CadillacEscalade ESV2026Overview/cadillac/escalade-esv/2026/base/

2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 Escalade ESV.

Transmission Automatic 10-spd

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV pairs an automatic 10-spd transmission with EPA fuel economy estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. Owner feedback for this model year has been limited to just four complaints, primarily concerning the engine, alongside three recalls. This tally is among the lowest in the nameplate’s history, which peaked at 268 complaints in 2007 and reached a minimum of two in 2013, underscoring a sustained trend of improved reliability.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy15/19/17 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 10-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length224.4 in
Overall width82.3 in
Overall height76 in
Wheelbase136.2 in
Curb weight5809 lb
Track (front / rear)68.5 / 68.5 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 19 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

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 2026 Escalade ESV sits at the tail end of a generation that experienced notable volatility: complaints surged to 268 in 2007, declined to near-zero by 2014, then spiked again to 80–103 with 11 recalls in 2021 before settling into a downward trajectory through 2024 (20 complaints). Compared to its immediate predecessor, the 2026 shows a sharp improvement—complaints dropped from 20 to 4, and investigations fell from 3 to zero—though the recall count increased slightly from 2 to 3. The 189 TSBs on file represents the lowest count in recent years and is well below the 334 recorded for 2024. The top complaint areas (engine-related, with no crash or fire complaints filed) are limited in scope but do suggest ongoing engine concerns worth monitoring on any specific unit. Since this is the newest model year in the dataset with very low complaint volume and no active investigations, it reflects a vehicle early in its service life rather than one with established chronic issues. **This is a relatively favorable year to buy within this generation, but the reduced history means some latent defects may not yet have surfaced; a thorough pre-purchase inspection covering engine and steering systems remains advisable.**

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
189
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Engine2
Steering,Engine1
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

26V114000Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other ManualReported 26/02/2026

General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ… Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16…

26V289000Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)Reported 07/05/2026

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 189 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT6481C2026-07-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Bulletin was created to assist the technician to a issue where the…
PIT6288J2026-06-29Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates an issue with a service door latch system…
PIT6476C2026-06-29Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates an issue with a Service Brake system message…
PIT5966F2026-06-23Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still…
662.102026-06-18Unknown Or Other• Fixes to help prevent blank center display and camera image loss • Expanded…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 Escalade ESV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 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 / 19 highway / 17 combined mpg.