Short answer
Among Cadillac Escalade model years through 2024, 2000 and 2019 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2021 has the most (12). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Cadillac Escalade: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 58
- Fewest recalls
- 2000 and 2019 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (12)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (21)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2025 and 2026
Cadillac Escalade Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Power train |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Wheels |
| 2024 | 2 | 4 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2021 | 12 | 4 stars | Seat belts, Power train, Air bags |
| 2020 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Tires |
| 2019 | 1 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2018 | 2 | 4 stars | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2017 | 2 | 4 stars | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2016 | 4 | Not rated | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic, Suspension |
| 2015 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Seat belts, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2014 | 2 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Power train |
| 2012 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2011 | 6 | 4 stars | Air bags, Suspension, Electrical system |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Wheels |
| 2006 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Steering |
| 2005 | 2 | Not rated | Power train, Seat belts |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure |
| 2003 | 5 | Not rated | Structure, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Seats, Structure |
| 2000 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20264 recalls
- 20251 recall
- 20242 recalls
- 20234 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 202112 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20191 recall
- 20182 recalls
- 20172 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20159 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20134 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20116 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20095 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20075 recalls
- 20062 recalls
- 20052 recalls
- 20043 recalls
- 20035 recalls
- 20022 recalls
- 20001 recall
Cadillac Escalade: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Cadillac Escalade recalls are air bags (21), seat belts (14), electrical system (12), service brakes, hydraulic (8) and power train (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 12 of these 26 model years, and 2025 and 2026 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Cadillac Escalade Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Cadillac Escalade?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000 and 2019 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Cadillac Escalade model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 12 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Escalade", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy