Prior to purchasing my 2023 Cadillac Escalade, I was informed the vehicle had been subject to an engine recall. The dealership told me the corrective action was changing the oil from 0W-20 to 0W-40, replacing the filter, and updating the oil cap. I was assured this resolved the issue and that I should not experience future problems. Based on those assurances, I purchased the vehicle in October 2025 with approximately 25,000 miles. About nine months later, the engine shut off while I was stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle automatically shifted into neutral and turned off. I restarted it and continued driving. The exact same incident occurred again a few days later. I brought the vehicle to a Cadillac dealership for inspection. After several hours of diagnostics, I was told they could not find any issues and that the vehicle appeared to be operating normally. Two days later, while traveling approximately 75 mph on the highway with my family, including two young children, a warning message appeared instructing me to restart the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle shifted into neutral and lost propulsion. I pulled to the shoulder and restarted the engine, which struggled to start and ran very rough. After resuming travel, the exact same failure occurred again within minutes at highway speed, forcing me to pull over a second time. Concerned for my family's safety, I exited the highway and drove local roads. The vehicle was returned to the dealership. An oil sample was sent to a GM-approved laboratory, and I was later informed that elevated levels of metal contamination were found in the oil. GM subsequently authorized a complete engine replacement. I am submitting this complaint because the recall remedy I was told would resolve the issue did not prevent a major engine failure. The vehicle shut off twice at stoplights, passed a dealership inspection, and then lost propulsion twice at highway speeds. This presented a significant safety risk to my family and

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764478 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

2023 Cadillac Escalade, 6.2L V8 (RPO L87). Subject of Recall 25V-274 and NHTSA investigation RQ26-001. Over the past year, this vehicle has been out of the shop only about 90 days total. The rest of the year it has been in dealer service at GM/Cadillac dealerships for a recurring, undiagnosed loss-of-power defect. It is currently in dealer service. FAILURE: The vehicle has suddenly lost all motive power on three separate occasions. Engine runs, vehicle loses all drive power, will not restart. Two events occurred at approximately 80 mph on an interstate highway. One occurred with children in the vehicle. The only warning is a “service rear axle” message that appears just before power loss. No diagnostic trouble code has isolated the fault. Root cause has not been diagnosed. REPAIR PATTERN: Six dealer visits across two Cadillac dealerships in one year. Interventions have included two battery replacements, a full engine replacement under Recall 25V-274, an approximately $1,500 charge categorized as diagnostic with no repair labor documented, and most recently a “wiring harness manipulation / re-wrap” performed over approximately 90 days. Dealer personnel described the fix as “manipulation fixed it” — which is not a diagnosed repair. On at least one return of the vehicle, dealer personnel stated in the presence of a witness that they were not certain the defect had been fixed. The “service rear axle” warning returned within three days of the most recent repair. POST-RECALL: The engine was replaced under Recall 25V-274 and the loss-of-power failures continued afterward. This is directly relevant to RQ26-001, examining post-recall-remedy failures.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11754077 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The contact and her husband own a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while her husband was inside the vehicle with their four children and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal failed to work as intended, causing the vehicle to crash into the vehicle ahead. The contact stated that there was no injury sustained. The contact stated that a Police report was not filed; however, the local Police assisted with having the vehicle towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764417 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The front upper control arm on the driver’s side snapped in half, resulting in the complete detachment of the wheel while the vehicle was in motion. The failed component is still in my possession and available for inspection upon request. This failure placed both my life and the lives of others at significant risk. The wheel detached while I was driving, which could have led to a catastrophic crash had it occurred at higher speeds or in heavier traffic. I was extremely fortunate that the failure occurred under conditions that allowed me to bring the vehicle to a stop without injury or collision. A suspension failure of this nature represents a critical safety hazard. The failure has been physically verified by both the service center where the vehicle was taken after the incident and by GM’s assigned third-party inspection service. A visual and mechanical inspection confirmed the fractured upper control arm and resulting suspension failure. A second opinion from an independent mechanic is being pursued as well. The vehicle was inspected by a third-party claims investigator assigned by GM, who reviewed the scene and the damage. I have not received a full report or documentation from GM or the inspector, but I am requesting it formally. The incident was also documented by my insurance provider. The police were not called, as there were no injuries or collision with another vehicle. There were no warning lights, messages, or error codes on the dashboard prior to the incident. I did not observe any unusual handling, noises, or vibrations that would have suggested an impending mechanical failure. The control arm failure occurred suddenly and without warning while driving under normal conditions.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11670950 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH on the highway, there was an abnormal popping sound heard. There were no other vehicles nearby. The contact pulled over and checked the vehicle, and the contact became aware that the sunroof had cracked. There was a hole the size of his hand. There were no reported injuries. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the replacement glass was not in stock. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 18,200.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11557285 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov