Skip to content
pickacar

SUV · Gas

Cadillac Escalade 2015–2020 (4th gen)

Cadillac Escalade
Photo: BuickCentury04 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Price
$73,000–$95,000
MPG
17
  • Strength: Excellent capability
  • Strength: Strong passenger space
  • Watch-out: Poor running costs
  • Watch-out: Poor cargo & utility
Loading…
How it scores for you10 scores
A commanding 420-hp tow rig with 8-seat space and plush comfort, but thirsty running costs, buggy CUE tech, and recurring powertrain complaints undercut the luxury badge.
Reliability26

Recalled somewhat less often than cars of the same model years; 5 of its 14 recalls were serious. About 9% of its owner complaints describe a crash, fire or injury. Based on recalls and serious defect reports — it doesn't capture everyday repairs or problems fixed by warranty extensions. Adjusted -5 points for its wider reputation.

Safety50

No overall NHTSA crash rating yet, so this is scored as middle-of-the-road.

Running costs6

About $3,950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate) — cheaper to run than about 6% of cars we track.

Cargo & utility9

15.2 cu ft of cargo space — more than about 9% of other SUVs we track.

Passenger space80

Full-size SUV seating up to 8 with generous legroom in first two rows and huge 94.2 cu ft max cargo; third row tighter than newer independent-rear rivals.

Driving fun45

420hp 6.2L V8 provides strong straight-line power and 8300lb towing, but the heavy body-on-frame Escalade handles like the big truck it is, with numb steering and body roll.

Tech55

4th gen offered CUE infotainment, available adaptive cruise, and premium features, but CUE was widely criticized for laggy, buggy operation, keeping it near segment-average.

Comfort68

Luxury-focused cabin with quiet ride, plush seating and magnetic ride control soften the truck platform, though ride can feel floaty and less refined than car-based rivals.

Value retention40

Luxury brands like Cadillac tend to lose value faster than average.

Capability100

Rated to tow 8,300 lb; all- or four-wheel drive available.

Safety & recalls20 recalls
Overallnot rated
Frontalnot rated
Side 5/5
Rollover 3/5

20 recalls · 7 common complaint areas across 2015–2020

  • Engine — 30 complaints (2019)
  • Recall — Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump (2020)
  • Powertrain — 23 complaints (2015)

2020

  • RecallFuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump19V837000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.

  • RecallTires21V115000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental

  • Complaint clusterEngine19 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    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.

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain5 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    ABS lights come on, engine misfireing, camshaft position senor codes, and vehicle will lunge at stop light. Bought the car 30 days ago and has been in service at the dealership for the past 3 weeks.

2019

  • RecallSeat belts: rear/other18V673000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly pre

  • Complaint clusterEngine30 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    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

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain10 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    I am filing a safety complaint regarding my Cadillac Escalade due to a transmission/valve body failure occurring at approximately 77,100 miles. The vehicle began experiencing transmission-related issues including harsh shifting, hesitation, abnormal operation, and unsafe drivability concerns. The v

2018

  • RecallSeat belts: rear/other18V673000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly pre

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum20V603000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake ass

  • Complaint clusterEngine14 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    Had to get cam shaft replaced last year. Now the lifters are going bad

  • Complaint clusterElectrical7 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RESET, FLASHES AND THE TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING WHILE THE SYSTEM IS CYCLING OR RESTTING, WHILW CHANGING LANES OR IN A MIDDLE OF A TURN

2017

  • RecallAirbags: frontal; air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive; seat belts: pretensioner16V651000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Poli

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum19V645000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain21 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    The transmission gear make noise when the gear shift and the engine have loud noise tick tick inside the engine . I’m feel not safe to drive and feel very stressful of my car .i can’t sleep due to car not safe drive

  • Complaint clusterEngine17 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    Engine misfire, AFM lifter collapse, defective AFM/DOD lifter technology. The three diagnosis I have had done to check for multiple opinions have all come back the same with a collapsed AFM lifter causing camshaft damage, overall failure of an AFM/DOD deactiviating lifter in the 6.2L L86 engine lead

  • Complaint clusterBrakes14 complaintscomplaints:SERVICE BRAKES

    Incident date: 2025-11-22 Location: I-70 (while taking an exit) Dealership: Jim Coleman Cadillac (vehicle purchased and routinely serviced here) I am reporting a sudden and severe brake system failure that created an immediate risk to vehicle occupants. On 2025-11-22 my wife was driving our Escala

  • Complaint clusterElectrical10 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    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 1

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other8 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I am the owner of a 2017 Cadillac Escalade and am reporting premature and widespread deterioration of the factory exterior paint/clear coat. The condition is present over large areas of the roof and hood and is not limited to normal isolated scratches or rock chips. The finish has developed extensiv

2016

  • RecallSuspension: front: control arm16V256000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control

  • RecallAirbags: frontal; air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive; seat belts: pretensioner16V651000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Poli

  • RecallAirbags: frontal; air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive; seat belts: pretensioner17V437000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Subur

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum19V645000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

  • Complaint clusterEngine22 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    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.

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain17 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    The transmission has experienced ongoing shifting problems, including extremely hard shifts at low speeds and difficulty shifting properly at higher/highway speeds. The hard shifting could cause the vehicle to jerk unexpectedly, and the difficulty shifting at higher speeds caused concern about the v

  • Complaint clusterSuspension15 complaintscomplaints:SUSPENSION

    Suspension failed at 50,000 miles. At 56,000 miles one of the valve components inside the engine (a lifter) has collapsed. This part controls the opening of the engine valve, and because it is no longer moving, that cylinder cannot build compression and is causing the misfire. This is an internal m

  • Complaint clusterElectrical14 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Purchased 2016 Cadillac Escalade in April 2022 - VIN [XXX] . License plate [XXX] . Car has had electrical shortage issues in the navigation screen ever since purchasing. The navigation screen flickers, switches between apps simultaneously and isn’t responsive to finger touch as advertised. I have

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other10 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MY VEHICLE LUNGES AND HAS HARD SHIFTS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED TO HIGH SPEEDS. ALSO LUNGES WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING

2015

  • RecallEngine and engine cooling: exhaust system14V007000

    General Motors is recalling certain 2014 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, and 2015 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado HD; and GMC Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL, equipped with a 4.3L engine or 5.3L engine.

  • RecallAirbags14V259000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles manufactured April 6, 2014, through May 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the air bag module is secured to a chute adhered to the backside of the instrument panel with an insufficiently heated

  • RecallAirbags14V624000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel top cover on the affected vehicles may have been manufactured using an incorrect spacer fabric, causing a reduction of adhesion between the spacer fabric and

  • RecallAirbags: frontal; air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive; seat belts: pretensioner16V651000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Poli

  • RecallAirbags: frontal; air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive; seat belts: pretensioner17V437000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Subur

  • RecallSteering: electric power assist system18V586000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum19V645000

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

  • RecallPowertrain: transfer case (4-wheel drive)26V289000

    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

  • RecallAirbags: frontal: driver side: inflator module26V329000

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

  • Complaint clusterPowertrain23 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN

    Mileage: 90,406 2015 Cadillac Escalade Engine: 6.2L V8 EcoTec3 has experienced lifter and camshaft failure, and the vehicle is now stalling while driving, creating a serious safety risk. I transport my disabled child daily, and the stalls are unpredictable, putting us and other drivers at risk. T

  • Complaint clusterEngine15 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    I’ve had to replace 2 motors and a transmission.

  • Complaint clusterElectrical12 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. At the time of purchase and registration, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The mileage was 172,400; however, the contact researched the Carfax Report the following day and discovered that the mileage was 243,000 a

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other11 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    My 2015 Cadillac Escalade suffered complete engine failure caused by a known design defect involving the Active Fuel Management (AFM) lifters and camshaft. This issue is documented in GM Technical Service Bulletins (TSB #15-06-01-002E and PIP5606C), which acknowledge lifter collapse, misfires, and i

  • Complaint clusterSteering10 complaintscomplaints:STEERING

    I was on the Highway and the EPS stopped working and steering wheel became hard. I looked online and saw there was a recall for this certain model of vehicle and when I checked the NHTSA page there was no recall for my VIN. We had to continue using the vehicle to get back to out city and it suddenly

Cost to own$42,700 / 5 yr

MSRP, new

$73,000–$95,000

Estimated used price, by model year

2020$50,400–$59,200
2019$44,700–$52,500
2018$39,500–$46,400
2017$34,900–$41,000
2016$30,700–$36,100
2015$26,900–$31,600

$3,950/yr

EPA estimate, combined fuel cost per year.

Loading…
Specs
MSRPNew $73,000–$95,000
Efficiency17 MPG
Seats8
Drivetrain4WD
PowertrainGas

City MPG

15

Highway MPG

21

Combined MPG

17

Horsepower

420 hp

Doors

4

Length

203.9 in

Width

80.3 in

Height

74.4 in

Wheelbase

116.1 in

Curb weight

5,840 lb

Cargo volume

15.2 cu ft

Cargo (seats folded)

94.2 cu ft

Towing capacity

8,300 lbs

Check a listing

Sign in to check a specific listing against this car's data.

Find one for sale