Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Cadillac Escalade - part 2

I was driving my new 2026 Cadillac Escalade down the highway when my engine froze up! it was damaged so bad that they replaced the engine. So obviously gm has not fixed this problem. They promised that the issue was fixed or I would have never bought this vehicle.

Catastrophic engine failure while driving with 2,500 miles, leaving me stranded on the highway in the dead of night. Cadillac towed it in for repairs, yet refused to install a new engine, instead swapping out block with a rebuilt one and moving all other components over from the blown engine. As this was a “v” model which is equipped with an 6. 2 lt4 engine, I was told that this would not be subject to the constant failures that plague the 6. 2 l87. So I agreed to purchase the considerably more expensive v at a cost of $200,000 and I was still placed in the same danger that I was in with the less expensive models. This vehicle was not on any recall list and I was offered no compensation whatsoever for having a rebuilt engine which is now part of its permanent record at both Cadillac and carfax. Same thing happened to my 2023 Escalade while my daughter was driving, total loss of power, engine seized, she barely made it to the shoulder safely from the left lane. I had to get rid of it after that as I felt my family’s safety was in jeopardy had we continued to drive it. The buyer I sold it to just notified me that the replacement engine blew up just like the original one and needed a to have third engine replaced. VIN of the 2023: [xxx]. Cadillac is repairing/replacing these defective engines with the same defective parts, so of course they will continue to fail again and again. Recommendation of upgrading oil viscosity is a complete joke and has done nothing to resolve this dangerous issue. This is a massive problem, just about everyone I speak with who has a Cadillac Escalade has experienced the same fate. I am aware of injuries associated with this situation, gm and Cadillac need to be brought to task here before someone gets killed if that hasn’t already happened. I can provide any other information should you require including pictures and videos of these cars being towed away as well as repair tickets if needed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The vehicle randomly stalls and shuts down. This can happen while pulling out in traffic. It has happened 5 times or more.

The contact owned a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, there was an area where the pavement was incomplete and caused the vehicle to go off-road and into the woods, and the vehicle crashed into the trees, where it came to a stop. The abs and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The steering wheel and driver’s seat air bag had not deployed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact was taken to a hospital and was treated for a fractured fibula and sternum and was receiving physical rehabilitation for the injuries. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

See all problems of the 2007 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

My 2022 Cadillac Escalade received the remedy for recall 25v-274 (l87 6. 2l v8 loss of propulsion) on July 22nd at the dealer. The vehicle passed inspection and was given the higher-viscosity 0w-40 oil change remedy rather than an engine replacement. Since that service, the engine has begun stalling. It stalls when the vehicle is stopped. This symptom was not present before the recall service was performed. I consider this a loss-of-propulsion safety concern consistent with the defect the recall was meant to address, and I am concerned the oil-change remedy did not correct the underlying condition. The vehicle currently has approximately 144,969 miles. I am taking it to the dealer for diagnosis and am requesting a check for diagnostic trouble code p0016 and an oil filter inspection for metal debris.

See all problems of the 2022 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

While driving on a family road trip, our vehicle check engine light came in and put the vehicle in limp mode. This happened a couple of times but luckily we were close enough to our home we were able to make it home safely. The code received was indicative of a coolant control valve failure. In discussions with the dealer, there is currently a special coverage out for this component failing but that our VIN was not covered under this special coverage. After some research, we are not the only ones who are having this problem. I believe this issue is more wide spread than the dealer would like to admit. The special coverage is n252508341.

All of a sudden the car just died while driving it on the road at speed. There was no warning or indication of an issue. It just shook and then died. It would not restart. This is an egregious safety issue and should not happen on a vehicle with only this many miles. We could have been killed if we were on a highway. A quick google search shows this is a known issue. The mechanic said this is a know issue with this engine - please get a recall out for 2019 before someone dies!!!!.

See all problems of the 2019 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

The engine/powertrain malfunctioned on my 2023 Cadillac Escalade at approximately 29,434 miles, ultimately requiring complete engine replacement. During the engine repair, the Cadillac technician also discovered that the transmission cooler lines were leaking fluid. The dealership replaced all of the affected transmission cooler lines as part of the repair. The original failed engine was removed by the Cadillac dealership, so I do not know whether gm/Cadillac retained it. The failure involved the vehicle’s engine and created concern about the possibility of sudden loss of propulsion or engine failure while driving. Because this is a large vehicle routinely operated on public roads and highways, an unexpected loss of engine power could significantly reduce my ability to safely accelerate, merge, or move the vehicle out of traffic. Fortunately, I brought the vehicle in for service after noticing the abnormal engine noise before a complete failure occurred while driving. Yes. Heritage Cadillac inspected and diagnosed the vehicle. The dealership documented my complaint of a “weird noise on start up” that continued until approximately 10 mph. The technician removed the valve covers and inspected the rocker arms and pushrods. The dealership ultimately determined that an engine replacement was necessary and replaced the engine under warranty. Yes. The vehicle was inspected and repaired by heritage Cadillac, an authorized Cadillac dealership. The dealership diagnosed the engine issue and replaced the complete engine. During the repair process, the technician also discovered leaking transmission cooler lines. I did not receive a warning lamp or dashboard message alerting me to an engine problem. The primary symptom was an abnormal engine noise shortly after startup that continued during initial acceleration to approximately 10 mph. This prompted me to bring the vehicle to heritage Cadillac for inspection. The dealer documented this symptom on the repair order.

See all problems of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

On 7/14/26, I scheduled Escalade to be serviced at local dealership (mt) when a/c went out on drivers/middle vents and I noticed a faint ticking noise under hood. Was told engine lifters were damaged & needed to be replaced. Service was completed 7/21 and I picked it up that evening. On [xxx] my husband and I departed for san diego; stayed overnight in st george ut. On [xxx] around [xxx] pm, I was driving in second from left lane on [xxx] san bernadino area. I braked quickly as traffic from far left lane merged right to avoid debris from a refrigerator that had shattered all over the highway. The Escalade engine failed and shut off without warning or any indicators. I tried several times & could not restart the vehicle; therefore I could not shift the vehicle into neutral so it could at least be pushed off the highway. My husband immediately called 9-1-1 and requested assistance. I frantically searched the internet for a way to shift to neutral when there is no power to the vehicle, and discovered the manual neutral override is under the vehicle. It was impossible for us to attempt that in this situation. All we could do was sit in the middle of the freeway with our hazard lights on and pray while we waited for law enforcement to arrive while heavy fast-moving traffic flew around us, honking and cursing at us to "get out of the way". This was a very perilous situation and our lives were endangered. We were helpless until chp officers arrived on scene, followed by a tow company. The vehicle was towed to the closest dealer service center. We were told four days later that the entire engine needed to be replaced. It remains at the CA dealership while we fight with gm warranty to have it shipped to mt. If the engine failure recall was dealt with appropriately as promised by gm, this would have been avoided altogether. **note: Escalade passed engine recall inspection 10/9/25; was 'upgraded' to 40w oil. Regular service/oil changes completed 1/23/26 and 6/8/26. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of inf.

See all problems of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

I was driving and no check engine lights were on. I came to a stop sign and the car lost all power. I couldn't get it in park and neither could any of the 3 tow truck drivers. Therefore the car had to be skated onto the tow truck and then shimmied off, causing even more damage. They fixed the motor with the same engine , said there were metal shavings, which will end up doing the same thing and I do not feel safe driving a car I just bought for 72,000. The car only has 48,000 miles on it. I picked up the car after the repair and started to drive it home and when I got up to over 55 it started shaking and pulling to the right. It is not the same car I bought just a year ago and I am still waiting for them to return it back to me after a month of waiting for a power steering replacement. They do not know for sure if that's the problem now, but said they think that this will fix it. I do not feel safe if the mechanic doesn't even know what is wrong now.

Catastrophic engine failure. Main bearing lock up.

Our engine failed with only 18k miles on it.

On [xxx], while driving my 2023 Cadillac Escalade esv from the salt lake city area toward las vegas, the vehicle developed a serious loss-of-power condition in utah. I contacted onstar, exited the highway, and waited at a gas station. Onstar arranged towing to a Cadillac dealership. Gm records document the tow at approximately 56,644 miles. At the dealership, I reported the loss of power. After initially being told they were too busy, I waited about 10 minutes and was then told the vehicle was ready. After returning to the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power again at approximately 70 mph. Pressing the accelerator did not produce normal acceleration, creating a serious risk of a highway collision. I immediately returned to the dealership. The dealer then performed another repair. The invoice states the service engine soon light was illuminated, soot level was 255%, and a service regeneration was performed. I was charged $406. 16 and was again told the vehicle was ready. After leaving again, the same loss-of-power condition occurred. After safely exiting the highway, I recorded video showing the vehicle at approximately 38 mph with little or no acceleration response and the check-engine light illuminated. I returned to the dealer for a third time. The dealer then kept the vehicle, stated the repair was covered under warranty, and provided a rental. The vehicle has remained under repair since July 21. I have not received a clear explanation of the root cause or complete repair details. I have videos, towing records, repair documents, photos, and gm correspondence. I am concerned this repeated sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed could cause a serious crash. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine stopped running while driving without any prior notifications, lights, or warnings. Car was stationary in the roadway while my wife tried repeatedly to restart the engine. After several tries the engine started and ran long enough to pull car off roadway. Car was inspected last year and procedures per recall notice where performed and was then deemed safe and reliable. Recall corrections did not fix the problem.

I was driving down the road, doing approximately 50 mph, when my vehicle shifted itself into neutral and I lost power completely. The information center said "reduced power. Press the start button to regain power," which I did, but nothing happened. I had to pull off the road and have my vehicle towed to a Cadillac dealership in lima, OH. The dealer, lima auto mall, confirmed I suffered a complete engine failure. This is one of the 6. 2l engines that gm has recalled and I had already had the engine inspected by my local Cadillac dealer and they told me my engine was "good," and switched to the 0w40 motor oil. I had just had the vehicle into my Cadillac dealer 4 days prior where they performed an oil change, tire rotation, 80,000 mile service , etc. Four days later, the motor completely failed and had to be replaced.

My 2023 Cadillac Escalade esv, was having issues when it had about 50-60 k miles, when it was in park hen shift to reverse it would jerk all the time, also my engine started to act up as well, I took it to the Cadillac dealer and like always could not identify the problem, when the had the recall or engine put thicker oil, like that was going to resolve the problem well my engine started to misfire, did not want to accelerate started shaking the smoke came out, engine lights came on, had to tow it to the Cadillac dealear now they are telling me if I got the extended warranty, I did but the issue is with them engine failure, being in the Escalade with 3 small children and 8 mo. Pregnant is scary, I want gm to do a buyback on this affected Escalade l. What if it would have caught fire, would like help to get gm to buyback.

The contact owns a 2026 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. Later, while driving approximately 75 mph, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated unexpectedly in the middle of highway traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted off the road and parked in a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,099.

At highway speed, the engine lifters associated with the active fuel management system failed and caused catastrophic damage throughout the engine. The sudden loss of power on the highway almost caused vehicles traveling behind me to collide.

See all problems of the 2016 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

While driving my 2026 Cadillac Escalade with approximately 15,000 miles, I experienced a sudden loss of engine power. I was able to safely move the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road. The vehicle would not continue operating and required towing. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle with a catastrophic internal engine failure requiring complete engine replacement. The engine is the 6. 2l v8. There were no prior indications that the engine was about to fail.

The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac Escalade esv. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly loss power and was unable to exceed 30 mph. The engine was knocking prior to the vehicle losing power. The failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with catastrophic engine failure. The dealer waiting for parts to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.

P0306 misfire. Flashing check engine light. Ive replaced all spark plugs. Ive replaced the ignition coil. Still has not fixed problem. While doing research on how to replace fuel injectors came across an article stating special coverage n102291660 for fuel injectors extending the warranty to 10 years, 150,000 miles but this is not showing for my VIN. My vehicle has the 6. 2l engine so im not sure what this is covered for some but not others when this is a known problem. I bought this vehicle a year ago because my wife and I took in custody of our 3 nieces all under age 2 thinking this would be a reliable vehicle. Id like to understand why my vehicle os not covered for this known issue, but others Cadillac esvs are.

See all problems of the 2017 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

Vehicle started making a horrendous noise, knock and squeeling noise while on the highway. Approximately 2 minutes later the check engine light came on and we completely lost power. Went from 70 to zero dead on the side of the NY thruway rapidly. Vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that an engine replacement was necessary. Engine previously passed pico test and update to the oil cap was completed. Oil changes every 5k miles.

Complete engine failure at 7000 miles.

November 19, 2025 I brought my Cadillac Escalade to the dealership under their voluntary recall on the engine. My vehicle passed the pico compression test. The dealership then changed my current oil to a heavier oil and changed the oil cap to match the oil they put in. July 2nd 2026 my husband was driving about 55 mph and I was a passenger the we heard loud knocking and the engine quit. We had vehicles behind us my husband was shocked I instantly hit my emergency 4 way light button so we didn’t get rear ended. We coasted to the shoulder of the road thankful that we didn’t get hit by the vehicles behind us.

See all problems of the 2024 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

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.

VIN [xxx] I did the engine recall. All documented in braman Cadillac. After the dealer gave me the clear after recall check, they did the gm change of oil etc. But I recently had an afrer recall failure with knock sounds coming from the engine. It is on 3 videos I saved, conditions were while iddle, while driving, while accelerating and braking. So vehicle motionless still had the sound. I had loss of power a few months ago, that I didn't associate to this recall until this sounds that I couldn't reproduce when took the car in, but it is on video. At this point I want my engine replaced and I need help with it as the solutions given from dealership are insuficient given the scope of problem. The car obly has 37k miles information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Xxx around 10:30pm I was driving on the expressway about 65mph when the car lost power and turned off without any warning. It immediately shifted into neutral without me shifting gears. I was stranded in the right lane at night with cars driving by. I was extremely nervous I was going to be rear ended. I was able to pull over to the right shoulder on the expressway and then the car wouldn’t start. I had to have it towed to my house. I tried to start it once I got home and it will crank but not start. The car is at the dealership near my house and they have confirmed that my car has engine problems and needs a new engine. The technician said, “it just locked up on you. ” car’s engine still under 100k miles! car has not being inspected by any other person besides Cadillac dealer. I did not receive any warnings lights or symptoms before car just turned off car started and run just fine all day. I provide all maintenance to the car. I also do oil changes every 5,000 miles because I use this car for my work. I bought the car in December of 24 in [xxx] when it had 5,000 miles on it. I was assured it had no issues then. I have provided all the necessary maintenance. I am now being told a new engine will cost nearly $16,000 with over a months wait to repair. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

After accelerating from a stop sign to about 60mph on a 2 lane road, the engine shut off and the vehicle changed to neutral. I had to glide the truck down the road and off to the side. Vehicle would not start and had to be towed to a Cadillac dealership on a flatbed.

6. 2l engine failed while over 400 miles from home. Gm (Cadillac) has been zero help in rectifying the expense in travel interruption knowing this issue exists. Took almost 45 days for them to get vehicle repaired. Since repair I have had multiple other issues that I'm pretty sure is 100% related to this replacement.

See all problems of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade 🔎.

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.

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.

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).

On 06/23/2026 at approximately 62,745 miles, I brought my 2023 Cadillac Escalade sport platinum 4wd equipped with the 6. 2l l87 v8 engine to a Cadillac dealership because of excessive engine oil consumption. The vehicle has been consuming approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 2,000 miles, or roughly 1 quart every 650-700 miles. The dealership began an oil-consumption test to document the condition, and the vehicle is currently still at the dealership undergoing evaluation. This vehicle is equipped with the 6. 2l l87 engine involved in NHTSA safety recall 25v-274 / gm recall n252494000 concerning internal engine damage and possible loss of propulsion. I do not know whether the excessive oil consumption is directly related to the recall defect, but I am concerned that this level of oil consumption may indicate an internal engine problem that could lead to inadequate lubrication, engine damage, stalling, seizure, or sudden loss of propulsion. The vehicle is available for inspection at the Cadillac dealership. The dealer has service records and oil-consumption-test documentation associated with this condition. I am filing this complaint so the excessive oil consumption on this l87-equipped vehicle is formally documented with NHTSA and can be considered along with other reported l87 engine concerns.

While driving out of state the engine started knocking- I took it to the dealer before it left me stranded on the road. I was told the engine had failed and needed to be replaced.

2023 Cadillac Escalade sport platinum with 6. 2l l87 v8 suffered catastrophic engine failure on 6/20/2026 at approximately 38,658 miles. Vehicle had gm recall n252494000 performed at coulter Cadillac in phoenix, az on 12/3/2025. Engine reportedly passed gm recall inspection and received oil-related remedy rather than engine replacement. Approximately six months later, while driving on I-17 near black canyon city, az at highway speed on a 75 mph interstate, the engine suddenly shut down with no warning signs or alerts. Vehicle shifted to neutral and lost all propulsion. There were no prior check-engine lights, oil-pressure warnings, reduced-power warnings, abnormal noises, or other alerts before failure. I was traveling with my family of four plus our dog in approximately 105°f heat at the start of a road trip. I was able to maneuver to the shoulder, but the sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed created a serious safety risk. We were stranded roadside for nearly one hour in a remote area. Earnhardt Cadillac in scottsdale, az diagnosed crank bearing failure. Gm/Cadillac has indicated the proposed repair is installation of a refurbished/remanufactured replacement engine. I am concerned this failure occurred after the recall remedy had already been completed and appears consistent with the l87 crankshaft/connecting rod/bearing failures and post-remedy failures under NHTSA review. Cadillac case number is 103635161.