Cadillac Recall Check by VIN: Escalade, XT5 and CT5

To check Cadillac recalls on a used Escalade, XT5, or CT5, run the 17-digit VIN on NHTSA and ask a Cadillac dealer for the GM campaign printout. Incomplete work is free. In mid October 2026, Escalade shoppers should clear the 6.2-liter engine campaign and the 24-inch wheel hub bolt recall, while XT5 shoppers should confirm the instrument panel software fix.

Cadillac recalls are filed by General Motors, so the same campaign often hits Yukon, Tahoe, and Suburban VINs in the same PDF. When we pulled Cadillac filings on October 13, 2026, several of the scariest Escalade campaigns were shared with GMC and Chevrolet full-size SUVs. Use that to your advantage: the dealer still has to close your VIN even if the paperwork says GMC in the header.

How to run a Cadillac VIN

Match windshield and door VINs, then search NHTSA. Our NHTSA recall check by VIN walkthrough covers status wording. Decode trim and engine with our Cadillac VIN decoder, because 6.2-liter campaigns do not apply to every Escalade, and 24-inch wheel campaigns only hit certain builds. Ask the dealer for a printout with GM campaign numbers such as N252494000, not a vague "we checked it."

Escalade: 6.2-liter engine and hub bolt campaigns

25V-274 covers about 597,571 2021-2024 Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles (plus Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL) with a 6.2-liter V-8. Connecting rod or crankshaft manufacturing defects can lead to engine damage and failure. Dealers inspect the engine and repair or replace it as needed; cars that pass still get higher-viscosity oil, a new oil fill cap, a new filter, and an owner's manual update. Letters went out June 18, 2025. GM number N252494000.

26V-304 covers about 2,457 2025-2026 Escalade and Escalade ESV models with 24-inch wheels (shared with Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, and Yukon XL). Incorrect front wheel hub bolts may loosen or deform. Dealers replace the left and right front hub bolts. Letters went out June 18, 2026. If the truck is wearing those big wheels, get this closed before you negotiate.

Do-not-drive transfer case and TCM lockup recalls

26V-289 is tiny, about 66 vehicles, but GM told owners not to drive until the transfer case is inspected or replaced. It hits certain 2026 Escalade four-wheel-drive trucks and some older 2015-2020 Escalade and Tahoe-family vehicles. A missing transfer case component can lock the front or rear wheels without warning. Separately, 26V-085 covers about 43,743 2022 Escalade and Escalade ESV models with 10-speed ETRS transmissions whose control valve may fail and lock the rear wheels; dealers install TCM software. Diesel Escalades from 2021 sit inside related campaign 24V-797. Our used Chevy Tahoe buying guide covers the same platform if you are cross-shopping. Car and Driver's Escalade coverage helps sort trim and length once the VIN is clean.

XT5 and CT5 campaigns worth asking about

On 2023-2025 XT5 models, 24V-459 covers about 6,942 vehicles (plus some XT6s) whose instrument panel may not illuminate with hazard lights, high beams, or turn signals. Dealers update the cluster software. On CT5 sedans, ask specifically about transmission campaign 25V-148 on 2020-2021 cars and roof-rail side curtain campaign 21V-611 on 2020-2022 cars. Those populations are model-specific, so a Tahoe-style printout will not answer them.

What to demand before you wire a deposit

For any 2021-2024 Escalade with a 6.2-liter, ask whether the dealer already ran the 25V-274 inspection and what the outcome was: pass with oil change package, or engine repair. For 24-inch wheel trucks, confirm 26V-304 hub bolts were replaced, not just torqued. Keep the GM campaign numbers on the paperwork. We've seen "all services current" invoices that never mention those codes.

History report and price

Recalls skip salvage brands and many accidents. CARFAX says its reports show title brands, odometer readings, ownership, and reported accidents, and our post on how to read a CARFAX report walks the lines. As of mid October 2026, CARFAX through us is about $5.50 guest or $4.50 member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. A low-mile Escalade with a fresh oil change sticker and an open 6.2 campaign is still an open engine risk.

Sources

• NHTSA: GM recall 25V-274 (6.2L engine)
• NHTSA: GM recall 26V-304 (front hub bolts)
• NHTSA: GM recall 26V-289 (transfer case, do not drive)
• NHTSA: Cadillac recall 24V-459 (XT5 instrument panel)
• Car and Driver: Cadillac Escalade
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports