2013 Cadillac Escalade: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Cadillac Escalade: 4 recalls, 19 owner complaints and up to 16 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain, Steering Vehicle recall #13V001000 · 2013 · 54,686 vehicles
What's wrong: 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss no. 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention." the vehicles May have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
Why it matters: As a result, the vehicle May shift from park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the off position. The vehicle May also shift out of park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios May cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has…
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners May call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners May call 1-866-982-2339. Gmc owners May call 1-866-996-9463.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V614000 · 2014 · 106,307 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module May be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Why it matters: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V054000 · 2021 · 1,778,128 vehicles
What's wrong: " additionally gm is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, Chevrolet silverado 2500, silverado 3500, suburban, tahoe, GMC sierra 2500, sierra 3500, yukon, yukon xl and 2011-2013 Cadillac escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, and GMC sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V053000 · 2021 · 692,526 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, gm is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, and escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, silverado 2500/3500, suburban, tahoe, GMC sierra 1500, sierra 2500/3500, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (5): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (4), warning light on (2), noise or vibration (2).
- Electrical (4): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
- Airbags (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Engine (3): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (2).
The 2013 Cadillac Escalade has 19 owner complaints, ranking #26 of 28 Escalade model years for complaints (well below the 61 average). Complaints peaked in 2020 (4 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 81,750 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (20 complaints, 3 recalls), 2014 (20 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Cadillac Escalade.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2013 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Cadillac Escalade. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Cadillac Escalade problems?
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (5), electrical (4), airbags (3).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Cadillac Escalade get?
EPA ratings run up to 16 mpg combined (6.2 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Cadillac Escalade repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.