2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
32
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
15
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE
The 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE has received a total of 32 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 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. 15 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (9 complaints), Engine (3 complaints), and Service Brakes (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE, potentially affecting up to 5,987,866 vehicles.
Recall 21V054000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 1,778,128 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be...
View full details →Recall 21V054000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 1,778,128 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be...
View full details →Recall 21V054000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 1,778,128 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be...
View full details →Recall 21V051000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 284,645 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan),...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be...
View full details →Recall 21V051000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 284,645 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan),...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be...
View full details →Recall 14V827000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 84,192 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Consequence: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC)....
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE
32 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkages | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheelsrim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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 AVAILABLE? PLEASE FIX ASAP!!
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.
INTERIOR DASH CRACK , ONSTAR SYSTEM STOP WORKING
INTERIOR DASH CRACK , ONSTAR SYSTEM STOP WORKING
Safety Rating for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE
The 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE 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 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE
General Motors, LLC has issued 15 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
15-06-03-001F — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
17NA308 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of carpet damage, seat mounting stud wear through, hole in second row (Intermediate) carpet.
PIT5403D — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the steps to diagnosis and repair vehicles with various handling, vehicle dynamics concerns, noises from the suspension or underbody, or issues related to damaged suspension components. Before any in-depth diagnostics are performed, be aware that various issues could occur if...
17-NA-274 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
This informational bulletin provides a option for the customer to replace the hot/cold cup holder with a standard cup holder.
PIC5932B — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about customers that may complain of various concerns when using Bluetooth components. Technician should use the Preliminary Information to gather information from the customer on their Bluetooth device and the concern they are having before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center.
PIT4811B — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with the steps on how to diagnose vehicles with a no crank with multiple Diagnostic Trouble Codes set in several different modules with Regular Production Option Code HP2. Technician will retrieve all the Diagnostic Trouble Codes that are set current in the vehicle....
PIT5206B — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the steps on diagnosing and repairing vehicles that may have unwanted grade braking, reduced engine power with no Driver Information Center messages "Brake Pedal Override Feature", transmission busy or frequent shifting up or down. Technician will use this preliminary information...
13147A — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
SB-12286-A — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
"12286A - SERVICE UPDATE (REVISED EXPIRATION DATE). THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A SERVICE PROCEDURE TO INSTALL A RUBBER AND A FOAM SPACER TO THE BACKSIDE OF BOTH REAR SIDE DOOR WINDOW REVEAL MOLDINGS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR SIDE DOOR...
PIT4474E — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have navigation or radio screen is blank or flashes on and off, no sound from speakers, and rear DVD screen inoperative. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B1265, B1288, or B1289. Technician will need to repair circuit 7066.
Showing 10 of 15 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CADILLAC ESCALADE
- 2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 317 complaints
- 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 180 complaints
- 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 89 complaints
- 2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 44 complaints
- 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 53 complaints
- 2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE (current)
- 2013 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 22 complaints
- 2014 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 29 complaints
- 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 137 complaints
- 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 113 complaints
- 2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 71 complaints
Other CADILLAC Models
- CADILLAC SRX — 4,131 total complaints
- CADILLAC DEVILLE — 3,659 total complaints
- CADILLAC CTS — 3,088 total complaints
- CADILLAC SEVILLE — 1,049 total complaints
- CADILLAC CATERA — 826 total complaints
- CADILLAC DTS — 725 total complaints
- CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV — 633 total complaints
- CADILLAC STS — 609 total complaints