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2021 Cadillac Escalade problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
84% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 80%).
Does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 128 of 153 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Cadillac Escalade concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (84%), and the largest group is filed under engine (101). For comparison, the 2020 scores 85% and the 2022 scores 93%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Cadillac Escalade years
Of the 12 Cadillac Escalade years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (84%). The worst is the 2022 (93%), the best the 2011 (14%). By volume, the 2021 drew 160 complaints (128 drivetrain), against 36 for the 2020 and 140 for the 2022.
Cadillac Escalade years to avoid and best years →
2010 Escalade problems · 2011 Escalade problems · 2012 Escalade problems · 2015 Escalade problems · 2016 Escalade problems · 2017 Escalade problems · 2018 Escalade problems · 2019 Escalade problems · 2020 Escalade problems · 2021 · 2022 Escalade problems · 2023 Escalade problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 128 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Cadillac Escalade engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2022 and 2024 GMC Yukon vehicles equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine. The original fuel tank may have been replaced with an incorrect fuel tank, which can allow fuel to leak in a rollover crash.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for the correct fuel tank and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223,…
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.
Fix: 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…
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a…
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Risk: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020;…
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer…
6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Cadillac Escalade? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Cadillac Escalade
Does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 128 of 153 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Cadillac Escalade concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (84%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is engine: 101 of 160 complaints (63%) name it, followed by power train (22) and electrical system (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 84% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 12 Cadillac Escalade years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2021 Cadillac Escalade involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total: 25V619000 (fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly), 25V274000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 24V797000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Cadillac Escalade years are better?
Among the Cadillac Escalade years we track, the 2011 (14%), the 2012 (24%) and the 2010 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (84%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/cadillac-escalade
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.