Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 2 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes
3
0
0
0
Electrical System
3
0
2
0
Unknown or Other
1
0
0
0
Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
1
0
0
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
1
1
0
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Power Train › Driveline
1
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
1
0
0
0
Engine
1
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments04V129000
Filed Mar 17, 20043,662,211 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.
Risk. ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic04V045000
Filed Feb 4, 200468,875 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.
Risk. CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.
Remedy. DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Dec 8, 2014145,000 milesMI
BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 12, 2014127,527 milesTX
I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME AND AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. RETURNED HOME AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT FRAME AREA UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. PULLED WHEEL OFF AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. ALL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUR OTHER CARS AND NONE HAVE BRAKE LINES RUSTED LIKE THESE. SUSPECT MATERIAL USED TO MAKE BRAKE LINES NOT TO SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN SEVER CORROSION.. *TR
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 8, 201470,122 milesMA
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE SPEED IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 17 OF THIS YEAR. DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO CODES OR HISTORY OF CODES IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. LEFT IT THERE FOR A DAY BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WHAT NOW. *JS
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2013190,000 milesNY
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. CAUSE WAS A CORRODED REAR, STEEL (HARD) BRAKE LINE ALONG THE FRAME. *TR
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jan 3, 2013124,371 milesNY
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH WAS RELATED TO OXIDATION AND RUST DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINES (METAL TUBING) AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE LINES AS WELL AS THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED OVER A YEAR LATER, WHERE 14 ADDITIONAL LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST. A PATCH JOB WAS PERFORMED TO RETURN BRAKING CAPACITY. *JB
Engine
Filed Oct 2, 201296,000 milesVT
FOUND HALF OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN AND CANNOT GET INSPECTED NOW. *TR
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 30, 2012GA
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT METAL BRAKE LINE PROBLEM. I NOTICED A LEAK AND I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? WHY WASN'T IT NOTICED DURING PREVIOUS SERVICE? WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM? CAN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PARTS AND VERIFICATION OF RECALLS. "I WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY ACID DRIPPED ON LINE". I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ANSWER I RECEIVED DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL SERVICE AND WORK DONE TO MY ESCALADE EXT TRUCK WERE COMPLETED MY THE DEALER. MY BATTERY HAD NO CORROSION AND I DO NOT LIVE INSALT BELT STATE. I FEEL THIS BRAKE LINE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Jul 14, 2010168,000 milesGA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT, THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROUGH AND SHIFTING HARD. UPDATED 10/27/10
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jul 12, 201037,000 milesGA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS AND REPLACED SIX TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAD ALSO BEEN REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10
Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments1 injured
Filed Sep 20, 200717,000 milesNM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING HIS TAILGATE WITH 12 BAGS OF 40 POUND WOOD CHIPS, HE HEARD A POPPING SOUND . THE CONTACT THEN LOADED A 13 POUND BAG ONTO THE TAILGATE AND APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 BAGS FELL ONTO HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT. HE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURES TO HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT, WHICH RESULTED IN THREE SURGERIES. THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT DUE TO RECALL NUMBER 04007 AND AGAIN AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 12-12-2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Feb 14, 200762,000 milesNJ
12/24/06 I HAD A CAR FIRE AT MY HOUSE, GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR OVER A MONTH NOW REGARDING THERE LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. 2/13/07 THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY OF THE FIRE OVER THE PHONE TO ME. I FAXED TO THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. NOW TODAY 2/14/07 THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR DENYING IT WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BIG COMPANY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WORKING PUBLIC. *NM
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jan 30, 200762,000 milesNY
MY 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WAS PARKED AT 10:30 DECEMBER 23. 2006 IN MY DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 9-9:15 ON DECEMBER 24, 2006 THE TRUCK IGNITED ITSELF ON FIRE. THE TRUCK IS SEVERELY BURNED AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S 2006 MERCEDES BENZ AS WELL AS MY PROPERTY. *JB
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master CylinderCrash2 injured
Filed Mar 22, 200534,500 milesNY
WAS EXITING THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY, SOUTH IN PELHAM, NY. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR! I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR AND HAD TO STEER INTO A UTILITY POLE TO AVOID AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION.
Electronic Stability Control › Automatic (asc)
Filed Nov 5, 2004CA
SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE STABILITY/TRACTION SYSTEM. STABILITRAK COMBINES ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. *BF THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM COMMANDED THE BRAKED BE APPLIED TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN IT SHOULDN'T HAVE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RE-SOLDERED THE ABS MOTOR. THE BRAKING OF ONE WHEEL HAS BEEN LESS VIOLENT BUT PERSIST NONETHELESS. *NM
Power Train › Driveline
Filed Apr 22, 2004MT
DRIVELINE "CLUNK" #99-04-20-002B-(08/21/2003) - PER GM ADVISORY BULLETIN TO DEALER- PERSISTENT-NO RESOLVE BY GM CHARACTERIZED AS A "DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC" BY GM REPRESENTATIVE.*AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Mar 17, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.