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2013 Cadillac EscaladeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 19 owner complaints about the 2013 Cadillac Escalade, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-053 the manufacturer reports only 43% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 43%Owner complaints191 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage96kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2013 Cadillac Escalade has problems

19 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
Power train50
Electrical system41
Air bags30
Engine30
Seat belts20
Vehicle speed control20
Steering20
Forward collision avoidance10
Visibility10
2 other systems20

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

4 recalls

2013 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.

43%repaired · 2023 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-053 · Feb 5, 2021 · 692,526 vehicles · 298,205 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 →

85%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system

Recall 14V-614 · Oct 1, 2014 · 106,307 vehicles · 90,029 repaired

Risk. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 13V-001 · Jan 2, 2013 · 54,686 vehicles

Risk. As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position.

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

2013 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

2013 Cadillac Escalade safety ratings

2013 Cadillac Escalade SUV RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
  • Rollover: 3 stars (24.6% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2013 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 power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at highway speeds, the "Engine Power Reduced" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was pulled…
Complaint 11765953 · Sep 21, 2026 · 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle downshifted unintendedly, and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light…
Complaint 11513086 · Mar 21, 2023 · 130,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A COMPLETE STOP WAS MADE AT A STOP SIGN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TUN FROM THE STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWERTRAIN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. THE POWER STEERING DID…
Complaint 11150780 · Nov 11, 2018 · 96,000 miles

Own a 2013 Escalade?

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