4.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,108 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Cadillac Escalade drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2015 Cadillac Escalade Owner Comments

problem #19

Nov 152023

Escalade

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there were metal shavings in the engine oil, causing transmission failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #18

Aug 012023

Escalade

  • miles
Transmission brakes at speed, feels as if I got rear ended from the back. I know that there is lawsuits against GM for this same problem that I am having. GM knew about these transmission problems and told everyone that this 8 speed transmission was supposed to shift this way. But, now I have it parked in my driveway. Is there anyway that I can get my truck fixed?

- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA

problem #17

Jun 062021

Escalade

  • miles
I bought the vehicle on May 27, 2021. I filled the tank with 87 octane on 3 separate occasions between May 27 and June 4, 2021.The engine (6.2L V8 L86 EcoTec) shut off during a trip on May 31, 2021. I was pulling into a restaurant and there were no indicators of any issues. While pulling up into the drive thru, the engine lost power. No Check Engine Light appeared at all. On a second trip (June 6, 2021), the engine again lost power while coming off of a highway exit. This time, I experienced loss of acceleration and then the vehicle shut off as I pulled into a parking lot. Both times I had to put the vehicle into park, shut off and then start back up. Again, no Check Engine Light. I drove the car to an auto parts store to buy a fuel additive. It was driving roughly at this point, but as I pulled into the parking lot, again a loss of power from the engine. It never started back up. Each time the vehicle shut off, I was driving it, not parked or stopped. There were also no indicators of any malfunction.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #16

Mar 182021

Escalade

  • 109,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission is not shifting properly. Jumps between lower gears. Followed the fix GM recommended which changed the transmission oil to one of a different type and viscosity. Worked for awhile but shifting issues have come back. A bit disconcerting when it does it. Startles and distracts the driver and can cause potential over-compensation and braking. Noticed more as winter is transitioning to spring.

- Waunakee, WI, USA

problem #15

Feb 232021

Escalade

  • 40,677 miles
I had my 2015 Escalade esv in the shop for a software upgrade and was informed that both my radiator and front struts were leaking. My truck has 40,677 miles on it. The dealer quoted me 1,532 for the radiator and 1,822 for the front struts.

- Bozeman, MT, USA

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problem #14

Nov 212018

Escalade

  • 38,000 miles
When driving the vehicle and shifting from 1-2 the vehicle jerks very hard. I have taken it to the dealership 3 times and the did all required updates needed. On the 3rd visit the dealership said this is a known issue and there is no repairing it. They said GM updated the transmission in 2019 and have not had issues since. Why would they not provide the updated transmission to all prior vehicles if it remedies the issue? while driving my car shifts so hard some times it throws me forward. This occurs when accelerating from a stop light on the road or stop and go traffic on the highway. As for the reverse issue, the car will abruptly engage the braking system making it seem as of you hit someone or someone hit you while in reverse. This occurs mainly when reversing into a parking stall. It is highly dangerous and can cause whiplash to someone who is not aware it can occur.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

problem #13

May 042020

Escalade

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1) air bag light comes on in vehicle. 2) R-134 leaks 3) body and or rear reverse light fixture has condensation and water gets in area in front of sunroof. 4) rear back door no unlock all the time. 5) powertrain work performed at dealer and experiencing slipping. 6) steering column noise/clunk

- Oak Harbor, WA, USA

problem #12

Aug 302019

Escalade 8-cyl

  • miles
2015 Cadillac Escalade. Consumer writes in regards to defective brakes. Consumer states that vehicle has had many problems. Consumer took vehicle to napleton (rockford, il) because check engine light came on and vehicle was rumbling and shuddering. A new harness was installed inside the transmisson. In 09/2019 consumer received a safety recall for the brakes of vehicle and they submitted a reimbursement request to manufacturer.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #11

Jan 202020

Escalade

  • 46,500 miles
My 2015 Cadillac Escalade has spent more than 2 months in the caddilac dealership to try and resolve issues surrounding the transmission. This car over time has shown signs of shuddering, mis-shifting, jolting and diving. Most recently the car shifts from 2nd to 1st below 20mph causing the rear wheels to spin and making the car unsafely jolt forward. Nothing seems to resolve this issue and the car is unsafe for me and my family. I have tried to work with the dealership over the last 1.5 (4 visits) years and every time there is a new fluid or a new reprogram that GM makes them try. Most recently I opened a case with GM: 9-576-707-5930 because the dealership has no other options on fixing the car.

- Newport, RI, USA

problem #10

Jan 012015

Escalade

  • miles
Transmission/ drive train has distinct clunking noise when either accelerating and or decelerating. There is a distinct delay surge when accelerating from stop and or slowing down at slow speeds and or from sloped streets. The clunking and jerking is not safe and conducive to normal driving and operating.parameters. The delayed surging and jerking creates an abnormal acceleration both in the vehicle and for surrounding traffic when starting from a red light or stop sign. GM dealers/ repair facility techs are aware of this saftety/design defect yet GM has yet to admit/ and or acknowledge and or provide a fix for this safety problem. This vehicle has been in for repair of this problem many numerous times but GM does not or will not fix this safety defect without first acknowledging this. Problem! this has been an ongoing problem since the vehicle was near brand new. Original transmission was replaced and vehicle has been in for this problem still, and to this current mileage, over 65.000 miles this safety problem is worsening!

- San Clemente, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 072019

Escalade

  • 5 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We bought this car a month ago and already began with problems. It has 50K miles. There is a strange cluck coming from the transmission are while driving and gets worse when gears down. Also the recycle air system does not work. Bad smells come from the outside.

- Fall River, MA, USA

problem #8

Jun 052018

Escalade

  • 50,000 miles
2015 kind of like asking late 8 speed transmission problems shuddering shaking need a new transmission took it to the dealership 12 times they did several transmission flushes did not fix the problem

- Ruskin, FL, USA

problem #7

Aug 142019

Escalade

  • 54,525 miles
Car, at times, fails to engage into drive, when at a stop. Also, while driving, car, at times, will not advance to the next gear upon acceleration. Also, while driving at constant speed, car shudders and cannot maintain the proper gear.

- Manlius, NY, USA

problem #6

Apr 032019

Escalade

  • 44,989 miles
I've had this vehicle since 3-28-2019 and I'm already having shifting problems with the vehicle. After doing some research, I've discovered that this is a common issue with Cadillac. My Escalade has 45,000 miles on it, so this shouldn't be a problem. I'm worried about this hesitation problem during driving, which may led to a potential accident or worse.

- Bay Minette, AL, USA

problem #5

Jan 232019

Escalade

  • miles
I purchased a certified pre-owned 2015 Cadillac Escalade from a dealer in san diego. I have put approx 5K miles on the vehicle in the 6 months that I've owned it. It has been back at the dealer for service four times (approx 30 days total the dealer has had the car) for the same issue, which is a shuddering, hard-shift and vibration issue with the transmission. There have been no repairs that have remedied the issue. The dealer continues to follow a protocol procedure each time, none of which have worked. I have contacted General Motors and will also be proceeding with a lemon law claim.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 102018

Escalade

  • 55,347 miles
Vehicle vibrates excessively when driving. At first I thought it was due to road conditions but then realized the vibration resignates from my vehicle drivetrain. Took it to dealership and they informed me it's my torque converter. Apparently there are many complaints with this issue with 6 speed transmission operated vehicles from GM. Still waiting on recal from GM to be published.

- Fort Riley, KS, USA

problem #3

Sep 072017

Escalade

  • miles
My condenser an my whole air conditioning system went out. I had to get it completely redone.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #2

May 012017

Escalade

  • 28,000 miles
Vehicles start vibrating when hit speeds ranging from 40 to 60 miles per hour. Dealer doesn't take seriously..I am very concerned about this huge safety issue.

- Pike Road, AL, USA

problem #1

Nov 132015

Escalade

  • 10,000 miles
My 2015 Cadillac Escalade has been in the shop for 130+ days in the first calendar year for defective brakes, transmission, suspension, electrical, and HVAC. I have contacted GM and they don't want to repurchase the vehicle. The vehicle is constantly in the shop for problems and it is not a vehicle that should be operated on public roadways. The transmission has been replaced once before due to defects in design and build quality. The transmission how causes the car to take off in 4th gear rather than in 1st gear which means the car feels as if there is no power to propel the vehicle. The transmission slips and feels as if it is broken. I have taken it to the dealer at least 5 times and GM now does not want to replace the transmission even though the dealer has verified the concern and documented it. I feel that GM is not doing enough to ensure safe vehicles are on the road. This transmission issue is going to cause an accident one day. I have already put GM on notice all the way up to the executive level and they don't want to do anything about it. I feel that NHTSA should investigate the issues that plague 2015 full size GM SUV owners. There are a lot of us out there according to my research.

- Porter Ranch, CA, USA

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