2021 Cadillac Escalade recalls (11)

Every 2021 Cadillac Escalade recall

Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.

• Fuel System, Diesel · NHTSA 25V619000

  Sep 18, 2025Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2022 and 2024 GMC Yukon vehicles equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine. The original fuel tank may have been replaced with an incorrect fuel tank, which can allow fuel to leak in a rollover crash.

  Risk

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a vehicle fire.

  Fix

  Dealers will inspect for the correct fuel tank and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252512770. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 18, 2025.

  Full recall details for 25V619000 →

• Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA 25V274000

  Apr 24, 2025Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

  Risk

  Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

  Full recall details for 25V274000 →

• Power Train · NHTSA 24V797000

  Oct 24, 2024Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

  Risk

  Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

  Full recall details for 24V797000 →

• Seat Belts · NHTSA 22V617000

  Nov 8, 2022Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

  Risk

  A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

  Fix

  Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.

  Full recall details for 22V617000 →

• Exterior Lighting · NHTSA 22V827000

  Mar 11, 2022Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:SoftwareOver-the-air fix

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

  Risk

  Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222382220.

  Full recall details for 22V827000 →

• Power Train · NHTSA 22V036000

  Jan 27, 2022Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.

  Risk

  Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.

  Full recall details for 22V036000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 21V421000

  Oct 6, 2021Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/LightOver-the-air fix

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

  Risk

  The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

  Fix

  The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.

  Full recall details for 21V421000 →

• Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA 21V739000

  Sep 23, 2021Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump:Control/Drive Module

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.

  Risk

  An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212332040.

  Full recall details for 21V739000 →

• Steering · NHTSA 21V455000

  Jun 17, 2021Steering:Steering Control ModuleOver-the-air fix

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

  Risk

  Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.

  Full recall details for 21V455000 →

• Seat Belts · NHTSA 21V190000

  Mar 18, 2021Seat Belts

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.

  Risk

  A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000.

  Full recall details for 21V190000 →

• Seat Belts · NHTSA 20V811000

  Dec 23, 2020Seat Belts

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

  Risk

  If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

  Full recall details for 20V811000 →

2021 Cadillac Escalade complaints and service bulletins

Owners filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, reporting 5 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries. Cadillac has issued at least 1,137 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.

Most-reported components

• Engine104
• Power Train22
• Electrical System21
• Engine and Engine Cooling17
• Fuel/Propulsion System12
• Forward Collision Avoidance10

Service bulletins by component

• Electrical System (733)
• Equipment (616)
• Engine and Engine Cooling (606)
• Unknown Or Other (401)
• Power Train (330)
• Engine (199)

Read Cadillac Escalade owner complaints and bulletins, every year

NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2021 Cadillac Escalade

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 5 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.

• Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
  EA26005Opened Aug 20, 2026Open
• Loss of motive power due to engine failure
  EA25007Opened Oct 23, 2025Open
• Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
  RQ26001Opened Jan 16, 2026Closed Aug 20, 2026
• Loss of motive power due to engine failure
  PE25001Opened Jan 16, 2025Closed Oct 23, 2025
• Air Bag Malfunction
  PE21010Opened Apr 9, 2021Closed Aug 24, 2023

Other Cadillac Escalade model years

← 2020 Cadillac Escalade · 2022 Cadillac Escalade →

• 2026 (4)
• 2025 (1)
• 2024 (2)
• 2023 (4)
• 2022 (4)
• 2021 (11)
• 2020 (2)
• 2019 (1)
• 2018 (2)
• 2017 (2)
• 2016 (4)
• 2015 (9)
• 2014 (2)
• 2013 (4)
• 2012 (3)
• 2011 (6)
• 2010 (3)
• 2009 (2)
• 2008 (1)
• 2007 (1)

All Cadillac Escalade recalls, every model year