2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV at about 15 mpg combined (14 city / 18 highway).

Q: How much is a 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV worth?

Comparable 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV listings run roughly $29,700–$44,200, typically around $37,778 (from 44 vehicles).

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV at a glance

Safety recalls3

Owner complaints23

Combined15 mpg

Typical price$37,778

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V051000 · 05/02/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Nort…

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 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notific…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V054000 · 05/02/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Ch…

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 notific…

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #14V827000 · 30/12/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for t…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Structure

Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Steering

Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV MPG & running costs

Combined15 mpg

City14 mpg

Highway18 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$4,125

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV worth?

Low

$29,700

Typical price

$37,778

High

$44,200

From 44 comparable 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$20,625

Depreciation (5 yrs)$21,400

Total$42,025

Per mile$0.56

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($37,778) with the same model 5 model-years older ($16,387), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV trims & engines on record

Trims

Luxury · Platinum Edition · Premium · ESV Luxury · ESV Premium · ESV Platinum

Engines

6.2L 8-cyl

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles on record

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition1GYS3KEF7CR241833

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF7CR140517

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium1GYS3JEFXCR291247

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition1GYS4KEF5CR285259

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS3HEF0CR107300

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF6CR135664 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS3HEF3CR173436

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS3HEF0CR100198 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEFXCR108595

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF1CR169303

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS3HEF0CR120094

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF3CR149411

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium1GYS4JEF6CR209964

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS3HEF1CR183625

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF9CR200748

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF5CR180093 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF4CR132245

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEFXCR107513 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF0CR107178 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium1GYS4JEF6CR283031

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF4CR102646 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS3HEF5CR105039 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Luxury1GYS4HEF8CR142082 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium1GYS3JEF7CR210737

Other Cadillac Escalade ESV model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV?

Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV at about 15 mpg combined (14 city / 18 highway).

How much is a 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV worth?

Comparable 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV listings run roughly $29,700–$44,200, typically around $37,778 (from 44 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.