2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2018 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.
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Seat belts: rear/other
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at…
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 167,054 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 9 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“We were on our way home from charlotte nc where the suv sat for a week while we were on vacation. Less than an hour of traveling home we smelled something burning so my husband pulled over, turns the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 5, 2026 · Electrical system
“2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, 6.2L V8 L86 engine, under 100,000 miles. Engine seized and was towed to an authorized GM dealership. Teardown confirmed a spun and twisted rod bearing resulting in”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 1, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Cadillac Escalade (Escalade 2WD, Escalade 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14 / 21–23 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 6.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 10-spd |
Compare Cadillac Escalade ESV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Escalade ESV model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV
How do I know if my 2018 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 18V673000).
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
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- CTS2,217 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- Catera468 complaints
- STS430 complaints
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.