The Brand-New 2021 Cadillac Escalade Is Already Being Recalled
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade arrived earlier this year as a brand-new full-size luxury SUV. However, aside from its powerful engine options, the Escalade is also full of excellent tech features. However, one of those tech features is now the center of a new recall reported by CarComplaints. In short, a software bug may obstruct the driver from viewing critical warning lights.
What is wrong with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade?
This 2021 Cadillac Escalade recall centers around the SUV’s body control module, says CarComplaints. According to CarComplaints, the problem seems to arise as a result of a software glitch. In short, critical warning lights such as those of the seat belt and airbags can mistakenly go into night mode under certain conditions. Night mode means the brightness of these warning lights decreases significantly, making them difficult to see during the day.
CarComplaints states that this 2021 Cadillac Escalade glitch occurs mainly when the SUV starts up via remote start. Additionally, the glitch occurs when owners shut down their Escalade and restart it after about 10 minutes without opening any of its doors. If this sounds like a particular scenario, it is. Regardless, CarComplaints reports that this fault violates federal safety standards due to the low visibility of critical warning lights.
The result is that you may be riding in your 2021 Cadillac Escalade without knowing if your passenger is wearing a seatbelt or if the airbag is deactivated. Thankfully, no injuries or crashes have been reportedly linked to this issue as of writing.
GM is recalling just one model year
Since the 2021 Cadillac Escalade hasn’t been on sale for a significant amount of time, the number of SUVs affected is relatively low. According to CarComplaints, this recall affects more than 3,200 2021 Escalade models. Given that the current-gen model has only been on sale since earlier this year, the current recall could look at a significant portion of 2021 models sold.
CarComplaints reports that one of General Motors’ engineers noticed the issue back in October. GM then decided to launch an internal investigation to figure out the root cause of the issue, says CarComplaints. This lead the carmaker directly to the body control module, says Car Complaints. After reviewing its software, GM noticed this Escalade glitch and began the process to issue the recall.
Cadillac plants to notify the owners of affected vehicles to schedule an appointment with their nearest service center to correct the issue. From there, the body control module software receives an update, and all should be well.
Is the Escalade a good SUV?
Launching an all-new SUV is no small feat. As a result, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade seems to have some growing pains. However, this shouldn’t automatically discard the large SUV if you are considering it. Barring any other software issues, the luxury SUV should be an incredibly reliable vehicle.
Under the hood, you have a choice of two engines. The first is a naturally V8 developing 420 hp. New for 2021 is the addition of the diesel-powered variant developing 277 hp. However, the key here is the 460 lb-ft output, which matches the V8, except with greater efficiency. On top of that, the 2021 model includes three enormous screens, which even offer an augmented reality navigation system.
In terms of physical changes, the Escalade now features an independent rear suspension, which not only allows it to drive better but offers even greater interior space.
