There are 1 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2013 Cadillac Escalade ESVin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to switch into V-8 mode. The contact stated that the engine started making an abnormal knocking sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the lifters had collapsed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the camshaft needed to be replaced. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026