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2012 Cadillac Escalade Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 26 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is one of the better years for the Cadillac Escalade

The 2012 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

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75/100

Good Choice — 2012 Cadillac Escalade

The 2012 Cadillac Escalade has an acceptable safety and complaint profile with some areas to monitor. Review the open recalls and known problems below before buying.

3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
26
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
3
Crashes + Injuries
In NHTSA complaints

Own or buying a 2012 Cadillac Escalade?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Cadillac Escalade (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Cadillac dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V054000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V051000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V827000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Cadillac Escalade

Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
11
Air Bags
4
Steering
3
Unknown Or Other
2
Structure
1
Service Brakes
1
Wheels
1
Exterior Lighting
1
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Cadillac Escalade — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 43 complaints 2011 65 complaints 2012 26 complaints 2013 17 complaints 2014 19 complaints 2015 102 complaints 2016 101 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2015, 2016 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2012, 2013, 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Cadillac Escalade

Is the 2012 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Cadillac Escalade has 3 recalls and 26 owner complaints. This is generally considered a reliable model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade have?
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Cadillac Escalade?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade are: Electrical System, Air Bags, Steering, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Cadillac Escalade safe to buy?
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Cadillac Escalade should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Cadillac Escalade are: 2012, 2013, 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2015, 2016.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.