What are the most common problems on a 2016 Cadillac Escalade?

Engine has the most NHTSA complaints at 32, then power train at 22. In the samples we read, owners describe shaking at road speed and rough shifting.

Does the 2016 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?

Yes, four: 19V645 brake vacuum pump, 17V437 and 16V651 air bag software, and 16V256 front control arm welds. Each lists a free dealer remedy.

What gas mileage does a 2016 Cadillac Escalade get?

The EPA rates 2WD at 15 city, 22 highway and 17 combined MPG. 4WD is 15, 21 and 17.

How much horsepower does the 2016 Escalade have?

The EPA test car list rates the 6.2L 8-cylinder at 425 hp.

Is 2016 a good year for the Cadillac Escalade?

It has 104 complaints and 4 recalls. Eight model years have more complaints and six have more recalls.

2016 Cadillac Escalade Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Cadillac Escalade^[1]. Owners describe shaking at road speed and rough shifting^[2], and the EPA rates it at 17 MPG combined^[3].

104owner complaints^[1]

4recalls^[4]

17MPG combined (EPA)^[3]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed 104 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Four mention a crash, three a fire and five an injury. No deaths are reported^[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several parts.

The engine group has the most complaints. Here is how the top groups line up.

Component group	Complaints	Median mileage at failure
Engine^[5]	32	73,000
Power train^[2]	22	42,255
Electrical system^[6]	18	22,000
Unknown or other^[7]	17	27,500
Suspension^[8]	15	49,540

Smaller groups include steering with 7 complaints^[9], air bags with 6^[10] and electronic stability control with 4^[11].

We read a small sample of complaint texts in each of the top groups. It is a sample, so it shows what owners describe, not how common a problem is.

Shaking and vibration. In a sample of 12 suspension complaints, 6 describe vibration at road speed, and in some of them new tires did not cure it^[8]. In a sample of 12 power train complaints, 6 describe shaking or vibration^[2]. In a sample of 12 engine complaints, 5 describe shaking or violent shaking^[5].
Rough shifting. In the power train sample, 6 of 12 describe hard shifting, bucking or surging, and several say dealer visits did not fix it^[2]. Two of the 12 name the torque converter as the cause a shop gave them^[2].
Engine shutting off. In the engine sample, 4 of 12 describe the engine stopping or losing power while driving or at a stop^[5].
Electrical faults. In the electrical sample, 6 of 12 describe dashboard, sensor, display or radio faults, and 3 describe a dead or drained battery^[6].
Suspension parts. In the suspension sample, 3 of 12 describe control arm or suspension part problems^[8].

The same complaint text can show up under more than one group.

Recalls

NHTSA lists four recalls for this model year. The list is newest first. Each one has a free remedy through dealers.

Brake vacuum pump (19V645). Date 2019-09-06^[12]. The vacuum pump may lose output over time, so the brake pedal gets harder to press and stopping takes longer. That raises crash risk. Dealers reprogram the brake control module at no charge. The recall covers 3,456,719 vehicles across several GM models^[12].
Air bag software follow-up (17V437). Date 2017-07-10^[13]. Some vehicles fixed under 16V651 did not get the full software update. Without it, the front air bags and belt pretensioners may not fire in a crash, which raises injury risk. Dealers reflash the software, and replace the module if the air bags have deployed before. It covers 40,683 vehicles^[13].
Air bag and belt software (16V651). Date 2016-09-08^[14]. Under some driving conditions, the air bag module runs a self-test, and during the test the front air bags and belt pretensioners would not deploy in a crash. Dealers reflash the software at no charge. It covers 3,640,162 vehicles across several GM models^[14].
Front control arm welds (16V256). Date 2016-04-28^[15]. Welds on the front upper control arms may be weak. A control arm could separate from its bushing, which hurts steering and raises crash risk. Dealers replace both front upper control arms and realign the vehicle. Owners were told not to drive until the repair is done. It covers 3,738 vehicles across several GM models^[15].

Fuel economy

The EPA lists two versions, both with a 6.2L 8-cylinder engine, an 8-speed automatic and regular gas^[3]^[16].

Version	City	Highway	Combined	Annual fuel cost
2WD (rear-wheel drive)^[3]	15 MPG	22 MPG	17 MPG	$3,950
4WD^[16]	15 MPG	21 MPG	17 MPG	$3,950

The fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the Escalade 5 stars for side protection and 3 stars for rollover^[17]. The Escalade ESV gets the same two ratings^[18]. Rollover risk is listed at 22.2% for the AWD Escalade^[17] and 22.9% for the RWD Escalade^[19]. For the ESV it is 21.2% for AWD^[18] and 20.3% for RWD^[20].

Engine and size

The EPA test car list rates the 6.2L 8-cylinder engine at 425 hp^[21]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications, converted to inches and pounds, and can differ slightly from US models.

	Escalade	Escalade ESV
Length^[22]^[23]	204 in	224 in
Width^[22]^[23]	80 in	80 in
Height^[22]^[23]	74 in	74 in
Wheelbase^[22]^[23]	116 in	130 in
Curb weight^[22]^[23]	5,840 lb	6,041 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Escalade model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[4].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1999	39	2
2000	71	1
2002	137	2
2003	108	5
2004	102	3
2005	62	2
2006	24	2
2007	285	5
2008	167	4
2009	85	5
2010	43	3
2011	65	6
2012	26	3
2013	22	4
2014	21	2
2015	106	9
2016	104	4
2017	89	2
2018	36	2
2019	59	1
2020	36	2
2021	169	12
2022	142	4
2023	233	4
2024	74	2
2025	39	1
2026	54	4

The 2016 model year has 104 complaints and 4 recalls^[4]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide.

Complaints: eight Escalade model years have more than 2016. The highest are 2007 with 285 and 2023 with 233^[4]. The neighbors are 2015 with 106 and 2017 with 89^[4].
Recalls: six model years have more than 4^[4]. The highest are 2021 with 12 and 2015 with 9^[4]. 2017 has 2^[4].

Should you buy a used 2016 Escalade?

Eight Escalade model years have more complaints than 2016 and six have more recalls^[4]. The sampled complaints point to shaking at road speed and rough shifting, so test drive at highway speed and from a stop^[2]. Ask for proof that all four recalls were done, because each has a free remedy^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]. Plan on fuel costs near $3,950 a year by EPA's estimate and 17 MPG combined^[3]^[16]. Our data does not cover oil capacity, towing or tire size, so check those elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on a 2016 Cadillac Escalade?: Engine has the most NHTSA complaints at 32, then power train at 22^[5]^[2]. In the samples we read, owners describe shaking at road speed and rough shifting^[2].
Does the 2016 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?: Yes, four: 19V645 brake vacuum pump, 17V437 and 16V651 air bag software, and 16V256 front control arm welds. Each lists a free dealer remedy^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15].
What gas mileage does a 2016 Cadillac Escalade get?: The EPA rates 2WD at 15 city, 22 highway and 17 combined MPG^[3]. 4WD is 15, 21 and 17^[16].
How much horsepower does the 2016 Escalade have?: The EPA test car list rates the 6.2L 8-cylinder at 425 hp^[21].
Is 2016 a good year for the Cadillac Escalade?: It has 104 complaints^[1] and 4 recalls^[4]. Eight model years have more complaints and six have more recalls^[4].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Cadillac Escalade (4 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,255). NHTSA vehicle records
EPA rating for Escalade 2WD, 6.2L 8-cyl, Automatic 8-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,950. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
Owner complaints and recalls for every Cadillac Escalade model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
32 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 73,000). NHTSA vehicle records
18 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 22,000). NHTSA vehicle records
17 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,500). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the suspension component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,540). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 43,000). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 19V645, filed September 6, 2019: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V437, filed July 10, 2017: Seat Belts › Pretensioner. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V651, filed September 8, 2016: Seat Belts › Pretensioner. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V256, filed April 28, 2016: Suspension › Front › Control Arm. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Escalade 4WD, 6.2L 8-cyl, Automatic 8-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,950. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 22.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 21.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV RWD: side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 22.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV RWD: side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 20.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Cadillac Escalade with 6.2L 8-cylinder: rated 425 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ESCALADE: length 204 in, width 80 in, height 74 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 5,840 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ESCALADE ESV: length 224 in, width 80 in, height 74 in, wheelbase 130 in, curb weight 6,041 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2016 Cadillac Escalade: problems, recalls and fuel economy