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2012 Cadillac EscaladeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 20 owner complaints about the 2012 Cadillac Escalade, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-051 the manufacturer reports only 39% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 39%Owner complaints204 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage57kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 9, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Cadillac Escalade has problems

20 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
Electrical system91
Engine30
Service brakes31
Structure21
Steering20
Vehicle speed control22
Air bags20
Electronic stability control (ESC)20
Wheels10
3 other systems30

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

3 recalls

2012 Cadillac Escalade 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.

39%repaired · 2023 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-051 · Feb 5, 2021 · 284,645 vehicles · 111,728 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 →

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

2012 vs. every other Escalade 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 median. How we score

'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2012 Cadillac Escalade safety ratings

2012 Cadillac Escalade SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
  • Rollover: 3 stars (22.8% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2012 Cadillac Escalade, and the recalls they led to.

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

What Escalade owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE CAR LOOSE POWER ON THE ROAD THE ELECTRONICS IN CAR GO CRAZY THESE MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES CODE C0900 A LOT OF GM PRODUCT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL THIS HAPPEN IN THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR PLEASE TAKE ACTION
Complaint 11315838 · Mar 3, 2020 · 122,696 miles
ISSUE STARTED BY HAVING THE ENGINE CUTOFF OR GO INTO LOW POWER MODE. MECHANIC TRIED FINING POWER ISSUES, ENDED UP REPLACING PCM BOARD. ISSUE REMAINED. THEN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND EVERYTHING WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NEXT…
Complaint 11269759 · Oct 20, 2019 · 78,000 miles
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, EVERYTHING AND THE ENGINE UPSHIFTED INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR COMPLETELY ON ITS OWN, THEN REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. THE ELECTRICS WOULD COME BACK ON AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN. THE ELECTRONIC WENT COMPLETELY…
Complaint 11024990 · Sep 22, 2017 · 54,000 miles

Own a 2012 Escalade?

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