STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 53 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 6 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 8 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 12 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 14 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 15 |
| Jan 2014 | 1 | 16 |
| Feb 2014 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 18 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 19 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 20 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 21 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 22 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes1043.5%
- Engine417.4%
- Tires & wheels313.0%
- Electrical28.7%
- Airbags14.3%
- Driver assistance14.3%
- Steering14.3%
- Body & structure14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSafety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WEST VIRGINIA.THE RECALL PROCEDURE WILL INVOLVE REMOVING THE SENSOR, CLEANING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, APPLYING A RUST INHIBITOR (ZINC-X) TO THE SURFACE, AND REINSTALLING THE SENSOR.IF NECESSARY, THE SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE POPULATION AND FAILURE REPORT DATA GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE FOR THE FULL REGION THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY ODI AS THE SALT-BELT.THAT INCLUDES DELAWARE, IOWA, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ADDITION TO THE 14 STATES INCLUDED IN 05V-379.THE STATES COVERED BY GM'S RECALL HAVE THE HIGHEST INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT CONDITION, ACCOUNTING FOR 91% OF THE INCIDENTS, BUT ONLY 24% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.ODI'S ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 840 OF THE COMPLAINTS, 244 OF THE CRASHES, AND 16 OF THE INJURIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS INVESTIGATION OCCURRED IN THOSE STATES.THE RESULTING INCIDENT AND CRASH RATES ARE 96.2 AND 28.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES RESPECTIVELY (NOTE:RATES ARE BASED ON VEHICLE SALES, NOT REGISTERED VEHICLES). THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IN THE EXCLUDED PORTIONS OF THE SALT-BELT ARE 399,000 VEHICLES, 81 INCIDENTS (20.3 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 3 CRASHES, AND NO INJURIES.THE STATISTICS IN THE REMAINING 30 STATES ARE 2,406,000 VEHICLES, 168 INCIDENTS (7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 31 CRASHES, AND ONE INJURY.GM AND ODI ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE IN STATES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM WILL PROVIDE ODI WITH UPDATED COMPLAINT, FIELD REPORT, AND WARRANTY DATA IN NOVEMBER 2005.ODI AND GM WILL REVIEW THAT DATA AND ASSESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE RECALL AT THAT TIME.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK OVER, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO "PULSATE". I DIDNT THINK THE TRUCK WOULD STOP SO I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO MISS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAD ALREADY STOPPED. LUCKILY MY TRUCK STOPPED, BUT IT WAS RATHER SCARY. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ALSO. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR CHEVROLET AND GMC VEHICLES IN THE " SEVERE CORROSION" AREAS, OHIO BEING ONE OF THE STATES, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE. THE RECALL # IS 05068A. I AM CURIOUS WHY CADILLAC VEHICLES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AND IS GETTING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ANY LIGHT THAT CAN ME SHED ON THIS IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. UPDATED 9/25/15 *LN UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10732316
- Incident
- Sep 19, 2013
- Mileage
- 153,000 mi
ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP SIGN, I HAD TO STEP HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. SHORTLY AFTER I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL GETTING CLOSER TO "BOTTOMING OUT" EACH TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES. UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND, ON THE LEFT SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE BELOW THE BACK SEAT, FLUID DRIPPING AND APPROXIMATELY 24" OF THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE SATURATED WITH BRAKE FLUID. WHEN I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE I TRACED THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER BACK AND FOUND THE LINES TO BE RUSTED. THE LINE THAT IS LEAKING MUST HAVE RUSTED THRU. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO DESIGN I CANNOT SEE THE BREAK IN THE LINE NOR, IT APPEARS, CAN I REPAIR IT MYSELF DUE TO ACCESSIBILITY.
- NHTSA ID
- 10726302
- Incident
- Jun 19, 2015
- Mileage
- 163,289 mi
I WAS DRIVING HOME. OUT OF NO WHERE MY DRIVERS SIDE - SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANIOUSLY. I BEGAN LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD, AND STARTELING THAT I THOUGHT SOMEONE STRUCK MY DRIVERS SIDE. I AM LEFT SIDE - HEARING IMPAIRED, MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE WENT NUMB AND BEGAN TO RING PIERCINGLY. I GAINED CONTROL BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO EXIT THE TRUCK. I WAS ENGULFED IN CHEMICALS AND COULDN'T SEE. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND COULDN'T AS THE AIRBAG BLOCKED MY EXIT, AND / OR ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW. WHEN THE AIRBAG BEGAN TO DEFLATE I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I WAS FORTUNATE MY SON AND HUSBAND WERE BEHIND ME AS WE DROVE HOME. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS I JUMPED OUT OF MY TRUCK WITH A WHITE CLOUD OF FUMES BEHIND ME. I NOW FEEL AS THOUGH MY EAR HAS BEEN STABBED AND MY NOSE/THROAT ARE BURNING. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10651875
- Incident
- Nov 1, 2014
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN AND THE MUFFLER REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS COULD LEAD TO A MAJOR REPAIR BILL IF THE OTHER BOLTS BREAK TAKING THE MANIFOLD OFF, IT COULD LEAD TO THE EGR PIPE BRAKING AND THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR BILL JUST REPLACING EACH EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT AS IS, THEN, THE REPAIR SHOP WANTS ME TO BUY NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLDS SO THEY CAN WARRANTY THEIR WORK. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE OR NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLDS & GASKET W/UPGRADED BOLTS. PLEASE HELP YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMER. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10631232
- Incident
- Aug 20, 2014
- Mileage
- 193,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10607158
- Incident
- May 13, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE BROKEN BRAKE LINE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO RUST AND THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10564764
- Incident
- Feb 11, 2014
- Mileage
- 123,000 mi
I AM ANOTHER UNHAPPY GM VEHICLE OWNER DUE TO A VERY COMMON SAFETY ISSUE ON THEIR ENGINES, THE BOLTS ON MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAVE BROKEN, 3 IN JUST ONE WEEK, AND IM SURE THE OTHERS WILL BREAK TOO IN JUST A MATTER OF TIME.. I THINK GM SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BCUS IT WILL NOT ONLY LOOK GOOD ON THEM BUT KEEP THEIR FUTURE COSTUMERS HAPPY.. IF I DO NOT GET A RECALL ON THIS , I WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN OWN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE... DODGE HERE I COME... MY WIFE'S VEHICLE IS A DODGE AND HAS 3 TIMES THE KMS AS MINE AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR ISSUE ... OWN UP GM AND MAKES US PROUD AGAIN TO OWN A GM VEHICLE... *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10561355
- Incident
- Jan 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO NOTICED A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE INNER BRAKE PAD, WHICH WAS MISSING. THE TRIPPING SENSOR ON THE BRAKE PAD CAUSED ALL OF THE FLUIDS TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10469487
- Incident
- Jul 16, 2012
- Mileage
- 130,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone. Technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any Emojis loaded to any contact.
EQUIPMENT
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT FINDING NEEDLE BEARINGS DURING AN OIL CHANGE. TECHNICIAN WILL GAIN ACCESS TO THE ROLLER ROCKERS TO INSPECT THEM. ONLY REPLACE THE ROLLER ROCKER THAT IS MISSING NEEDLE BEARINGS. BE SURE TO CLEAN THE OIL DRAINS TO RETRIEVE THE NEEDLE BEARINGS. EACH ROLLER ROCKER HAS 66 BEARINGS.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
This informational bulletin provides information on Part Restriction and Ordering Process Information for OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Modules (VCIM) (GMNA Only)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about gasoline powered cars, mid-size trucks, light duty trucks, and heavy duty trucks with premature catalytic converter failures. It is recommended to inspect for a poor crimp on the grounds ring terminal at the engine block for the bank with the concern and repair the wire.
SEAT BELTS; SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
This informational bulletin provides information to advise dealers about seat belt buckles not operating and/or seat belt warning light illumination, as well as difficulty latching and unlatching the buckle or the buckle release button sticking.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with information on flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and the usage of E85 fuel in GM vehicles.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.