Skip to content

2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA
14–21
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext

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 21V051000 Reported 284,645 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…

    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…

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 8,900 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Dash pad lifting. Was advised from cadillac that the dash pad lifting could possibly be coming from the air bag. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 18, 2012 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 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 Ext model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext122
2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext215
2004 Cadillac Escalade Ext211
2005 Cadillac Escalade Ext15
2006 Cadillac Escalade Ext10
2007 Cadillac Escalade Ext516
2008 Cadillac Escalade Ext414
2009 Cadillac Escalade Ext53
2010 Cadillac Escalade Ext31
2011 Cadillac Escalade Ext43
2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext31
2013 Cadillac Escalade Ext31

Checking a specific 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext

How do I know if my 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext; 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 14V827000).

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.