a leak-down test, to determine the cause of the failure. The problem has been confirmed by a repair facility and occurred shortly after purchase.

The afm lifters on 1,7,4,6 cylinders go out with no warning causing shuttering and misfires. Scary! this is the second Escalade with the problem and the 2019 engine has occurred twice in 6 months. I have inserted a lockout device to prevent the vehicle from going into 4 cylinder mode since the last episode (6 months ago) and it still failed another afm lifter. Gm said they will fix the 3rd one under warranty but no guarantees it won't fail again. Who knows where I might be? I am without a vehicle for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Gm will not remove the system and replace the cam and lifters (even if I purchase the parts). Poor service also.

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Driving on the freeway at 70mph, vehicle lost power and slowed down with no warning. Gas pedal unresponsive. Received message on screen to start vehicle. Was able to swerve to shoulder lane out of oncoming traffic's way just in time for it to come to a full stop and never start again. When attempted to start vehicle again, it was completely unresponsive. Had to call for police escort since car was in near path of oncoming traffic. Tow truck had to haul to dealership location near home (100+ miles away). Currently still receiving alerts from onstar that all vehicle functions are clear and ok with no issues "green checkmark" on all components. No recalls or service issues in the vehicle for 22k miles until failure.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2025 Cadillac Escalade, which experienced a catastrophic engine failure while being driven on a public roadway with approximately 13,000 miles on the vehicle. While traveling from [xxx] to [xxx] , the vehicle suddenly lost power while in motion. A warning message appeared stating “press to start again. ” the engine shut off completely while driving, causing an immediate loss of propulsion. The vehicle went into neutral, and I was forced to maneuver to the side of the road to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Once stopped, the vehicle would not restart. Multiple attempts were made using both the push-button ignition and key fob remote start, but the vehicle remained inoperable. The vehicle was towed and later diagnosed as requiring a complete engine replacement despite being less than one year old. I believe this is a serious safety defect because the vehicle lost power without warning while being driven. Had this occurred in heavier traffic, while crossing an intersection, merging, or traveling at higher speeds, it could have resulted in a serious accident, injury, or death. This was not the first major issue with this vehicle. Within weeks of taking delivery, multiple components required repair or replacement, including: • complete replacement of the camera system due to defective cameras • replacement of a defective lighting component • transmission failure concerns • cylinder #2 misfire issues the repeated failures of major vehicle systems, culminating in a complete engine failure and loss of propulsion while driving, raise serious concerns about the safety and reliability of this vehicle. Additionally, after the engine failure, the vehicle could not be placed into neutral and had to be dragged onto a tow truck, causing damage to the tires and raising concerns about emergency roadside recovery procedures. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Just got the call from the dealership bayway Cadillac of the woodlands that the l87 v-8 engine recall failed inspection and the engine will need to be replaced.

Engine failure while driving on highway at 70 mpg.

On xxx, I was driving my 2025 Cadillac Escalade (6. 2l engine) on [xxx] , at 55 mph in a construction zone. The right lane had a cement barrier one foot from the yellow line, eliminating any shoulder, and the left side had only a narrow berm before the median. Without any prior warning, I heard a loud “pop” and felt a jolt. Immediately, the check engine light illuminated, the vehicle went silent, and it began to coast. A message appeared instructing me to press “start” to start the vehicle. The battery remained operational, but the engine was unresponsive. I had not struck any object. I activated my hazard lights and, because I could not pull to the right due to the barrier, I coasted across lanes into the median. I could not exit the vehicle to safety due to location of the vehicle and the construction on both the north and southbound lanes of the highway as well as concrete barriers. The vehicle would not restart and could not be shifted into neutral, requiring specialized towing. Police responded and positioned a patrol car behind me due to the dangerous location. I could not safely exit the vehicle. The tow truck had to block the left lane to remove the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to medina auto mall. The service technician advised this is “more likely than not” the same 6. 2l engine failure subject to recall in 2021–2024 gm vehicles. However, the vehicle cannot be diagnosed for 3–4 weeks due to backlog. If confirmed, an engine replacement may take several months. The vehicle has approximately 11,500 miles, has run perfectly with no prior issues, and was properly maintained, including an oil change performed by the selling dealer, vandevere Cadillac (akron, ohio). This sudden loss of propulsion on a highway in a construction zone created a serious safety risk, including the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision resulting in injuries to myself and other drivers. It was a frightening situation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My 2025 Cadillac Escalade esv lost power and shut down while I was driving on the highway. The gas pedal stopped responding, and the vehicle would not restart afterward. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion while driving in traffic. The vehicle is less than one year old and is already going to be on its third engine. The original engine was already replaced once before. The previous replacement engine was a brand-new gm engine with 0 miles, but it failed after only about 20,000 miles. Pepe Cadillac confirmed that this is the second replacement engine, which means the third engine counting the original engine. The dealer also confirmed that the engine locked up due to internal bearing material failure and needs to be replaced again. The repair order number is 140134. I am concerned this is a serious safety-related engine defect. A brand-new gm replacement engine should not lock up after only about 22,000 miles, especially while driving on the highway. I am also concerned that simply replacing the engine again may not fully address the safety and reliability issue with this vehicle. Cadillac customer care case number: 100539041.

The car engine stopped on the highway while driving. Wouldn’t turn back on all of my four children were on the car.

As a loyal gm customer who has purchased three Cadillac Escalades and had them exclusively serviced at Cadillac dealerships, , I am writing regarding my 2023 Escalade, equipped with the 6. 2l v8 (l87) engine, affected by the recall (n252494000) impacting approximately 597,630 vehicles . I recently took my vehicle to a Cadillac dealership for the recall inspection, where it passed, received a switch to o@-40 mobil 1 supercar oil, and was granted an extended warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles from the purchase date. Despite this , I am deeply troubled by gm's handling of the recall, which has caused significant unease, undermined my trust, failed to honor my loyalty, and imposed unfair burdens. I respectfully request clarification and action on the following issues: inadequate recall remedy and impact on gas mileage - the remedy for vehicles that pass inspection- switching from 0w-20 to higher-viscosity 0w40 oil- raises serious doubts about its effectiveness in addressing a manufacturing defect in the crankshaft and/or connecting rods, which gm acknowledges can lead to engine failure and increase crash risk. Many owners, including myself, question whether thicker oil is a permanent solution or a temporary workaround. Additionally, the switch to 0w-40 is likely to reduce fuel efficiency due to increased engine drag, imposing an unaddressed cost in deduced gas mileage. This is especially concerning for me, as I rely on my Escalade for annual drives from [xxx] to [xxx] for the winter months. Can gm provide technical evidence proving the oil change fully resolves the defect, and will the company compensate owners for the loss in fuel economy? inconsistent communications regarding the extended warranty - the dealership assured my vehicle is "fine" after passing the inspection, yet gm is providing an extended warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles. This contradiction - claiming the engine is defect-free while extending warranty coverage - suggests gm anticipat information redacted pursuant to the freedom of in.

In August 2025 I purchased a brand new 2025 Cadillac Escalade esv sport platinum. Purchase price $155,000. I maintained the car to the highest level possible since taking ownership. The total miles put on the car between August 2025 and may 2026 was 6,142. On may 14, 2026 at approx. 8am est I was driving the car southbound on alternate aia (going from my house to my office). As the car was approaching the intersection of alternate aia and hood road the engine stopped running and turned off. The car rolled to a stop and the dashboard displayed a message of "please push the start button". The electronics of the car were fully functional, the dashboard was on and I was able to roll the windows up and down, however when I would hit the start button on the car the engine would not turn on. The car could not be placed in neutral because the engine would not turn on, so the car was immobile in the middle of alternate aia (a 6 lane road) during peak morning rush hour. I was forced to call roadside service and have the car towed to Cadillac of west palm beach, the same dealership that I purchased the car from 9 months earlier. I got myself down to the Cadillac dealership at the same time as the car got there on the morning of 5/14/26. I checked the car in with the service department and explained the issue to them. I specifically asked if this is a known engine issue with Cadillac Escalades, and they told me they have never seen this happen, ever (from my googling it appears this is infact a known issue, I think there is currently an ongoing NHTSA investigation into catastrophic engine failures affecting certain Cadillacs. The probe targets gm's l87 6. 2-liter v8 engine, which can suddenly seize or lose propulsion due to manufacturing defects in the connecting rods and crankshafts). They said they would have a service tech look at the car for me a week later I was told the engine was dead and the car needed a full engine replacement.

I was driving at highway speeds when my vehicle suddenly lost power and began rapidly decelerating. The vehicle eventually stalled in the middle of the roadway, creating a serious safety hazard for me and other drivers and significantly increasing the risk of a crash. This vehicle had previously undergone the gm safety recall inspection under recall n252494000 for the l87 6. 2l engine loss of propulsion defect. The recall inspection and remedy failed to identify the underlying engine defect, and the engine still catastrophically failed only months later. After the recall was completed, the vehicle was maintained according to gm’s updated recall instructions, including use of the required 0w-40 engine oil. Despite compliance with the recall remedy and maintenance requirements, the engine still failed during normal highway operation. The recall specifically acknowledged potential manufacturing defects involving the connecting rod and/or crankshaft components that could lead to engine failure and loss of propulsion. That is exactly what occurred in this incident. I believe the recall inspection procedure was inadequate and failed to detect defective engines that remain unsafe and subject to catastrophic failure even after being marked as “recall completed. ”.

Engine failure shortly after recall remedy performed by dealer. Recall 25v-274 / n252494000. Sudden loss of propulsion while driving at highway speeds with no warning. Engine stalls and will not restart. Vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral without engine running making it impossible to get vehicle to safety and out of traffic. Dealer confirmed that engine seized as part of recall and will need to be replaced, despite having recall oil change remedy performed. Cadillac case file #98347975.

Complete engine failure. Car stalled out at highway speeds and nearly caused collision. Would not turn over to be moved off freeway.

My vehicle doesn’t even have 66k miles on it and the lifters have gone bad. The check engine came on and the vehicle has stopped working.

Vehicle died and will not start. Call on star for tow truck 8 hrs no tow truck ! vehicle is super dangerous and unreliable. It’s going to get somebody killed.

Motor damaged. Needs new motor. Crank shaft, seals, bottom end all damaged.

Engine seized up.

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade esv. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several dealers were previously contacted for recall inspection appointments, and the contact was informed that the manufacturer had denied the request to perform the service. A dealer was recently contacted and agreed to schedule the recall repair appointment. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would remain with the dealer in the event that the vehicle failed the inspection, and the vehicle would be repaired in 3-4 months because the part was on backorder. The contact was informed that vehicle rental assistance might not be provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

On Sunday April 19th at approximately 12:00pm. I was driving on NJ’s garden state parkway when the car had catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds. I lost full power, including power steering, and brakes. This SUV could have killed my family and I if I was unable to use brute force to control it into the right lane. While I understand that any vehicle can experience warranty-related issues, a catastrophic engine failure at highway speeds is not a typical or acceptable occurrence. The severity of this incident has significantly impacted my confidence in both the vehicle and the brand. I am particularly concerned about the safety implications associated with the l87 6. 2l v8 engine, which has been widely reported as affecting a substantial number of vehicles. Given what occurred, I no longer feel safe operating this Escalade. My wife is unwilling to drive it, and I am not comfortable having my child in the vehicle under any circumstances.

Subj: vehicle safety complaint – 2023 Cadillac Escalade sudden loss of power I am reporting a safety issue involving a 2023 Cadillac Escalade esv (VIN: [xxx] ). On April 19, 2026 (late evening into early April 20), while traveling approximately 70 mph on [xxx] , the vehicle suddenly and completely lost engine power without warning. This created an immediate safety hazard, nearly resulting in a collision. I was able to exit the highway, but the vehicle lost all acceleration and became disabled in the middle of a dark off-ramp with oncoming traffic approaching from behind. Onstar was contacted and virginia state police responded due to the unsafe location. A trooper remained on scene with emergency lights to redirect traffic and prevent a collision. Due to the hazardous conditions, the trooper arranged an emergency tow. I incurred $389. 61 in out-of-pocket towing costs. The vehicle was taken to a tow yard, and my aaa premier coverage then towed it 189 miles to miller brothers Cadillac in ellicott city, MD. The dealership diagnosed catastrophic engine failure requiring full engine replacement at approximately 53,000 miles. There were no meaningful warning indicators prior to the sudden loss of power. This vehicle was purchased from sons Chevrolet / Cadillac in columbus, GA in December 2025 as a certified pre-owned Cadillac and had already required multiple repairs shortly after purchase. The vehicle is currently at miller brothers Cadillac awaiting complete engine replacement and is available for inspection. This sudden loss of power at highway speed presents a serious safety risk and could have resulted in a severe accident or loss of life. Given the absence of warning and catastrophic failure at relatively low mileage, I am concerned this may indicate a broader safety defect rather than an isolated incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My family and I were returning from a trip, and the engine just died in the middle of the street at 2 am. No noises from engine or anything, but it just stopped out of the blue.

On 4/17/2026 in tomball texas I experienced a sudden loss of engine propulsion while driving on a 4 lane road. The battery had voltage, hazard lights and radio worked normally. The car rolled to a stop in a traffic lane as this road has no shoulder and was put into park. The push button ignition was pressed but no restart of engine. The car was towed to the dealer that same day and told me the engine was "seized" and they have seen many of the same engines with the same problem. This car is not under the current recall for the l87 but those a few months to years from the recall lot have a current NHTSA investigation ongoing.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding repeated engine and drivability issues with my vehicle, which began shortly after purchase and have continued despite service visits. I purchased the vehicle on 03/04/2023. Within approximately one month (03/26/2023), I began experiencing abnormal engine behavior, including ticking noises and instances where the vehicle would shut off and require restarting. I immediately brought the vehicle to the dealership. At that time, the issue was not properly diagnosed and I was told after a test drive that the noise was “normal. On 12/18/2025, I was later notified of an engine recall involving the same type of engine problem I had been reporting since 2023. I brought the vehicle in 12/19/2026 and the engine failed 3 times. I was informed that an engine replacement was necessary, and the vehicle was left at the dealership. It was ready for pickup on 01/14/2026 after the engine replacement was completed. On 04/15/2026, the vehicle began making knocking noises and would not shift into drive or reverse. I had to turn the vehicle off and restart it in order to regain drivability. On 04/16/2026, while driving, the vehicle began making a loud revving noise without accelerating and started to slow down and lose power. I was forced to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle would not respond properly until I turned it off and restarted it again in order to continue driving. These ongoing issues present a serious safety concern due to repeated loss of power and drivability while operating the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 69 mph with the cruise control set, the vehicle started driving sluggishly and failed to maintain the set speed. The vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 62 mph. The ‘high oil temperature” warning light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly to 55 mph. The vehicle then lost automotive power, stalled, and shut off unexpectedly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with complete engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,400.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - the engine seized up. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? engine shut off on its own will. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes gm has confirmed the engine needs to be replaced under the 6. 2l engine claim. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? gm has inspected the vehicle. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no warning at all on the vehicle.

I purchased used in Jan 2026 when starting the lifters were loud and I thought was normal engine operation. Since 2/17/2026 the engine vibrated or ran rough when idling. The auto/stop start feature failed randomly as the engine stalled when trying to start. The car passed the recall for the 6. 2 gm l85 engine issue, but is still having issues. The dealership val ward ft myers has the car now, and is replacing the lifters. My concern is that the lower engine issue was not properly diagnosed.

While driving approximately 55 miles per hour vehicle started making loud knocking noise then vehicle shifted to neutral. Vehicle was towed to dealership. Waiting for inspection to confirm engine failure. Vehicle has 32,000 miles.