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Cadillac transmission recalls: locking wheels, lost power and fluid leaks
Wheel lock-up from a failing transmission control valve is the theme: three recalls — 2021 Escalade and Escalade ESV diesels, 2022 Escalade and Escalade ESV with the 10-speed ETRS transmission, and 2019-2020 CT6 plus 2020-2021 CT4 and CT5 sedans — all end with wheels locking while you drive, and all are fixed with transmission control module software. A second cluster loses drive power through separated shafts: 2021 Escalade rear driveshafts that were not heat-treated properly, 2023 XT5 right-front half-shafts that can pull out of the transmission, and 2022-2023 XT5 and XT6 transmissions built with the wrong sun gear. The oldest, covering 2019-2020 XT4 and 2020 XT6, is a start-stop accumulator that can leak transmission fluid.
Warning signs to watch for
- The wheels, particularly the rear wheels, lock up while driving with little or no warning beforehand.
- The vehicle suddenly loses drive power while you are on the road.
- The vehicle rolls away after being parked, a sign a half-shaft has disengaged from the transmission.
- A transmission fluid leak, which GM warns can leave you stranded in traffic and can start a fire (2019-2020 XT4, 2020 XT6).
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall in this group tells owners to stop driving or park outside, but several give little warning before they fail. The three wheel lock-up recalls and the 2021 Escalade driveshaft recall can strand or endanger you without notice, so GM's advice is to have the free software or parts work done right away. The 2020 accumulator leak is the most urgent of the rest because of the fire and stall risk. The half-shaft and sun gear recalls also allow driving, though a vehicle that can roll away in park should be fixed promptly.
What the free repair involves
All seven repairs are free. The three wheel lock-up recalls install new transmission control module software, and the 2020-2022 diesel recall adds special coverage for transmissions the remedy software flags as damaged. Hardware recalls replace parts: rear driveshaft assemblies on 2021 Escalades, right-front half-shafts on the 2023 XT5, and sun gears on XT5 and XT6 models. The accumulator recall is inspect-and-replace if bolts are missing.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 3 |
| high | 4 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-13 | Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade rear wheels may lock | critical |
| 2025-03-06 | Cadillac and Camaro transmission may lock the wheels | high |
| 2024-10-24 | Chevy, GMC and Cadillac diesels: rear wheels can lock | critical |
| 2023-03-16 | GM SUVs may lose power from faulty transmission gear | high |
| 2023-02-02 | Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia axle shaft can separate | high |
| 2022-01-27 | GM full-size SUVs: rear driveshaft may break | high |
| 2020-10-29 | Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac: Transmission Fluid Leak Risk | critical |
Common questions
Which Cadillacs are in the transmission wheel lock-up recalls?
2021 Escalade and Escalade ESV with diesel engines, 2022 Escalade and Escalade ESV with the 10-speed ETRS transmission, and 2019-2020 CT6 plus 2020-2021 CT4 and CT5 with the 10-speed transmission. Each gets free control module software.
Can software really fix a transmission that locks the wheels?
GM's remedy for these recalls is new transmission control module software, including monitoring software on the CT sedans. For the 2020-2022 diesel recall, GM also set up a special coverage program to repair transmissions the remedy software identifies as damaged.
My XT5 rolled slightly after I parked it — is that related?
It can be. The 2023 XT5 half-shaft recall and the 2022-2023 XT5/XT6 sun gear recall both describe a shaft disengaging from the transmission, which GM links to loss of drive power or a roll-away. Have it inspected.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.