2023 Cadillac Escalade

Showing the 2023 Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
13–23 mpgcombined; city 11–21, highway 16–27; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$20,150–$30,960U.S. average; Ohio $20,410–$29,170 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
4 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
4over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
232filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2023 Escalade. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Escalade. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine173401
Power train41100
Electrical system26201
Fuel/propulsion system25000
Engine and engine cooling19000
Unknown or other16000
Forward collision avoidance10101
Service brakes8000
Suspension5000
Vehicle speed control5000
Back over prevention4000
Exterior lighting4000
7 more parts
Wheels4000
Steering3000
Visibility/wiper3000
Air bags2101
Lane departure1000
Service brakes, hydraulic1100
Visibility1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 200624
  2. 2007286
  3. 2008167
  4. 200985
  5. 201043
  6. 201165
  7. 201226
  8. 201322
  9. 201421
  10. 2015106
  11. 2016104
  12. 201789
  13. 201836
  14. 201959
  15. 202036
  16. 2021167
  17. 2022142
  18. 2023232
  19. 202474
  20. 202538
  21. 202653

Every Escalade year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Escalade over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Engine and engine cooling: engine

NHTSA campaign 25V274000 · reported Apr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning; Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist

NHTSA campaign 24V674000 · reported Sep 12, 2024 · 449,671 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Risk: Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.

NHTSA's record and documents

Suspension: rear

NHTSA campaign 23V642000 · reported Sep 20, 2023 · 189 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break.

Risk: A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232415910.

NHTSA's record and documents

Exterior lighting: lighting control module

NHTSA campaign 22V903000 · reported Dec 8, 2022 · 740,108 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 946 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2023 Escalade, the latest on Oct 7, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (269), unknown or other (255), engine and engine cooling (145), equipment (137), power train (113).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA26005
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy · covers 3 makes
EngineAug 20, 2026Open
NHTSA's summary names recall 25V274000
NHTSA's record and documents
Recall query RQ26001
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy · covers 3 makes
EngineJan 16, 2026Closed Aug 20, 2026
NHTSA's summary names recall 25V274000
NHTSA's record and documents
Engineering analysis EA25007
Loss of motive power due to engine failure · covers 3 makes
Engine and engine coolingOct 23, 2025Open
NHTSA's summary names recall 25V274000
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE25001
Loss of motive power due to engine failure · covers 3 makes
Engine and engine coolingJan 16, 2025Closed Oct 23, 2025
NHTSA's summary names recall 25V274000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2023 Escalade.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: standard sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 1–4 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Escalade
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic 10-spdDiesel21 / 27 / 23
Escalade
4-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic 10-spdDiesel20 / 26 / 22
Escalade
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdPremium Gasoline14 / 19 / 16
Escalade
4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cylAutomatic 10-spdPremium Gasoline14 / 18 / 16
Escalade V
4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, superchargedAutomatic (S10)Premium Gasoline11 / 16 / 13

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data