2005 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 2005 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
- Electrical337.5%
- Heating & air conditioning112.5%
- Fuel system112.5%
- Exterior lighting112.5%
- Other / unspecified112.5%
- Seat belts112.5%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY AND DISPLAYED THAT THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 80 MPH WHEN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INITIATED A VOLUNTARY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE VIN RANGE OF THE VEHICLES CHOSEN FOR THE VOLUNTARY REPAIR AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,700.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, I WAS IN LAS VEGAS AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PARKING SPOT , WHICH WAS THE HANDICAP PARKING IN FRONT OF STORE . I WAS IN THERE FOR NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AND MY VEHICLE WAS STOLEN , I THE CALLED THE POLICE WHICH GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO ONSTAR, THEN ONSTAR TOLD ME THEY SENT A SIGNAL TO THE TRUCK, AND THE TIME FRAME WAS NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES OF 8:50 . THE OUTCOME WAS THAT ONSTAR DID NOT LOCATE THE VEHICLE IT WAS LOCATED BY THE POLICE 6 DAYS LATER. WHEN I WENT TO GO TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK AT THE TOW YARD I DISCOVERED THAT THE ONSTAR ANTENNA WAS BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR , SO THE PERSON WHO IS STEALING YOUR VEHICLE JUST HAS TO PULL A PLUG OUT OF REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THAT DISABLES THE ANTENNA. THE TRUCK WILL NEVER BE PICK UP BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY TAKE THEM TWO SECONDS FROM JUMPING IN THE VEHICLE TO DISABLE IT . AND THE UNIT IS BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WHICH THEY JUST PULL DOWN THE BOX AND RIP OFF THE WIRES THAT CONNECT THE POWER AND ETC.. SO MY COMPLAINT IS THAT ONSTAR IS NOT A GOOD SYSTEM TO HAVE FOR STOLEN LOCATION, I WAS TOD TO PUT LOJACK AND THE POLICE TOLD ME THIS, SO CADILLAC KNOWS THIS AND THEY SAID THAT IS NOT A GOOD REASONS FOR ME TO HAVE CADILLAC LOOK INTO THIS OR HELP ME WITH ASST OF BUYING A NEW VEHICLE AND TRADING THE OLD ONE IN. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON POWERS BLVD AND CROSSING THE BRIARGATE INTERSECTION IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO ON MAY 2, 2015, HONDA CIVIC VEHICLE RAN RED LIGHT TRAVELING WEST AROUND 32 TO 33 MPH (HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE). AND IMPACTED 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT ON DRIVERS SIDE. COMPONENT PARTS IN QUESTION ARE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT. DRIVER SUPPOSIVELY REPORTED TO ONSTAR THAT DRIVERS SEATBELT HAD DISENGAGED SOMETIME DURING IMPACT. POLICE REPORT STATES CADILLAC CAME TO STOP 219 FEET FROM IMPACT. ONSTAR CALL ONLY AVAILABLE IF SUBPOENA IS REQUESTED. INJURIES TO PASSENGER WAS SIDE WHIPLASH, BACK INJURY, AND ROAD RASH TO KNEES, BRUISING AND SORES AS A RESULT OF KNEES IMPACTING GLOVE BOX IN FRONT OF PASSENGER. INITIAL INJURIES TO DRIVER WAS CONCUSSION, CLOSED HEAD INJURY, WHIPLASH, LEFT RIB CONTUSIONS, BRUISING AND SORES. BOTH OCCUPANTS IN CADILLAC WERE TRANSPORTED TO ER. PICTURES TAKEN OF VEHICLE ONCE LOCATED 3 DAYS LATER ILLUSTRATE DRIVERS SEATBELT IN NORMAL POSITION AND PASSENGER SEATBELT IN PULLED DOWN POSITION. PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT, PICTURES TAKEN AT SCENE.
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 .