Cadillac Escalade vs Mercedes-Benz GLS
Full-size SUV · 2015–2025 · 1,224 federal complaints
Cadillac Escalade
1,010 complaints · 2 engines
Most-complained engine: L87 · 6.2L V8
Full breakdown for Cadillac Escalade →
Mercedes-Benz GLS
214 complaints · 2 engines
Most-complained engine: M256 · 3.0L V6
Full breakdown for Mercedes-Benz GLS →At a glance
Side by side. EPA figures are the model's median across its test variants; price is the base-trim MSRP (CarAPI), median across covered model years.
| Cadillac Escalade | Mercedes-Benz GLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $73,695 | $69,850 |
| Most common engine | L87 · 6.2L V8 | M256 · 3.0L V6 |
| Induction | — | Turbo |
| Fuel economy | 17 MPG | 18 MPG |
| Running cost | $4,450/yr | $4,200/yr |
| Low emissions | 533 g/mi | 498 g/mi |
| Displacement | 6.2 L | 4.0 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★★ (2025) | — |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 21.9% | — |
| Engines with enough data | 2 | 2 |
Side by side
Both cars scored as percentiles within Full-size SUV, so the shapes are directly comparable. Built from EPA test data.
What each one's complaints are about
Showing each car's highest-volume engine. Share of component mentions — not a failure rate, and not a ranking between the two.
Cadillac Escalade
Mercedes-Benz GLS
How often each one's complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Shares of each car's own complaints — sales volume cancels out of a within-car ratio, so these two can be compared. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average.
all vehicles — Fire 1.1% · Crash 4.4% · Injury 2.6%
Every engine with enough data
Complaint counts per engine are shown for scale only — they track how many were sold, not how often they fail.
Cadillac Escalade
- L87 · 6.2L V8577
- L86 · 6.2L V8412
Mercedes-Benz GLS
- M256 · 3.0L V6Turbo103
- M276 · 3.0L V6Turbo69
Recalls where NHTSA said stop driving or park outside
The severest recall class only. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, whatever the car's age.
Cadillac Escalade
- Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (stop driving, 2015–2015) 26V289000
- Suspension › Front › Control Arm (stop driving, 2016–2016) 16V256000
Mercedes-Benz GLS
None on record for this model.
One car having more complaints than the other mostly reflects how many were sold, not how often they break. Compare each car's own mix of problems — not the totals.