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2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
13
owner complaints to NHTSA
14–21
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V050000 Reported 2,641,272 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V054000 Reported 1,778,128 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A."…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second…

  3. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 14V827000 Reported 84,192 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006…

  4. Linkages (steering)

    NHTSA 11V339000 Reported 739 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS LLC

    GM is recalling certain model year 2011cadillac escalade, escalade esv; chevrolet silverado hd, silverado ld, suburban, tahoe; and GMC sierra hd, sierra ld, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles. The intermediate steering shaft attaching bolts may not have been tightened to the proper specification.

    Remedy: GM dealers will inspect and ensure that the intermediate steering shaft bolts are tightened to the proper specification. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 13, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at…

  5. Spindle (suspension)

    NHTSA 11V007000 Reported 30,566 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, colorado, express, silverado, suburban, tahoe; and GMC canyon, sierra, savana, yukon and yukon xl vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were not properly heat treated and could fracture and become displaced within the…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge. The safety recall began on january 11, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and at the…

13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 77,311 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 5 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Radial X, Tire Size: 285/45/R22, DOT Number: B90L-7LNX4818. The contact stated that after a visual inspection of”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 3, 2024 · Tires

“Door handle for all doors break off with or without an motor vehicle collision. Self-extracation from vehicle is unlikely without repair”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 30, 2019 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2011 Cadillac Escalade (Escalade 2WD, Escalade AWD, Escalade ESV 2WD, Escalade ESV AWD, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined14–21 mpg
City / Highway13–20 / 18–23
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine8 cyl, 6/6.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic 6-spd

Compare Cadillac Escalade ESV model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Escalade ESV model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV112
2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV122
2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV114
2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV15
2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV439
2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV417
2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV56
2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV34
2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV513
2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV33
2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV42
2014 Cadillac Escalade ESV20
2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV68
2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV315
2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV138
2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV115
2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV134
2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV222
2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV1073
2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV456
2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV490
2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV222
2025 Cadillac Escalade ESV113
2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV310

Checking a specific 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV

How do I know if my 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V007000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Cadillac models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.