CadillacEscalade ESV2015Overview/cadillac/escalade-esv/2015/base/
4WD platform

2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 Escalade ESV.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a full-size SUV built on a four-wheel-drive platform and powered by a gasoline engine that requires 8.0 quarts of 0W-20 motor oil, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. This model year represents a period of moderate reliability performance, with 103 total owner complaints recorded and nine recalls issued, positioning it between the model's peak complaint year in 2007 with 268 complaints and its lowest complaint count of just two in 2013. The engine emerged as the primary complaint area for the 2015 model, which aligns with it being the most frequently cited concern across the Escalade's complaint history spanning from 2003 onward. For researchers examining the Escalade's long-term reliability trajectory, the 2015 model serves as a data point showing neither the extremes of early model years nor the improved performance seen in the 2013 model.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192015

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity8.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/21/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP275/55R20OEM · verified
Wheel / rim9.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter22845992
Spark plug12622441
Battery88864541 alt 88866309
Front wiper blades84613732
Serpentine belt12643517 alt 12658178
Cabin air filter23281440

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length224.4 in
Overall width80.3 in
Overall height74.4 in
Wheelbase129.9 in
Curb weight6041 lb
Track (front / rear)68.9 / 68.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 21 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 8.0 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, SAE 75W · Synthetic · SAE 75W in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid6
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6 Speed
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity2.11
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · Synthetic · SAE 75W
Engine Coolant50
Engine Coolant Capacity16.6
Engine OilSAE 0W

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission18.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts44.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub188 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub Bearing Housing BoltsInstall a new retaining nut. ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity32.0 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity6.59 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca
Optional BCI Group Number48
Optional BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55-76
Engine Compression100 min psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 77; Rear: 40 /; Front: 74; Rear: 38
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 169; Rear: 150 /; Front: 170; Rear: 148
ABS Sensor Torque7.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.102; Rear: .728
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.122; Rear: .748
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0007
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9048 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs, Step 2: 8515 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse bolts. · Bolts 1-10

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
370 degrees; Bolts 11-1570 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Life Monitor (inspect)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV marks a pronounced break from the low-complaint trend of the immediately preceding years, with complaints surging to 103 from 0 in 2014 and 2 in 2013. Recalls jumped to 9 from 2 the prior year, and TSBs nearly doubled to 2,516—the highest figure in the entire record—before retreating to 1,823 in 2016 and continuing downward through 2017-2020. This places 2015 at the crest of a federal-record spike rather than a settled point in the cycle. Leading complaint categories were Engine (12), Power Train (9), Unknown or Other (9), and Electrical System (7), along with 5 crash-related and 3 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Given the sharp year-over-year escalation in complaints, recalls, and TSBs, the 2015 model is a risky purchase; a buyer would likely fare better with a quieter 2012-2014 example or a 2017-and-later unit as activity declined.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2516
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
103
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 103 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine12
Power Train9
Unknown Or Other9
Electrical System7
Steering5
Suspension4
Service Brakes4
Power Train,Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V651000Air Bags:FrontalReported 08/09/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed…

17V437000Air Bags:FrontalReported 10/07/2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 2516 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT64832026-02-04Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates an issue with aftermarket LED headlights…
PIT6400A2026-01-16Unknown Or OtherThis PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Escalade ESV. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 Escalade ESV take?

8.0 qt of SAE 0W-20 GM P/N 19259487 engine oil approved to the dexos specification., per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 Escalade ESV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Escalade ESV get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.