There are 7 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2011 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE REAR LIFT DOOR ACCESS UNLOCKS ON IT'S OWN FREQUENTLY. THE WHOLE REAR DOOR LIFTED OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
DOOR HANDLE FOR ALL DOORS BREAK OFF WITH OR WITHOUT AN MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION. SELF-EXTRACATION FROM VEHICLE IS UNLIKELY WITHOUT REPAIR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE LOCKED AND THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER (POTAMKIN CADILLAC OF MANHATTAN, 706 11TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10019) REPLACED THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,488. *BF UPDATED 8/28/18*JB
BLACK CHROME PAINT ON WINDOW FRAMES PEELING AWAY. *TR
THE REAR HATCH WAS OPENED WITH THE AUTOMATIC BUTTON, IT RAISED TO THE OPEN POSITION. AS I WAS PUTTING IN OUR STROLLER THE HATCH FELL AND STRUCK ME IN THE HEAD. I PUSHED THE HATCH UP TO GET FROM UNDERNEATH IT, AND WHEN I LET GO IT FELL WITH NO RESISTANCE. WHILE FALLING SHUT THE HATCH HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BUMPER CUT OUT AND SLIGHTLY BENT THE HATCH AND SCRATCHED THE INSIDE OF THE BUMPER. THE HATCH WOULD NO-LONGER OPEN AFTER THAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FORCED THE DOOR OPEN SO I COULD RETRIEVE ARTICLES FROM THE REAR. I A CHILD OR SHORTER PERSON WAS UNDER THE HATCH IT MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO THEM, DUE TO THE FORCE WITH WHICH THE HATCH CAME DOWN. *TR
2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY. IT COMES DOWNS TO FAST AND DOES NOT RETRACT BACK UP WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING. THE DRIVER HAD NO WARNING THAT A PERSON WAS BEHIND HIM AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL KILL SOMEONE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THE DOOR NEEDS TO BE CHANGE SO THAT IT CANNOT OPEN FROM OVERHEAD. THIS DOOR IS TO LARGE AND HEAVY TO HAVE SOMETHING COMING DOWN FROM THAT DISTANCE. THE IS DOOR SUSPENDER IN AIR ABOVE THE TOP OF THE ESCALADE. THIS IS A VERY VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED ARE LOSE BODY PARTS IF THIS DESIGN IS NOT CHANGED. THIS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND IT SHOULD NEVER BEEN PUT ON AN VEHICLE . *TR
2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 26771 POWER REAR CARGO DOOR IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. SON WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AT AIRPORT LUGGAGE CLAIMS WHEN A POWER REAR CARGO DOOR WAS CLOSING CAME DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND FACE WITH OUT WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT THIS DOOR WAS CLOSING. THE DOOR IS SO LARGE AND HEAVY AS IT COMES DOWNS IT'S FAST AND DOES NOT RETRACT BACK UP WHEN IT HITS SOMETHING. THE DRIVER HAD NO WARNING THAT A PERSON WAS BEHIND HIM AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD KILL SOMEONE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THIS DOOR SHOULD BE CHANGE SO THAT IT CANNOT OPEN FROM OVERHEAD. THIS DOOR IS TO LARGE AND HEAVY TO HAVE SOMETHING COMING DOWN FROM THAT DISTANCE THAT'S ABOVE THE TOP OF THE ESCALADE. THIS IS A VERY VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED ARE LOOSE BODY PARTS IF THIS DESIGN IS NOT CHANGED. THIS A VERY POOR DESIGN. *TR
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