2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE DEFECTIVE. WHEELS LOCK AND "HOBBLE" IN LOW SPEED TURNS. *NM
THIS IS A SYNOPSIS OF THE INCIDENTS WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP TIRES (P265/70R17) THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH MY 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 27, 2003, MYSELF ALONG WITH MY FATHER, MOTHER, SISTER AND COUSIN ELLISON WAS TRAVELING IN A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. AS WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE 16 FROM MACON, GEORGIA TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS THROWN INTO THE AIR. ONCE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN WE EXITED THE VEHICLE, WE NOTICED THAT THE THREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THERE WAS ALSO SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ON NOVEMBER 18, 2004, WHILE MY FATHER AND MOTHER WERE TRAVELING ON I-95 NEAR BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA, THEY FELT A THUD AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THEY EXITED THE VEHICLE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE THREAD HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PREVIOUS TIRE INCIDENT, MY FATHER AND MOTHER WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 16 NEAR STATESBORO, GEORGIA. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. AGAIN MY FATHER WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ON FEBRUARY 18, 2005, WHILE MY FATHER AND MOTHER WERE TRAVELING IN MISSISSIPPI ON INTERSTATE 10. WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 10, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW COMPLETELY OUT. ON APRIL 3, 2005, MY FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND TOWN IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED VIGOROUSLY SHAKING. AT THIS POINT, HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAFELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE TIRES, HE NOTICED THAT THE THREADS WERE SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. IGNITION SWITCH BROKE. AAA SENT LOCKSMITH. LOCKSMITH SAID HE HAS CHANGED APPROX. 14 OF THESE IN LAST 1 AND 1/2 WEEKS. BRASS PART AND SPRING BREAK OFF LEAVING IGNITION DEAD/UNABLE TO START OR MOVE VEHICLE. I WAS FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT OUT ON THE ROAD. $347.00 LATER AND IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME. BEFORE LOCKSMITH SHOWED UP CADILLAC WANTED TO DISCONNECT TRANSMISSION AND DROP DRIVE SHAFT PLACE ON FLATBED TO TRANSPORT TO DEALERSHIP. WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE COST ME? CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE WITH THIS POOR QUALITY PART. *NM
IGNITION SWITCH: THE TRANSMISSION MAY GET STUCK IN THIRD GEAR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC) LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE THE ASC SENSOR WAS REPLACED. EACH TIME REPLACEMENT HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. A MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED NO REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM CURRENTLY HAVING A RE-OCCURING PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITY TRACK. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED FOUR TIMES NOW TO NO AVAIL. EACH TIME I TAKE IT IN THEY TELL ME IT IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM, AND THAT IT JUST NEED TO BE RESET. I HAVE YET TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT TODAY I ALMOST DID. WHILE GOING TO THE CURB ENTERING THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WENT CRAZY AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACK NOTICE APPEARED. AFTER I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STILL WAS JERKING UNCONTROLABLE. I TURNED OF THE STABILITY TRAC BUTTON IN HOPES OF GAINING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE STILL NOTED THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I AGAIN HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WOODLAND WHO STATED IT HAD TO BE MY 22" WHEELS. BUT, I FIND THIS HIGHLY UNLIKELY SINCE THE DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY OFFERED IT TO ME UPON BUYING AND I HAD THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES BEFORE WITH THE ORIGINAL 17' TIRES. I DO MAINTAIN A RECORD OF ALL SERVICES AND I HAVE A COPY OF WHEN I PURCHASED THE WHEELS, WHICH WAS NOT UNTIL RECENTLY. THIS IS THE SECOND ESCALADE FROM GM THE FIRST ONE WAS DECLARED A LEMON AND THIS ONE APPEARS TO BE TURNING OUT TO BE ONE ALSO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE CONSUMER WAS OPENING THE TAILGATE AND THE CABLES BROKE. THE CONSUMERS SON SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES . *AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .