“I Just Put A New Engine in My 2021 Cadillac Escalade and That’s Just the Start, It Also Needed a Transmission”

Here is another Cadillac Escalade that needs a new engine.

Here is a warning story from Tay, a 2021 Cadillac Escalade owner. She shares her frustration after having to replace the engine and transmission in her luxury SUV. 

Tay, (@tmh1274) who lives in Michigan, says, "I had to replace my Escalade's engine at 72,000 miles, and my transmission went out at 45,000 miles. Cadillac and GM, you aren't building good vehicles. It stinks."

Imagine buying a new Cadillac Escalade during COVID when the prices of vehicles increased. You jumped at getting the luxury SUV before prices skyrocketed. You thought you got a good deal and everything was good until the transmission went out at 45,000 miles. 

While the transmission is covered under warranty, the inconvenience of having it in the shop for days is significant. To add to the frustration, the new vehicle warranty expired at 70,000 miles, leaving the owner to foot the bill for the new engine. 

Fast forward a year. Your Escalade has 72,000 miles; it's right before Christmas, and your engine dies. You have it towed to the dealer, only to be told it will be two months before they can put a new engine in your SUV. Here is Tay's sad story. 

Here is what Tay says, 

"I just want to let everyone know that this is on GM because this bad boy here, my 2021 Cadillac Escalade, just got a new engine. And you want to know what happened before that? It also needed a new transmission." 

"My transmission went at 45,000, and my motor went at 72,000. I get my oil changed every 3,000 even though it says 5,000." 

"Honestly, I wish I would've seen these (videos about GM engines) before we bought ours."

In the comment section, Patricia Gibbons says, "So many GM SUVs have had this same problem. I smell a class action lawsuit coming soon. Way too many I cannot believe something hasn't been done yet."

Tay says, "It's in the works!"

However, the "new" transmission in Tay's Cadillac put in her SUV is not working properly.  

"My transmission still shutters, but we are looking for something different now," she says with frustration.

Soccersmc10 says, "Mine is still in the shop waiting for its new engine."

Tay says, "Mine was on backorder for two months. It died the day after Christmas, and I just got it back."

I've written other reports on General Motors and its engine failure problems.

I covered another story about a 2022 GMC Yukon Denali that needs a new engine. Luckily for Andrea Woods, who owns the SUV, her vehicle is still under warranty. It's sitting at the dealer waiting for a new engine. 

Her TikTok page shows her 2022 Denali being loaded on the tow truck, which will take it to the GMC dealer. While it's being driven onto the truck, you can hear the engine that sounds like it's on its last legs. There is clearly catastrophic engine failure. 

Andrea says, "I bought my new GMC Yukon Denali in 2022, and it hit just 31,000 miles. The engine started making a terrible sound, and now she's at the dealership waiting for a new motor. Thank goodness for a warranty."

Does the Cadillac Escalade Have Engine Issues?

Recent reports indicate significant problems with GM's 6.2-liter engine, particularly the "L87" variant. Many owners report sudden and catastrophic engine failures due to bearing issues.

The problem is so bad that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting an ongoing investigation into the effects of this engine on a large number of GM trucks and SUVs. 

A report from Automotive Dive says, "Owners of GM vehicles complain of connecting rod bearing wear, which has led to catastrophic engine damage without any prior symptoms."

Here is What Cadillac Escalade Owners Need To Know

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation opened a safety probe on January 16 for an estimated 877,710 General Motors vehicles after receiving reports of connecting rod bearing failures that have led to catastrophic engine damage in some cases.
• The vehicles include model year 2019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade SUVs equipped with L87 6.2L V8 engines.
• The probe comes after the NHTSA's ODI received 39 complaints and additional field reports alleging engine failures, some of which have occurred without any prior symptoms noticed by drivers.

Conclusion:

There is a class-action lawsuit against General Motors concerning engine failure in General Motors vehicles with 6.2-liter engines. Cadillac owners can go here for more information. 

Questions for Cadillac Escalade and GMC Owners

Have You Experienced an Engine Failure In a Cadillac Escalade or another GM vehicle? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Cadillac Escalade story: I Saw A Cadillac Escalade Advertised For $63,000 When I Inquire, the dealer Raised the Price $6K Without Warning, Says We Have Been Getting a Lot of Inquiries Today

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Tay