Cadillac Escalade Recall: Dealers May Need Up To 20 Hours To Replace The 6.2L V8 Engine

It’s been a few months since Cadillac announced the Cadillac Escalade engine recall. Now, we know that it should take dealerships almost an entire day replace the 6.2L V8 gasoline engine in models earmarked for an engine replacement.

The recall affects both Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV units built for the 2021 through 2024 model years and equipped with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. Although a total of over 126,000 units are potentially susceptible, the automaker estimates that only about three percent of the V8 engines impacted by the recall will need to be replaced, which works out to less than 4,000 units. Notably, the refreshed 2025 Escalade and Escalade ESV are not impacted by the recall, since those models received a hardware change to specific engine components.

As a reminder, the recall was issued due to quality and contamination defects impacting certain components in the engine’s rotating assembly, specifically the connecting rod and/or crankshaft. Impacted units may present with issues on the crankshaft specs and finish, with sediment on the connecting rods and in the crankshaft oil galleries potentially causing rod-bearing damage. The need for an entire engine replacement rather than individual components is likely due to the potential debris from the sediment and possible metal shavings produced by the rotating assembly.

When it comes to determining whether an engine replacement is or isn’t needed, a Cadillac tech will perform an inspection and verify the serial number on the left-hand cylinder head. This information is used to determine the build date of the engine. Replacement is mandatory for all engines produced before the 183^rd build day in 2024.

Unfortunately for owners, this repair isn’t something that can be done in a single day. The official labor guide estimates at least 18 hours to complete the job – 18.2 to 18.6 hours to be precise. The exact amount of time depends on the drivetrain configuration and whether or not the vehicle is equipped with an optional suspension system. On top of that, another 0.3 hours is needed to recharge air-conditioning systems that use R134A refrigerant. That estimate grows to 1.2 hours for vehicles that use R1234YF, which is now the standard for new vehicles. In other words, the entire process can take up to nearly 20 hours to complete.

Part of the reputation of the today’s Cadillac is its use of the tried-and-true small block, push-rod V8 engines in some vehicles, particularly the Escalade line – which also is its most popular vehicle. As such, this recall is a bit of a stain on the luxury marque’s reputation, especially in today’s market where optics are everything. It’s likely only a matter of time before internet-induced hysteria compares this issue to the rod bearing woes that allegedly plague the 5.0-liter V10 found under the hood of the BMW E60 M5 and E63/64 M6. However, unlike its German rival, Cadillac has rolled out a cost-free remedy for its customers.