2026 Cadillac Escalade Transfer Case Recall (26V289)

Recall 26V289 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Cadillac Escalade in recall 26V289?

A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V289?

Recall 26V289 covers 66 vehicles: 2026 Cadillac Escalade; 2026 Cadillac Escalade Esv; 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500; 2026 Chevrolet Suburban 1500; 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe; 2026 GMC Sierra 1500; 2026 GMC Yukon; 2026 GMC Yukon XL.

NHTSA lists 66 vehicles in this campaign, built September 8, 2025 to October 31, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Escalade transfer case recall?

Yes. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed.

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

When was recall 26V289 announced?

General Motors, LLC reported recall 26V289 to NHTSA on May 7, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 18, 2026.

This recall was filed 4 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 53 days. If your Escalade was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Escalade is part of recall 26V289?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V289 is open on your Escalade, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V289000 is open on your Escalade, it will be listed there, along with Cadillac recall number N262557620. You can also ask any Cadillac dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Escalade owners do about recall 26V289?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V289000 applies to your Escalade.
2. Do not drive the vehicle. Ask the dealer to arrange a tow and a loaner.
3. Call a Cadillac dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
4. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
5. Write down when symptoms involving the transfer case happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
6. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
7. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Escalade owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 388 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 69 of them about the transmission.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 388 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 69 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2026 GMC Sierra 1500: 128 complaints in total, 29 about the transmission
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 103 complaints in total, 19 about the transmission
• 2026 GMC Yukon: 39 complaints in total, 11 about the transmission
• 2026 GMC Yukon XL: 34 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
• 2026 Cadillac Escalade: 33 complaints in total, 3 about the transmission
• 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe: 26 complaints in total, 3 about the transmission
• 2026 Chevrolet Suburban 1500: 15 complaints in total, 2 about the transmission
• 2026 Cadillac Escalade Esv: 10 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

On 3/14/26, on I-75 in Troy, Michigan at 70mph the vehicle, with 4000k miles on the odometer completely shut off. I pushed to restart the engine and it would not restart. My whole family was in the car and we were on a curve. I was able to coast to a flat shoulder.

2026 GMC Yukon XL owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11734291, filed April 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal operation. The message "Shifting to Neutral" was displayed on the instrument panel.

2026 GMC Yukon owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11715578, filed February 4, 2026

Engine failure while driving 75 miles per hour in highway in brand new Yukon Denali. 3,000 miles and got a “decreased acceleration” warning. Then couldn’t accelerate and loud knocking noise from the engine, likely a lifter issue. I will have to get a new engine according to GMC. Unbelievable.

2026 GMC Yukon owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11716485, filed February 7, 2026

Can recall 26V289 make my Escalade a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Owners often ask whether this transfer case recall means their Escalade qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2026 Cadillac Escalade: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V289