2003 Cadillac Escalade complaints

CADILLAC MOTOR DIVISION BLEW OFF MY INQUIRY. 05/26/2006 22:06:32CIDENT DESCRIPTION: WHEN TURNING OFF IGNITION WITH 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE, AND TOUCHING EXTERIOR MIRROR BUTTON TO FOLD MIRRORS IN OR OUT, POWER SEAT AUTOMATICALLY MOVES DRIVER INTO STEERING WHEEL CRUSHING SAID VICTIM INTO STEERING WHEEL. REMOVING KEY DID NOT STOP. ONLY WAY TO RELEASE THIS A SECOND INCIDENT WAS TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR TO KILL THE POWER. CORRESPONDENCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS RESPONSE IS NO FURTHER ACTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS A THIRD TIME, I WILL DELIVER SAID AUTOMOBILE TO THE CLOSEST CADILLAC DEALER AND REMOVE MY LICENSE PLATES. DEAR [XXX], THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE ME IN REGARDS TO YOUR SERVICE REQUEST. THIS OFFICE GATHERS INFORMATION AND BASED ON THAT INFORMATION WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE BEST METHOD OF HANDING YOUR REQUEST. WE ARE CONTINUALLY MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN WAYS TO ASSIST THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS. AGAIN, I HAVE REVIEWED YOUR REQUEST 1-410654614 WITH THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I APOLOGIZE THAT THE DECISION WAS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES, HOWEVER; THIS IS THE FINAL DECISION OF GENERAL MOTORS AND WE WILL NO LONGER ADDRESS ADDITIONAL MESSAGES ON THIS SUBJECT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AGAIN WITH ANY OTHER CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE OUTSIDE OF THIS ISSUE. IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO CONTACT US IN THE FUTURE, SIMPLY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE OR CALL OUR CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-80

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR ABOVE AND IF NEEDED TO COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP IT WON'T STOP LIKE IT SHOULD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID BRAKE PADS WERE FINE, AND THEY DID NEED NOT TAKE APART THE ABS SYSTEM. ALSO, THEY CHECKED A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BUT IT DID NOT SHOW ANY CODES. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. NOTICED THIS AROUND AUGUST 1, 2005. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. THIS WAS DONE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THIS SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AGO CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKES WOULD SHOOK ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT WHILE ROAD WORK WAS DONE. THIS CAUSED A CRASH, VEHICLE RAN INTO A TREE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN HAND AND NOSE. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND HAD A KNOT ON HEAD, AND TORE LIGAMENTS IN HIS ARM. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING BOOSTER. THIS AFFECTED THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM; THE BLACK BOX HAS NOT BEEN RETRIEVED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. *AK

STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING HOUSING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS CORRODED. THEN, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR A SECOND TIME, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS DRAINED. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND LOST POWER WHILE ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A THIRD TIME FOR REPAIRS.*AK....THIRD TIME DEALER REPAIRED FUEL PUMP. AFTER THIRD REPAIR TRADED VEHICLE. *AK

CADILLAC ESCALADE 2003 POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT SLOW SPEED. *BF THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY FIXING DOING VARIOUS THINGS TO THE BRAKES. GM FINALLY ADMITTED THERE WAS NO FIX TO THE PROBLEM. *JB

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE WASHED AT A CAR WASH. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD A ORANGE PEEL TINT. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE HEAT FROM THE REAR SEAT CAUSED THE FABRIC TO BURN. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO OVER HEAT. *NM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. THE CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND REFUSED TO OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC

WHILE TURNING A CORNER THE VEHICLE STALLED. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN FOR SERVICE. FUEL WAS PUT INTO THE TANK BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION CIRCUIT WAS INOPERABLE. *TC *JB

CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE NOT STARTING. TOWED TO DEALER, REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE IGNITION CIRCUIT WAS INOPERABLE. THE BATTERY HAD A DEFECTIVE CELL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TC AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. *JB

UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WOULD NOT START. *TC THE BATTERY SEEM TO BE WORKING BUT THE IGNITION CIRCUIT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONSUME ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT HE DEALER WHERE THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORM THE DRIVER THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED FEEDBACK ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MADE IT SHUT DOWN BLOWING A FUSE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE VEHICLE AND IS NOW ON THE ROAD AGAIN. *TC

CONSUMER COMPLAINED AFTER REPLACING TWO FRONT TIRES AT A TIRE COMPANY THE LEFT SIDE TIRE HAD 1 BROKEN LUG AND TWO LOOSE LUGS. THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE HAD THREE BROKEN LUGS AND THREE LOOSE LUGS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A SEVEN YEARS OLD CHILD WAS LEANING ON THE LEFT PASSENGER WINDOW, WITH HALF OF THE CHILD'S HEAD INSIDE AND THE OTHER HALF OUTSIDE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE WINDOW PULLED UP AND TRAPPED HEAD BETWEEN THE WINDOWS AND THE FRAME. THE POLICE AND PARAMEDIC APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO RELEASE THE CHILD OUT OF THE WINDOW. *AK WHEN PRESSURE WAS ON THE WINDOW THE CONTROLS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE CHILD WAS LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW AND NOT LEANING ON THE WINDOW. *SC

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE PLACED IN GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO RUN INTO A CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK *MR

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION BOOSTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT-SAFETY DEFECT. *MR THE TIRES RUBBED AGAINST THE UNDERCARRIAGE ANY TIME THE WHEELS WERE TURN HARD LEFT OR RIGHT. A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE SALES DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE PANELS IN THE WHEEL WELL SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRINDED DOWN PRIOR TO DELIVERY. IN REVIEWING THE OWNER MANUAL, THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY DESIGNED FOR 17" WHEELS. 20" WHEELS COULD CAUSE DANGER IN THE INNER WALLS OF THE TIRES AND COULD CAUSE A BLOW OUT. *SC

GOING UP A 20% GRADE ON A 90 DEGREE TURN AT LESS THAN 15 MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE LOOSES ALL CONTROL. IT TAKES 5-10 SECONDS TO RECOVER AND SOMETIMES SLIDES BACK DOWN THE HILL. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED FOUR REPAIRS WITH TEST DRIVES AFTER EACH REPAIR. DEALER HAS NOTIFIED GM OF SAFETY HAZARD. GM REP. IS AWARE OF OTHER ESCALADES WITH SAME PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO ADMIT IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. SAYS ENGINEERS ARE WORKING TO RELEASE A NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAM SOON AND NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNLESS DISENGAGING STABILIZATION SYSTEM EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN.

UPON PULLING OUT OF A CAR WASH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MASTER CYLINDER BROKE IN HALF WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN MOLDING OF THE METAL, PER THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

STABILIZATION EQUIPMENT MAKES VEHICLE LOOSE ALL POWER FOR 5-10 SECONDS, MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE AND SLIDES DOWN THE HILL WITHOUT ANY WAY TO CONTROL VEHICLE. I HAVE TEST DRIVEN WITH DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER REPAIRS. DEALER ADVISES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. GM SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM JUST WAIT FOR NEW COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO BE RELEASED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A COLLISION EACH TIME DRIVING THE VEHICLE GOING HOME DAILY. THE DEALER IS STANDING BY ME BUT IS HAVING PROBLEMS; THE AREA REPRESENTATIVE LARRY MARVIN. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 09/21/03 AND HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES. *LA

THERE EXISTS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE THAT RESULTS IN REPEATED ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING SYSTEM, MOST CRITICALLY IN THE SUMMER, CREATING A CONSTANT BURN HAZARD. THE DRIVER'S WINDOW CONTROL BUTTON CANNOT BE ACTIVATED WITHOUT FREQUENT AND REPEATED ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION OF THE SEAT HEATING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE HEATING BUTTONS PHYSICALLY BLOCK ACCESS TO THE WINDOW CONTROLS. TO LOWER THE WINDOW, ONE'S HAND MUST MAKE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE SEAT HEATER ACTIVATION BUTTONS. FOR INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETICS (SUCH AS MYSELF) AS WELL AS OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE A DEMINISHED ABILITY TO SENSE ABNORMAL HEATING, THIS PRESENTS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS BURN HARZARD.

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ORDERED INSTALLATION OF THE INTERLOCK IGNITION DEVICE (IID) TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING OPERATED BY INTOXICATED DRIVERS. THE DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START OR STALL WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURED BY GUARDIAN INTERLOCK, MODEL 3050, SERIAL# 13429 & 18832, TRANSPONDER 4.4E. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SERVICE STABILITY TRACK MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE CENTER. THAT WOULD THEN DISABLE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. AN AUDIBLE DING-DING WOULD SOUND ABOUT EVERY THIRTY-SECONDS AS YOU WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE BUTTON ON THE DASH WAS INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF THE SYSTEM. CADILLAC ADVISED MY DEALER THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE 2004 MODELS TO BE RELEASED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP TO BE FIXED IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. I HAD 50 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED. *AK

WHEN EXPOSED TO WATER, WATER ENTERED REAR CARGO AREA OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT THERE WERE PANELS ON THE EXTERIOR THAT SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED WATER FROM ENTERING. BUT THIS WAS A NORMAL PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO TELL WHEN TIRE PRESSURE IS LOW DUE TO HEAT THAT HAS FIELDED UP INSIDE THE TIRE, CAUSING THE TIRE WALL TO COLLAPSE. *AK

SUSPENSION SERVICE STABILITY DISABLED DIGITAL WARNING 5 TIMES. ON THE FIRST OCCASION IT ALSO READ REDUCED POWER AND POWERED DOWN FROM 70 TO 35 MPH WITHIN SECONDS WHEN DRIVEN IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. REMOTE ANALYSIS BY ONSTAR INDICATED MOST RECENTLY AN ABS PROBLEM REQUIRED SERVICE. OTHER FUSE AND WIRE/SHORT PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE DASH. *TT

TURNING SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT AND OVER BUMPY ROAD SURFACES, VEHICLE APPLIES BRAKES ON ITS OWN. *NLM

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 10MPH ON FREEZING WEATHER (MOUNTAIN) HAS A SEVERE VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED YET. PLEASE PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON THE HWY, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE LOCK UP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR