There are 9 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESVin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Accelerated onto highway and some power was lost. Engine light came on and dash read the following: rear axle system off, service stabilitrak, auto hold unavailable. Lost some power while entering the highway could’ve been put in a bad situation with traffic. Dealer confirmed issue said lifters and potential cam. No warning or lights before issue occurred. Took straight to dealership the next morning. Vehicle at dealership.
Transmission shifts to neutral on the highway with speed of 65 on the left most lane with no shoulder parking available. Huge safety hazard. Also happened when stopping at the stop sign when taking it to safe location. Transmission failing.
On February 21, 2026, my 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV experienced a sudden and complete engine seizure at highway speed at 57,825 miles just 8,613 miles after passing GM's PicoScope inspection under Safety Recall N252494000 (NHTSA Campaign 25V274). After fueling, I entered a highway on-ramp and accelerated to approximately 70 mph. Within 30 seconds, the engine lost power completely with no prior warning lights, no diagnostic trouble codes, and no audible warning. The only dashboard notification was a prompt to press the Start button. The vehicle behaved as if shifted into neutral, decelerating rapidly from 70 mph to 40 mph while I was navigating an exit merge ramp. I reached the right shoulder safely. Under normal weekday traffic, this failure on an active merge ramp could have caused a serious collision. The engine would not restart. The vehicle would not shift out of Park. OnStar could not remotely start the vehicle. A tow truck was dispatched; the operator could not shift the vehicle to neutral and required a dolly. The dealership confirmed the engine had seized and the engine would not crank. A complete engine replacement was performed under the recall warranty (RO 606490). The recall remedy was performed August 20, 2025 at 49,212 miles. GM records confirm the PicoScope result: "Engine Passed." The engine seized 8,613 miles later with no warning. This is consistent with 30-plus NHTSA complaints reporting loss of propulsion after the prior remedy, and demonstrates the inspection-based remedy is insufficient to identify engines at imminent risk of seizure.
My 2022 Cadillac Escalade Diesel (3.0 LM2) is experiencing a failure of the engine coolant control valve, a known defect addressed by GM under Special Coverage bulletin N252508341. The failure causes: •Intermittent reduced engine power •High-speed radiator cooling fans running continuously •Check engine light •Emissions system malfunction As a result of this condition, the vehicle fails emissions/smog testing and cannot be registered or legally operated in my state when the fault is active. The reduced power condition occurs unpredictably during normal driving, creating a drivability and safety concern, especially during merging, highway driving, and traffic conditions. GM has acknowledged the defect through a Special Coverage program but has denied repair coverage due to salvage title branding, leaving the vehicle with an unresolved emissions-related defect that affects safe operation and compliance. This issue is unrelated to any prior damage and occurs during normal vehicle operation.
At approximately 6:45pm on Friday November 14, 2025, while driving among tractor trailers in the passing lane at highway speed on westbound RT 30 near mile marker 191 (Lancaster, PA), my 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV Sport Platinum experienced a complete loss of propulsion. This catastrophic and sudden engine shutdown came with no warning lights, no symptoms prior to a complete loss of power. The vehicle had previously been inspected as part of the recall service by Fred Beans Cadillac in Doylestown months prior and customer was informed it had passed the recall inspection and was given the recommended corrective action - (new oil [0W40], oil filler cap and new oil filter). Customer had ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO SUSPECT this engine had issues, because it "passed" GM's recall... This vehicle's unexpected & compete loss of power gravely endangered the lives of the vehicle's four occupants who were absolutely terrified during this experience ! I put the vehicle's hazard lights on and guided it to a stop on the right shoulder of RT 30 at the mile marker 191 Westbound. I contacted my insurance provider's roadside assistance for a flatbed tow off the highway. Vehicle was eventually flatbed to Kelly Cadillac for engine diagnosis. [will give much more details in subsequent communications as the characters here are limited] We are awaiting Cadillac dealer's diagnosis of the cause of this catastrophic engine failure with complete loss of propulsion at highway speed (after the recall was performed and vehicle was cleared). I have added photos of the confirmation from the insurance company's dispatch of a flatbed to my location on RT 30 as well as a screenshot of us on the right shoulder of RT 30. I have attached text messages received from GM of the engine issue that were received AFTER the vehicle was stopped on the shoulder of highway. My family - and others on the highway that evening - could have been gravely injured or even killed by this Cadillac's complete malfunction !
Complete engine failure with no prior warning and vehicle is currently at dealer waiting for new engine to arrive. The lives of myself and my children were at risk as the engine failure occurred while traveling at about 55 mph on a rural country road with cars having to swerve around me before I came to a complete stop on the shoulder of road. Again there was no prior warning or warning lights on the vehicle. The Cadillac dealership in Texarkana has inspected the vehicle and determined the engine failed and needs a completely new engine.
- Engine seized at highway speeds - Vehicle had lose of power while in the middle of the highway. Fortunately I was able to coast to the side of the road without impact. - The vehicle components went through inspection by the Cadillac dealer it was delivered to. - There were no messages or other symptoms that alerted me prior to the problem occured.
I was driving up a hill passing a semi at 60 MPH. The engine suddenly stopped running without warning. No warning lights, only a restart engine notice. The vehicle rapidly slowed and I was able to pull over to the shoulder without being hit by the semi. Unfortunately the vehicle came to rest at the crest of a large hill, at the end of a merge lane. It was a very dangerous place to stop. Onstar Called the Missouri Highway Patrol, the officer arrived and agreed it was in a very dangerous location and called a local towing company to remove the vehicle as quickly as possible. The vehicle could not be restarted or pushed as the transmission was also locked when we came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the next day I was told the engine had seized and would need to be replaced. The Escallade only had 25,000 miles on the odometer and I had purchased it new 2021. The service manager stated the failed engine would be sent back to GM, but this was a common problem with that model engine (6.2L) and that it may take a while to find a new replacement engine
See attached document for complaint
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 26, 2026