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2025 Cadillac Escalade Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 2026
Ethan Miller

Complaint Summary

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade has 7 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve engine and power train.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

7.6/ 10

Based on 7 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

ENGINE

4 57.1%

POWER TRAIN

1 14.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 14.3%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 14.3%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is ENGINE, accounting for 57.1% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 4 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade has 7 owner complaints in this dataset. ENGINE is the most common complaint category, representing about 57% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade are ENGINE (4), POWER TRAIN (1), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 5 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2025 Cadillac Escalade?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2024 Escalade complaints2026 Escalade complaints2023 Escalade complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 4 of 4 systems

ENGINE

4 Reports57% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Was on the interstate driving 75 mph, with my daughter, her friend, my wife. And the car cut off, and dealership said engine locked. 45 minutes prior i was on a snowy mountain road, and this vehicle has 939 miles on it, one month old. Now i am reading about the investigation, and feel this is negligence on gmc. This could have been a disaster and life changing for me. I dont care if its a 75k vehicle or 135k like mine, this is dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the vehicle is currently at the dealership! Told my wife to start recording in case something happened.

1/21/2025

The contact owns a 2025 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 77 MPH in the left lane, the vehicle lost motive power and shut down. The driver was able to move to the right lane and pulled over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called OnStar for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact about a buyback and the lemon law due to not being able to replace the engine in a timely manner. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 953.

1/21/2025

2 more complaints are available in this category.

POWER TRAIN

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Was on the interstate driving 75 mph, with my daughter, her friend, my wife. And the car cut off, and dealership said engine locked. 45 minutes prior i was on a snowy mountain road, and this vehicle has 939 miles on it, one month old. Now i am reading about the investigation, and feel this is negligence on gmc. This could have been a disaster and life changing for me. I dont care if its a 75k vehicle or 135k like mine, this is dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the vehicle is currently at the dealership! Told my wife to start recording in case something happened.

1/21/2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Vehicle showed error on the dash for all various systems. It told me those systems required service. I parked the truck and it locked me out of it. OnStar could not open the doors, they kept telling me the truck was unlocked. My app could not open the doors. I called roadside and they showed me how to remove the cover on drive side handle and insert the manual key. The lock turned but the vehicle would not unlock due to the automatic doors. We had to insert an airbag and Jimmy open the door by hooking the interior door handle. The issue is this vehicle will lock you out of your car in an emergency. With the key you cannot unlock the doors. Luckily I only had dinner stuck in the car. I have little children and my fear is they will be locked in the truck if this happens. In the event of an emergency there is no way to get into the truck without smashing windows. The running boards in this mode disappear which makes it even more challenging to break the window and get over and inside. This is a very serious and dangerous design by Cadillac on the Escalade 2025.

12/15/2025

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Vehicle showed error on the dash for all various systems. It told me those systems required service. I parked the truck and it locked me out of it. OnStar could not open the doors, they kept telling me the truck was unlocked. My app could not open the doors. I called roadside and they showed me how to remove the cover on drive side handle and insert the manual key. The lock turned but the vehicle would not unlock due to the automatic doors. We had to insert an airbag and Jimmy open the door by hooking the interior door handle. The issue is this vehicle will lock you out of your car in an emergency. With the key you cannot unlock the doors. Luckily I only had dinner stuck in the car. I have little children and my fear is they will be locked in the truck if this happens. In the event of an emergency there is no way to get into the truck without smashing windows. The running boards in this mode disappear which makes it even more challenging to break the window and get over and inside. This is a very serious and dangerous design by Cadillac on the Escalade 2025.

12/15/2025

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?

The most reported complaint category for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade is ENGINE, with 4 owner reports. That is about 57% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Are complaints about the 2025 Cadillac Escalade a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 5 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2025 Cadillac Escalade severe?

5 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Cadillac Escalade: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
7
Top-topic view
4 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

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