2012 Cadillac Escalade Problems & Owner Complaints

Electrical System 12 1 crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WAS RECALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10503189, 2013 · crash

“INTERIOR DASH CRACK , ONSTAR SYSTEM STOP WORKING”
NHTSA complaint #11349991, 2020

“THE CAR LOOSE POWER ON THE ROAD THE ELECTRONICS IN CAR GO CRAZY THESE MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES CODE C0900 A LOT OF GM PRODUCT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL THIS HAPPEN IN THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR PLEASE TAKE ACTION”
NHTSA complaint #11315838, 2020

Air Bags 4

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V054000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MALOUF CADILLAC (1975 US-1, NORTH BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP, NJ 08902) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11414478, 2021

“EVERY SO OFTEN MY SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH MOVING THE SEATS BACK AND FORTH AND A WIRE ISSUE. I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR SHORTLY AFTER THIS STARTED HAPPENING. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT REPAIRING THE RECALL THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THE FRONT AND I'D HATE FOR THIS TO EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON THEM OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER. WHEN WILL THERE BE A SOLUTION? HOW WILL WE KNOW THE PART IS…”
NHTSA complaint #11404061, 2021

“The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V051000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 124,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
NHTSA complaint #11424063, 2020

Engine 4

“THE CAR LOOSE POWER ON THE ROAD THE ELECTRONICS IN CAR GO CRAZY THESE MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES CODE C0900 A LOT OF GM PRODUCT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL THIS HAPPEN IN THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR PLEASE TAKE ACTION”
NHTSA complaint #11315838, 2020

“ISSUE STARTED BY HAVING THE ENGINE CUTOFF OR GO INTO LOW POWER MODE. MECHANIC TRIED FINING POWER ISSUES, ENDED UP REPLACING PCM BOARD. ISSUE REMAINED. THEN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND EVERYTHING WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NEXT LOW OIL PRESSURE MESSAGE CAME UP, STATING TO SHUT OFF ENGINE. AFTER READING AROUND, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THAT THE CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR IS BEING STARVED OF OIL DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE, THAT IS CAUSED BY THE CAMSHAFT AND BEARINGS BEING BAD. THIS FAULTY PART CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF WHILE RUNNING, EX…”
NHTSA complaint #11269759, 2019

“DRIVING NORMAL ON A CITY STREET FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED ACTING STRANGE, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED, THE AC& HTG CAME ON, HTG&FAN FOR THE SEATS CAME ON, CLOCK BLINKED, NAVIGATION SCREEN BLINKED ON AND OFF, THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN HESITATE, IT DID THIS AT LEAST 4 TIMES, I NOTICED UPON BRAKING EACH TIME AFTER THE STRANGE OCCURRENCES THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO RUN OKAY, BUT ONLY WHILE BREAKING. AFTER THIS OCCURRED FOR ABOUT ONE MILE, THE STRANGE OCCURRENCES STOPPED AND THE VEHICLE DROVE AS SHOULD, OR AT LEAST IT SEEMED OKAY. AF…”
NHTSA complaint #11161986, 2018

Service Brakes 4 1 crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WAS RECALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10503189, 2013 · crash

“COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE (BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR) WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIST, SERVICE ABS ON LED SCREEN, AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WARNING CHIMES. NO PREVIOUS WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHTS SIGNALING A PROBLEM. HAD SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY FAILING HYBRID BATTERY. AFTER BEING IN FOR SERVICE FOR 52 DAYS, I RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE WITH A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. ONE WEEK LATER, WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BRAKING ISSUE. THIS TIME WHILE THERE WAS SOME BRAKING ABILITY THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AND T…”
NHTSA complaint #11287105, 2019

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK INTO THE FLOOR BOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BAD CELL IN THE BATTERY AND AS A RESULT, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10690319, 2015

Steering 3

“MY 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED.WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. A SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE I WAS ON A TWO LANE DUAL HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS A MOTOR THAT IS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN THAT HAS A WEAK SHAFT THAT IS KNOWN TO BREAKAGE. THE VEHICLE IS MORE THAN DIFFICULT TO TRY TO STEER. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND HAS BEEN NOTED TO BE HAPPENING IN QUITE A NUMBER OF THESE LIMITED PRODUCTION VEHICLES. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #11327274, 2020

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY AND LOSS POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROTHERTON CADILLAC LOCATED AT 215 SW 12TH ST, SUITE 101, RENTON WA 98057, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11327738, 2019

“ON THE INDICATED DATE MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM DALLAS, TX TO ANN ARBOR, MI. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE ON I-44 APPROX. 20 MILES SOUTH OF ROLLA, MO. AT HIGHWAY SPEED WE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND REPEATED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND RELATED POWER SYSTEMS. THIS WAS EVIDENCED BY DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY CLICKING ON AND OFF, NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILURE, AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE, STABILITRACK FAILURE AND LACK OF POWER STEERING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO ONSTAR AND THE USE OF OUR CELL PHONES WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE A DEALER IN ROLLA. WE ??LIMPED?? INT…”
NHTSA complaint #10609340, 2013

Structure 3 1 crash 1 injury

“I HIT AND TOTALED A BLACK MAN CONVERTIBLE I WAS AT FAULT. PLEASE HELP I WAS TEXTING AND DRIVING. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #11340467, 2020 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“INTERIOR DASH CRACK , ONSTAR SYSTEM STOP WORKING”
NHTSA complaint #11349991, 2020

“DASH PAD LIFTING. WAS ADVISED FROM CADILLAC THAT THE DASH PAD LIFTING COULD POSSIBLY BE COMING FROM THE AIR BAG. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10489117, 2012

Unknown Or Other 3

“WE HAVE THREE CRACKS ON OUR DASH BOARD. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE CRACKS KEEP FORMING. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FIVE YEARS AND EVERY YEAR ANOTHER CRACK FORMS.”
NHTSA complaint #11377143, 2020

“INTERIOR DASH CRACK , ONSTAR SYSTEM STOP WORKING”
NHTSA complaint #11349991, 2020

“DASH ON MY ESCALADE HAS CRACKED IN 3 DIFFERENT PLACES AND POSES A HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF DASH CRACKS IN THAT MODEL AS WELL AS OTHERS BUT GM REFUSES TO RECALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN MATERIAL USED AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP.”
NHTSA complaint #11123212, 2017

Vehicle Speed Control 3 2 crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED FEET AND THE ENGINE RPMS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10681412, 2014 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WAS RECALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10503189, 2013 · crash

“DRIVING NORMAL ON A CITY STREET FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED ACTING STRANGE, THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED, THE AC& HTG CAME ON, HTG&FAN FOR THE SEATS CAME ON, CLOCK BLINKED, NAVIGATION SCREEN BLINKED ON AND OFF, THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN HESITATE, IT DID THIS AT LEAST 4 TIMES, I NOTICED UPON BRAKING EACH TIME AFTER THE STRANGE OCCURRENCES THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO RUN OKAY, BUT ONLY WHILE BREAKING. AFTER THIS OCCURRED FOR ABOUT ONE MILE, THE STRANGE OCCURRENCES STOPPED AND THE VEHICLE DROVE AS SHOULD, OR AT LEAST IT SEEMED OKAY. AF…”
NHTSA complaint #11161986, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2

“THE CAR LOOSE POWER ON THE ROAD THE ELECTRONICS IN CAR GO CRAZY THESE MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES CODE C0900 A LOT OF GM PRODUCT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL THIS HAPPEN IN THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR PLEASE TAKE ACTION”
NHTSA complaint #11315838, 2020

“ISSUE STARTED BY HAVING THE ENGINE CUTOFF OR GO INTO LOW POWER MODE. MECHANIC TRIED FINING POWER ISSUES, ENDED UP REPLACING PCM BOARD. ISSUE REMAINED. THEN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND EVERYTHING WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. NEXT LOW OIL PRESSURE MESSAGE CAME UP, STATING TO SHUT OFF ENGINE. AFTER READING AROUND, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THAT THE CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR IS BEING STARVED OF OIL DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE, THAT IS CAUSED BY THE CAMSHAFT AND BEARINGS BEING BAD. THIS FAULTY PART CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF WHILE RUNNING, EX…”
NHTSA complaint #11269759, 2019

Exterior Lighting 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL GATTON CHEVROLET (1000 W STATE ST, BRISTOL, TN 37620) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING BEHIND THE LENS OF THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH CAUSED THE BULBS TO BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,500. *TT *TR”
NHTSA complaint #11171442, 2019

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

“THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECURRING LOCKING PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED OR CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY LOCKS OR UNLOCKS WHILE EITHER PARKED OR MOVING CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE UNLOCKS ITSELF WHILE MOVING. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON FOUR (4) DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO CORRECT THIS LOCKING DEFECT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TOTAL OF 45 DAYS DURING 2012 ON ACCOUNT OF THIS RANDOM LOCKING ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE WITH OUR…”
NHTSA complaint #10497630, 2012

Power Train 1

“LOUD NOISE (KNOCK) WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 65 MPH, ALL ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON, VEHICLE TOWED TO RESIDENCE.”
NHTSA complaint #10990762, 2017

Wheels 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY RIMS WERE MISSHAPED AND CAUSED THE TIRES TO DEFLATE WEEKLY AND LOSE TIRE PRESSURE DAILY. THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TAKEN TO NAPERVILLE CADILLAC (1507 OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL 60540, (630) 355-2700) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT FOUR NEW RIMS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,279.”
NHTSA complaint #11179785, 2018