2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ High-Voltage Battery Recall (26V494)

Recall 26V494 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ in recall 26V494?

The high voltage battery may have an improperly secured internal module component.

General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, GMC Sierra EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup vehicles. The high voltage battery may have an improperly secured internal module component.

Is it safe to drive a 2026 Escalade IQ with recall 26V494?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose component may move and damage the high voltage battery, increasing the risk of a fire.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose component may move and damage the high voltage battery, increasing the risk of a fire.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Escalade IQ shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the traction battery, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V494?

Recall 26V494 covers 11 vehicles: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ; 2026 Cadillac Escalade Iql; 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV; 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup; 2026 GMC Sierra EV.

NHTSA lists 11 vehicles in this campaign, built May 7, 2026 to May 7, 2026. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Escalade IQ high-voltage battery recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262562600. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 30, 2026.

When was recall 26V494 announced?

General Motors, LLC reported recall 26V494 to NHTSA on July 30, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 24, 2026.

This recall was filed 2 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 0 days. If your Escalade IQ was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Escalade IQ is part of recall 26V494?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V494 is open on your Escalade IQ, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2026 Escalade IQ vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Escalade IQ owners do about recall 26V494?

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 26V494000 applies to your Escalade IQ.
2. Call a Cadillac dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any traction battery symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Escalade IQ owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the ev and hybrid battery have been filed since recall 26V494 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 22 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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.

• 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup: 6 complaints in total, 3 about the ev and hybrid battery
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV: 6 complaints in total, 1 about the ev and hybrid battery
• 2026 GMC Sierra EV: 5 complaints in total, 1 about the ev and hybrid battery
• 2026 Cadillac Escalade Iql: 3 complaints in total, 2 about the ev and hybrid battery
• 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

Truck has airbag service issues since day 1. I’ve taken to the dealership and they can’t find any issues even though the service safety system continues to appear. Ac issues and charging issues as well. I’ve attached documentation.

2026 GMC Sierra EV owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11767616, filed September 28, 2026

Visibility / Defogging / Defrosting issues are main safety concerns. Every winter for the last 3 years, the heater fails and blows only cold air. This is intermittent throughout the year, but recurring. With cold-weather driving conditions, it creates an unsafe driving experience when windshield and windows can't defog or defrost properly.

2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11713882, filed January 28, 2026

Same situation occurred twice. I was in the car at a red light. Car had been stopped for about a minute. Was on a slight decline, engine brake was engaged to hold car in position. Car was stationary completely.

2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11621197, filed October 22, 2024

Can recall 26V494 make my Escalade IQ 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Battery and electric drive repairs are among the slowest repairs in the industry. A 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ waiting on a battery module or drive unit can sit at the dealer for weeks, and every day counts toward the 30-day figure in California's lemon law presumption.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same traction battery again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V771000, 23V367000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Escalade IQ went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

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 26V494