CadillacEscalade ESV2018Overview/cadillac/escalade-esv/2018/base/
4WD platform

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Escalade ESV.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 10-spd

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a 4WD SUV fitted with an automatic 10-speed transmission and EPA-rated at 14/23/17 mpg. Service specifications call for 8.0 quarts of 0W-20 engine oil. Within the model’s 2003–2026 complaint history, this year registers 35 owner grievances—well below the 2007 peak of 268 yet above the 2013 low of two. Engine issues constitute the top complaint area and two recalls apply, suggesting a middle-ground reliability profile relative to the line’s broader track record.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity8.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/23/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 720 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 94R · 720 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP275/55R20OEM · verified
Wheel / rim9.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter23349854
Spark plug12622441
Battery88864542 alt 88866309
Front wiper blades84613732
Serpentine belt12643517 alt 12658178
Thermostat12620318 alt 12674639
Cabin air filter23281440

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 10-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 / combined14 / 23 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium 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, Synthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, 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 FluidDEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.0
Automatic Transmission FluidUse Dexron ULV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.1
Automatic Transmission FluidUse Dexron HP
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub188.0 Do not re-use old hub 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

Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance720 cca
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance720 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)46.0-84.0
Engine Compression100

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 74; Rear: 38 Use; Rear: 77
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 170; Rear: 148; Rear: 221
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.102; Rear: .728; Front: 1.516; Rear: 1.280
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.122; Rear: .748; Front: 1.535; Rear: 1.299
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationRear: .007; Rear: .001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
137.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45.037 ft. lbs
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 2 stages
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
285.0
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts.

159.0 ft. lbs.59 ft. lbs
2Internal Hex style head bolts40 degrees
3Except Hex style head bolts60 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
222.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
345.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Inner bolts

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2110 degrees; Outer bolts110 degrees
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
280.0 degrees; Side bolts80 degrees
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
260.0 degrees60 degrees

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) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · 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 2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV occupies a favorable position within this generation's complaint arc, sitting on the declining slope that followed the 2015 redesign spike. The 2015 model year saw 103 complaints and 9 recalls — the highest recall count in the dataset — alongside 2,516 TSBs, suggesting significant early-production teething. By 2016 and 2017, complaints had moderated to 102 and 86 respectively, and the 2018 model continues that downward trajectory with just 35 complaints, 2 recalls, zero investigations, and 1,217 TSBs — roughly one-third the complaint volume of the redesign year. The year immediately following (2019) shows a further slight decline to 32 complaints and a single recall, reinforcing that 2018 falls in a mature, stabilized phase of the cycle before complaints rise again to 80 in 2021. For the 2018 specifically, the dominant complaint area is Engine (13 of 35), with 3 fire complaints and 1 crash complaint reported; the data does not specify root causes for these. On balance, the 2018 Escalade ESV represents a well-timed purchase point in the generation — past the redesign's early problems, before the 2021 uptick, and carrying minimal open recall and investigation exposure — making it one of the stronger model years in this cycle for a used buyer.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1217
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
35
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 35 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine13
Electrical System3
Service Brakes3
Power Train2
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1
Electrical System,Seat Belts1
Unknown Or Other1
Seats,Unknown Or Other,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V673000Seat Belts:Rear/OtherReported 26/09/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1217 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 2018 Escalade ESV take?

8.0 qt of 0W-20 meeting GM Dexos 1, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Escalade ESV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Escalade ESV get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 23 highway / 17 combined mpg.