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Buying a used 2021 Cadillac Escalade? Check these 9 recalls first
This is the heaviest recall year of the group — nine campaigns, including two critical ones that apply only to diesel models: rear wheels that can lock and a fuel leak. Gas versions face the 6.2L V8 failure recall, a fuel pump that can stall the engine, a rear driveshaft that may break, and two separate third-row seat belt fixes. None carry stop-driving instructions. Of 87 unverified NHTSA complaints, 48 cite the engine; three crashes, two fires and two injuries were reported.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Identify whether it is the diesel or 6.2L V8, then match it to the right open recalls
- Have both third-row seat belt recalls verified as completed, and inspect the belts
- Ask about any stalling, driveshaft noise, or airbag warning light behavior
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Cadillac dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 Cadillac Escalade
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Chevy, GMC and Cadillac diesels: rear wheels can lock | Power Train | critical |
| Cadillac, Chevy, GMC Diesel SUVs May Leak Fuel | Fuel System, Diesel | critical |
| GM Full-Size SUVs: Third-Row Seat Belts May Break | Seat Belts | high |
| Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade, Yukon fuel pump can stall engine | Fuel System, Gasoline | high |
| GM full-size SUVs: rear driveshaft may break | Power Train | high |
| Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade third-row seat belt flaw | Seat Belts | high |
| Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac 6.2L V8 engines may fail | Engine And Engine Cooling | high |
| GM SUVs and cars: airbag warning light may not work | AIR Bags | medium |
| Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade daytime running light glare | Exterior Lighting | medium |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
87 complaints filed for this model year, including 3 mentioning a crash, 2 a fire and 2 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 58 | Yes |
| Power Train | 10 | Yes |
| Electrical System | 10 | None found |
| Driver Assistance | 7 | None found |
| Fuel System | 6 | Yes |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | Yes |