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

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

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade. 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 get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Cadillac Escalade at about 17 mpg combined (15 city / 19 highway).

Q: How much is a 2012 Cadillac Escalade worth?

Comparable 2012 Cadillac Escalade listings run roughly $23,999–$41,000, typically around $35,295 (from 86 vehicles).

2012 Cadillac Escalade at a glance

Safety recalls3

Owner complaints26

Combined17 mpg

Typical price$35,295

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

2012 Cadillac Escalade recalls 3

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…

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…

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 common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 26 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.

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.

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.

Structure

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

Steering

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

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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

2012 Cadillac Escalade MPG & running costs

Combined17 mpg

City15 mpg

Highway19 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,786

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

What's a 2012 Cadillac Escalade worth?

Low

$23,999

Typical price

$35,295

High

$41,000

From 86 comparable 2012 Cadillac Escalade listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

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

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,930

Depreciation (5 yrs)$17,550

Total$36,480

Per mile$0.49

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 ($35,295) with the same model 5 model-years older ($17,724), 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 trims & engines on record

Trims

Luxury · Premium · Platinum Edition · Base · Platinum

Engines

6.2L 8-cyl

2012 Cadillac Escalade vehicles on record

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS3BEF3CR133032

2012 Cadillac Escalade Premium1GYS3CEF9CR278064

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF5CR127343 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS3BEF6CR152612 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF8CR125957

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF3CR137935

2012 Cadillac Escalade Premium1GYS4CEF2CR194696 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEFXCR189336 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF5CR211663 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF6CR118019

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF7CR121186 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS3BEF5CR244245

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS3BEF9CR104635

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF8CR210796 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF7CR137534

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF3CR194670

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS3BEF3CR131877

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF9CR203081

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF9CR159812

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF7CR217139

2012 Cadillac Escalade Premium1GYS4CEF3CR202577

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF8CR158215

2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF1CR179942 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYS4BEF6CR239066

Other Cadillac Escalade model years

2012 Cadillac Escalade — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Cadillac Escalade. 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?

Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, air bags, engine.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Cadillac Escalade get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Cadillac Escalade at about 17 mpg combined (15 city / 19 highway).

How much is a 2012 Cadillac Escalade worth?

Comparable 2012 Cadillac Escalade listings run roughly $23,999–$41,000, typically around $35,295 (from 86 vehicles).

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