Cadillac Escalade ESV Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 136 of the 955 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV (14.2%) name the transmission, near the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Transmission complaints
136
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2024 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
14.2%
of 955 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
4
1 with a do-not-drive warning
Cadillac Escalade ESV transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 | 4.2% | 1 | — | 101 |
| 2009 | 4 | 6.3% | 0 | — | 103 |
| 2010 | 1 | 2.4% | 0 | — | 135 |
| 2011 | 2 | 3.2% | 0 | — | 136 |
| 2012 | 1 | 4.3% | 0 | — | 145 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 161 |
| 2015WORST | 26 | 25.5% | 0 | 26V289000 | 263 |
| 2016WORST | 21 | 20.8% | 1 | — | 174 |
| 2017WORST | 19 | 22.4% | 2 | — | 134 |
| 2018 | 4 | 11.4% | 0 | — | 109 |
| 2019 | 9 | 29% | 0 | — | 86 |
| 2020 | 1 | 4.8% | 0 | — | 70 |
| 2021 | 12 | 15.2% | 1 | 24V79700022V036000 | 133 |
| 2022 | 11 | 21.6% | 0 | 26V085000 | 112 |
| 2023 | 15 | 21.4% | 1 | — | 105 |
| 2024 | 3 | 15% | 0 | — | 20 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2014: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Cadillac Escalade ESV transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 136 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Cadillac Escalade ESV years to avoid for the transmission
2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV
26 transmission complaints (25.5% of the year's 102). Most often described: shudder or vibration. Covered by transmission recall 26V289000.
2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV
21 transmission complaints (20.8% of the year's 101). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV
19 transmission complaints (22.4% of the year's 85). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Cadillac Escalade ESV years to avoid.
Cadillac Escalade ESV transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Cadillac Escalade ESV model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V289000 · 2026-05-07 · 2015 modelsDO NOT DRIVE
A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
- 26V085000 · 2026-02-13 · 2022 models
The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.
- 24V797000 · 2024-10-24 · 2021 models
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
- 22V036000 · 2022-01-27 · 2021 models
The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Which transmission does the Cadillac Escalade ESV use?
- GM 8-speed automatic — 2015–2017
- GM 10-speed automatic — 2018–present
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 26 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 25.5% of all 102 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (9 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 26V289000.
Does the 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 21 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 20.8% of all 101 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (9 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 19 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 22.4% of all 85 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (6 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Cadillac Escalade ESV years have the most transmission complaints?
2015 (26), 2016 (21) and 2017 (19), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Cadillac Escalade ESV transmission problems?
In the 136 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (22.1%), shudder or vibration (15.4%) and loss of power or limp mode (13.2%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Cadillac Escalade ESV model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration