RecallMyCar

2011 Cadillac Escalade Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2011 Cadillac Escalade, and owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
49
owner complaints to NHTSA
14–21
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2011 Cadillac Escalade

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…

  6. Spindle (suspension)

    NHTSA 10V643000 Reported 1,262 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 cadillac escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado ld and GMC sierra ld vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were not properly heat treated and could fracture and become displaced within the rear axle. Should the pin shift out of position, it could create an interference condition and…

    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…

49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,482 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 15 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The Transmission , the vehicle came to a sudden stop while driving, confirmed by a mechanic, no it has not been inspected by insurance or others accident was avoided, no warnings lights, transmission”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 21, 2025 · Power train

“The whole transmission kept jerking and finally went totally out. I only have 189,000”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 18, 2025 · Power train

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 model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1999 Cadillac Escalade239
2000 Cadillac Escalade171
2001 Cadillac Escalade03
2002 Cadillac Escalade1115
2003 Cadillac Escalade481
2004 Cadillac Escalade269
2005 Cadillac Escalade243
2006 Cadillac Escalade219
2007 Cadillac Escalade4230
2008 Cadillac Escalade4136
2009 Cadillac Escalade558
2010 Cadillac Escalade338
2011 Cadillac Escalade649
2012 Cadillac Escalade320
2013 Cadillac Escalade419
2014 Cadillac Escalade220
2015 Cadillac Escalade998
2016 Cadillac Escalade489
2017 Cadillac Escalade251
2018 Cadillac Escalade121
2019 Cadillac Escalade025
2020 Cadillac Escalade214
2021 Cadillac Escalade973
2022 Cadillac Escalade485
2023 Cadillac Escalade4141
2024 Cadillac Escalade250
2025 Cadillac Escalade120
2026 Cadillac Escalade336

Checking a specific 2011 Cadillac Escalade

How do I know if my 2011 Cadillac Escalade 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 2011 Cadillac Escalade; 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 10V643000).

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.