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2011 Cadillac Escalade ESVProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 13 owner complaints about the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-050 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 28%Owner complaints133 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem5Air bags

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 3, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV has problems

13 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags50
Structure43
Equipment22
Seats20
Electrical system20
Fuel/propulsion system10
Tires10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

28%repaired · 2023 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-050 · Feb 5, 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles · 734,119 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

51%repaired · 2023 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-054 · Feb 5, 2021 · 1,778,128 vehicles · 900,275 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

63%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 14V-827 · Dec 30, 2014 · 84,192 vehicles · 53,283 repaired

Risk. If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering: linkages

Recall 11V-339 · Jun 28, 2011 · 739 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Axle: spindle

Recall 11V-007 · Jan 6, 2011 · 30,566 vehicles

Risk. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Cadillac.

Best & worst years

2011 vs. every other Escalade ESV year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escalade ESV median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV safety ratings

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (23.7% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Escalade ESV owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY AND PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). MASSEY CADILLAC NORTH ORLANDO (4241 N JOHN YOUNG PKWY, ORLANDO, FL 32804,…
Complaint 11189891 · Mar 19, 2019
TAKATA RECALL ISSUED 5/2016BY MAIL TO MY HOUSE. NHTSA#: 16V381 RECALL 49151. CALLED HOEHN BUICK CADILLAC IN CARLSBAD, CA. REPLIED THAT GM HADN'T SENT OUT PARTSYET. CALLED AGAIN & WENT TO DEALER ON 11/21/2016 & FINALLY 9/19/2017. SAME STORY. SPOKE TO GM VINCE LOVE. VINCE LOVE.
Complaint 11043952 · Nov 6, 2017
TAKATA RECALL I HAD MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH TWO OF THE LOCAL CADILLAC DEALERS TO GET THE RECALL SOLVED BUT CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME RESPONSE; "THE RECALL ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE!" AS OF YET, THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT MADE BY ANY OF THE DEALERS ON GETTING THE MATTER RESOLVED AND INSTEAD SOME OF THE…
Complaint 10957995 · Mar 2, 2017

Own a 2011 Escalade ESV?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.