Vehicle Data Hub

2021 Cadillac Escalade problems

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade has 113 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (50%) concerns engine. After that come drivetrain & axles (9%) and electrical system (8%).

At a glance

Complaints
113 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Engine 50% of complaints
Crashes and fires
3 and 1
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0
Typical mileage
45,000 miles 15 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%.

  • Engine 50%
  • Drivetrain & axles 9%
  • Electrical system 8%
  • Fuel system 7%
  • Forward collision avoidance 4%
  • Seat belts 3%
  • Brakes 2%
  • Lane departure 2%
  • Lighting 2%
  • Steering 2%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2021 Cadillac Escalade Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 45,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 2 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 3 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 2 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 3 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 45,000 miles
Based on 15 complaints that include mileage. 60% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles2
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles3
60k to 80k miles2
80k to 100k miles3
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 15 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 45,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 3 injuries reported.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the Cadillac Escalade with enough data (113 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 9 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.

When I was driving my Cadillac Escalade, when I stopped at the stop light, the car caught fire, it was later towed and totaled

October 2022 FireInjury

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph on the highway, a knocking noise emanated from the engine compartment, and the vehicle suddenly stopped and stalled. The contact head struck the steering wheel, and he sustained a head injury. The vehicle failed to restart. The safety restraint light was illuminated. The contact was going in and out of the vehicle to direct traffic around his disabled vehicle.

Reported at 82,000 miles, April 2025 CrashInjury

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. The contact stated that his wife was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and shut off the vehicle. The contact arrived on the scene with a local independent mechanic and became aware of the abnormal sound coming from the engine.

Reported at 80,000 miles, December 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. While the contact's wife was driving 70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred while a tractor-trailer was driving closely behind the vehicle. The contact stated that an error code indicated a failure with the fuel pump drive module. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence.

Reported at 33,500 miles, January 2026

Other model years of the Escalade

Best and worst years for the Cadillac Escalade