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4WD platform

2016 Cadillac Escalade

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Escalade.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 8-spd

The 2016 Cadillac Escalade is an SUV built on a 4WD platform that pairs an 8.5‑qt engine lubricated with 0W‑20 oil with an automatic 8‑speed transmission. It achieves EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined. The model has accumulated 102 owner complaints, primarily concerning the engine, and has been subject to four recalls, placing its complaint volume near the lower end of a historical span that ranges from a peak of 285 complaints in 2007 to just three in 2001. Accordingly, the 2016 Escalade occupies a relatively stable position within the model’s long‑term reliability history.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity8.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP275/55R20OEM · verified

Wheel / rim9.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731742
Engine air filter	22845992
Spark plug	12622441
Battery	88865934 alt 88864541
Front wiper blades	84613732
Serpentine belt	12658178 alt 12643517
Thermostat	12620318 alt 12674639
Cabin air filter	23281440

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 8-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	203.9 in
Overall width	80.3 in
Overall height	74.4 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in
Curb weight	5840 lb
Track (front / rear)	68.9 / 68.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Escalade of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.80 sec — 2016 Platinum

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2016	Platinum 6.2L V8	5.80 sec	14.30 sec	420 hp	AWD
2015	Premium 6.2L V8	5.60 sec	14.10 sec	420 hp	AWD
2015	Platinum 6.2L V8	5.90 sec	14.40 sec	420 hp	AWD
2015	ESV Premium 6.2L V8	6.10 sec	14.60 sec	420 hp	AWD
2015	Premium 6.2L V8	6.10 sec	14.70 sec	420 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 8.5 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Synthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	DOT 3
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	Synthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2.5-3.6
Engine Coolant	Dex Cool
Engine Coolant Capacity	17.4 qt
Engine Oil	0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity	8.5 qt

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	17
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.85 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission	18.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts	44.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	Install a new nut and torque to 188.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque	15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	660 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	48
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-76
Engine Compression	100 min psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 77; Rear: 40 /; Front: 74; Rear: 38
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 169; Rear: 150 /; Front: 170; Rear: 148
ABS Sensor Torque	7.5 / NS
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	JD9: .0007; J95: .001
Maximum Rotor Runout	.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

48 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

15.0 ft. lbs, Step 2: 85

15 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse bolts. · Bolts 1-10

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; Bolts 11-15	70 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs	22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Life Monitor (inspect)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 2016, the Cadillac Escalade received 102 complaints and 4 recalls, with 1 investigation and 1,823 total safety bulletins. Compared to the preceding year, 2015 had 103 complaints and 9 recalls, and the following year, 2017, saw a slight drop to 86 complaints and 2 recalls, indicating a modest improvement in recall volume after 2016. The complaint count for 2016 is roughly average for the decade, falling within the 17‑285 range seen from 2007 to 2015, while the recall number is lower than the peak of 9 recalls in 2015. Engine‑related issues topped the complaint list (20 incidents) followed by the power train (12), suggesting the 2016 model is not unique in its mechanical concerns. With only 4 crash complaints and 3 fire complaints, the 2016 Escalade shows a relatively low safety‑incident profile. Overall, 2016 sits near the middle of the trend, offering a reasonable balance of issue frequency and recall activity, making it a viable year to consider if you can secure a vehicle with a clean maintenance record.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1823

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

102

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15’16’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 102 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine20

Power Train12

Unknown Or Other10

Electrical System7

Suspension6

Air Bags5

Steering3

Service Brakes3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V645000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:VacuumReported 06/09/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…

16V651000Air Bags:FrontalReported 08/09/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1823 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6483	2026-02-04	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates an issue with aftermarket LED headlights…
PIT6400A	2026-01-16	Unknown Or Other	This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Escalade. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 8.5 qt 4WD-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 12731742 Engine air filter 22845992 Spark plug 12622441 Battery 88865934

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2016 Escalade take?

8.5 qt of 0W-20 meeting GM specification Dexos 1 or equivalent., per the factory manual.

Does the 2016 Escalade have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Escalade get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.