2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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4/5

★★★★

Safety Rating

47

Owner Complaints

5 Crashes 1 Fire

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

31

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

The 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV has received a total of 47 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. 31 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Service Brakes (11 complaints), Engine (8 complaints), and Power Train (8 complaints).

Recalls for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV, potentially affecting up to 10,920,486 vehicles.

Recall 16V651000 — SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

| 3,640,162 vehicles affected

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV...

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016....

View full details →

Recall 16V651000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

| 3,640,162 vehicles affected

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV...

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016....

View full details →

Recall 16V651000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

| 3,640,162 vehicles affected

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV...

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016....

View full details →

Owner Complaints for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

47 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11715410 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
Lifters went out in January 2024 Paid thousands and thousands to repair and now having more issues again. Same issues the recalled 2021-2025 gym 6.2L have
#11702226 | SERVICE BRAKES | | N/A miles
Incident date: 2025-11-22 Location: I-70 (while taking an exit) Dealership: Jim Coleman Cadillac (vehicle purchased and routinely serviced here) I am reporting a sudden and severe brake system failure that created an immediate risk to vehicle occupants. On 2025-11-22 my wife was driving our Escalade with our two children when, while taking an exit on I-70, she felt the brakes go completely limp and the vehicle would not slow down as expected. The vehicle had been driving normally beforehand; we had made a couple of stops earlier that day. She was able to reduce speed and bring the vehicle to a stop without colliding with another vehicle, but this was only because there was no traffic immediately ahead. A tow was called; the vehicle was first towed to a nearby Cadillac dealer for initial diagnostics and then to Jim Coleman Cadillac where the vehicle was purchased and where all prior services and repairs have been completed. The most recent service/inspection at Jim Coleman had been completed a few weeks prior and no brake concerns or repair recommendations were noted at that time. The last documented brake service prior to this incident was in 2022 at the same dealership. After the incident, when inspected, the dealership service manager reported his findings: "The bolt on the top left front brake caliper walked out, the caliper swung rearward pivoting on the still secured lower bolt and the top piston was expelled from the caliper resulting in rapid loss of brake fluid and a failure of the hydraulic brakes. The reason the bolt came off could have been due to improper machine of the bolt or the caliper bracket that it was screwed into." This failure occurred without warning and represents an extreme safety hazard that could have caused a serious crash. I request that NHTSA review this incident as a potential safety defect, and that it be added to any investigation regarding similar complaints for this model/year.
#11701962 | SERVICE BRAKES | | N/A miles
2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV VIN: [XXX] Dealership: Jim Coleman Cadillac, Bethesda, MD I am reporting a brake safety failure involving severe and abnormal brake component wear that created an immediate safety risk with breaks completely failing while driving at high speed on the highway. During normal driving, I discovered that the right front brake assembly had worn down to bare metal. The brake pad friction material was completely gone, resulting in metal-on-metal contact with the rotor. The rotor showed deep scoring and unsafe wear consistent with a possible stuck caliper piston, seized caliper slide pins, or other component malfunction. This failure occurred without warning. The vehicle had been at the dealership for a customary inspection shortly before this issue, and the dealership did not report any brake wear concerns at that time. All brake services and major repairs on this vehicle have always been performed by the same Cadillac dealership. The last documented brake service with chanigng of the breaks involved was completed by the dealership in 2022. This is a critical safety issue that ]caused total brake failure. I am requesting that NHTSA review this defect, as premature brake destruction of this nature may indicate a systemic issue with the brake system, caliper operation, or inspection protocol on this model. The dealership was not sure of the reason why this happened that I was adviced that the bolt was missing and could have come off with vibration which is again a critical safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
#11697006 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
With only 78k miles on my 2017 Escalade the same issue happened with the lifters like in the 2021-2025 models. We had to pay out 14k to replace the motor. GM has known about this problem for almost a decade and it’s not fair that we had to pay out this much money to replace an engine with them knowing the problems. Had they told us years ago to change to a heavier oil or whatever we would have done so and maybe our factory engine would have lasted like so many previous year models up to 250k miles.
#11696025 | STEERING | | N/A miles 1 Injury
I am the owner of a 2017 Cadillac Escalade affected by Special Coverage Adjustment 17016 (Program ID N162058750). The issue involves the chrome trim on the steering wheel separating, creating a sharp edge that poses a safety hazard to the driver. I contacted Cadillac to request a repair under this Special Coverage program. My vehicle developed this defect while still under the mileage limit of the program, well before exceeding 120,000 miles. However, Cadillac has refused to provide any repair or assistance, stating that the coverage has expired today. I understand that this is not a legally mandated recall, but the defect is clearly safety-related, with potential to cause cuts or injury while driving. I have documented my communications with Cadillac, including my requests for a goodwill repair exception due to the safety risk, but they have declined to help. As a consumer, I feel unprotected and at risk. I am submitting this report to NHTSA to request that the agency review this safety concern and ensure that Cadillac addresses it appropriately. I seek guidance on what actions can be taken when a manufacturer refuses to remediate a known safety issue that manifested during the coverage period. I am concerned not only for myself but for other owners who may encounter the same hazard. I respectfully ask that NHTSA consider this complaint seriously and advise on how this safety defect can be resolved.

View all Service Brakes complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

The 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Test Category Rating
Overall Rating ★★★★ (4/5)
Frontal Crash ★★★★★ (5/5)
Side Crash ★★★★★ (5/5)
Rollover ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

General Motors, LLC has issued 31 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

PIP5700E — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary information communicates to the dealer technician that the part numbers for the internal wiring harnesses for the 8 speed RWD transmissions are not listed in the Electronic Parts Catalog. Technicians are to refer to the information provided in this document to obtain the internal wiring harness part numbers...

17NA345 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the power steering control module to correct a condition of Loss of Steering Assist due to a software abnormality.

21NA124 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides diagnostic tips/steps on testing for possible EVAP leaks in the system to correct a customer concern of an MIL Illuminated with DTCs P0442 and/or P0455 Set.

150601002K — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

This service bulletin provides a procedure to repair the valve lifter oil manifold and/or lifters to correct the customers concern of engine misfire, ticking noise and/or MIL Illuminated.

17336 07 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Special Coverage (Parts Ordering Information Added). On some vehicles, may have a condition where thermal cycling on the combination transmission fluid/oil and AC condenser cooler creates a crack that may allow refrigerant to escape. This condition consequently may deactivate the AC system which may cause potential customer annoyance. This special...

19NA071 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of forward collision/active safety system inoperative, no messages or alerts. Technician may find DTC?s B390A?45, B390A?58 and/or DTC?B390A?67 are set.

20NA037 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

This technical bulletin is providing a procedure to add additional sealant after repairing a trailer wiring harness with the condition of Unable to Start/Shut Off Vehicle, Extended Engine Crank Prior to Start, Battery Drain, Tail Lamps Inoperative, Unintended Brake Pedal Movement During Operation, and/or Traction Control/Stability System/ABS Indicators Illuminated due...

20NA037 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

This technical bulletin is providing a procedure to add additional sealant after repairing a trailer wiring harness with the condition of Unable to Start/Shut Off Vehicle, Extended Engine Crank Prior to Start, Battery Drain, Tail Lamps Inoperative, Unintended Brake Pedal Movement During Operation, and/or Traction Control/Stability System/ABS Indicators Illuminated due...

PIP5700 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

This Preliminary information communicates to the dealer technician that the part numbers for the internal wiring harnesses for the 8 speed RWD transmissions are not listed in the Electronic Parts Catalog. Technicians are to refer to the information provided in this document to obtain the internal wiring harness part numbers...

19NA136 — POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to change the diff fluid if found the cause of the customers concern.

Showing 10 of 31 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

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