2017 Cadillac Escalade problems
The 2017 Cadillac Escalade has 78 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (28%) concerns engine. After that come drivetrain & axles (15%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 78 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 28% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 16,000 miles 38 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 22 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 38 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 16,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 33,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 1 injury reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2017 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Cadillac Escalade with enough data (47 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I have had onstar for many years because of their advertisements concerning accidents that involve going off the road and not being found for days. I was traveling on I-81 and went into a ravine hit multiple trees and according to several witnesses flipped multiple times. All airbags deployed before this happened . My onstar did not activate. Fortunately as I stated there were witnesses that called 911 and located my vehicle not onstar .
on 5/15/25 at approx. 11am the vehicle was seen with smoke rolling out of the doors and windows, which were all closed. The vehicle had been parked since approx. 8am that day. Once the FD had the fire knocked down, they found that a seat belt retractor module, replaced in 1/2025, was most likely the cause for the fire and damage. The locking mechinisms were metled and unable to open either the driver door (where the fire had occured) or the front passenger door.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 cadillac escalade. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shook violently and brake fluid leaked from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had been serviced multiple times, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not informed. The failure mileage was 1,300.
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud clunking sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle then decelerated to 30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who recommended replacing the valve body.