Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Cadillac Escalade submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Service Ride control and stability control system lights have been flashing the instrument panel cluster on my dash will cut off and not illuminate once it's time to turn the head lights on there is a ticking /clicking noise when first cranked up and as the gas is pushed and when accelerated and when driving over 65 mph the vehicle will start swaying to the point of being uncontrollably.
THE DRIVE SUSPENSION LIGHT STAYS FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE IS ALL OVER THE ROAD THEN COME NIGHT THE DASH LIGHTS IN THE INTERIOR INSTRUMENTAL PANEL GO OFF AND YOUR ARE UNABLE TO SEE YOUR SPEED OR ANY OF THE DASH THE VEHICLE DOES THIS WEATHER IT WOULD BE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY AND 8D IS CONSTANTLY DOING THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 11/19/2020
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN IDLING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AFTER A TWO-HOUR DRIVE WHEN DRIVER SLOWED DOWN WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT MIDDLE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER A POLICE NOR A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT A PENNY FELL INTO THE LIGHTER AND CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TT
WHEN I GOT THE MY SUV FROM THE DEALERSHIP 8YEARS AGO 1 YEAR LATER THE LIGHT STAYABILITY SERVICES SYSTEM CAME ON AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM AT ALL TRACTION CONTROL NOT WORKING SUSPENSION POWER NOT WORKING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE LIGHTER AREA. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A PENNY IN THE LIGHTER AREA. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CHANGE HOLDER WAS POSITIONED IN A MANNER WHERE CHANGE COULD FALL INTO THE LIGHTER COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD, SEATS, AND ELECTRICAL WIRING WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE CONTROL OR INSTRUMENT PANEL IS GOING HAYWIRE HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME AND THE DISPLAY OF THE ODOMETER AND THE GEAR PRND IS ALWAYS OUT THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE SEEN WITH 6 OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND APPCT EARS TO BE THEXACT SAME PART OR DISPKAY ALSO THE ENTIRE CLUSTER FOR THE DRIVER WORKS INTERMINETLY AND DISPLAYS THINGS THAT ARE WRONG WHEN THEY ARE NOT AND INOT DISPLAYING ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENT.. FUEL SPEED RPM ETC EVERYTHING.. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ACCIDENTALLY BACK INTO SOMETHING BY NOT KNOWING WHAT GEAR ITS IN.. ALSO SEVERAL PULLOVERS BY AUTHORITIES AS I WAS UNABLE TO READ MY SPEED WEATHER I WAS GOING TO SLOW OR A LITTLE ABOVE THE LIMIT IT ALSO CAUSES VISIBILITY ISSUES WHEN THE LIGHTS BEGIN TO GOBHAYWIRE FLASHING BRIGHT TO NOTHING AT TIMES... IT HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AS IT WAS DRIVEN IN THE WRONG GEAR.. IT HAS CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO BURN UP NOT KNOWING FUEL LEVELS IT HAS CAUSED THERMAL BREAKDOWN IN THE MOTOR DUE TO OIL LUVELS PRESSURE BEING DISPLAYED INCORRECTLY... AMONG OTHER ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL.. THIS SINGLE ISSUE OVER TIME HAS CAUSED SO MUCH REPAIR AND NEEDS FOR THE VEHICLE... TAPPING IT TO GET IT TO STOP SO U CAN SEE.. TO THE GLARE OF IT BEING LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE... THE.MILEAGE AND THE PRND IS OUT JUST LIKE ON MANY OTHER GM CARS AND TRUCKS... THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE... CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO GO.. CAUSED FUELP PUMP AND LINES TO GETBCLIGGED AND BURNT UP NOT DISPLAYING CORRECTLY MESSAGES OR SIGNALS ALONG WITH THE GUAGEE.. THE LCD DISPLAY IS FOUND IN OTHER HM VEHICLES AND WHEN I SEEBTHEM MOST ARE ALL EXPERINCING THIS ISSUE.. PLEASE HELP THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND ADRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE A SHORT TIME AFTWR II PURCHASED THE TRUCK. LEADS AND MAKES ME WONDER IF OTHER THINGS SUCH AS AIRBAGS OR OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE PRESENT... AND NOT KNOW..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH BACK TO TWO WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN UPDATED 10/23/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE IGNITION INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED FROM THE START POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DROPPED A PENNY INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, WHICH CREATED A THERMAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THERE WAS SMOKING COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE FUSE BOX. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY OR REPAIR THE DAMAGE HIMSELF. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FIRE ORIGIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE AND STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM/ LOW BEAM HARNESS ON THE STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE PICTURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,800, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *AK
ABS BRAKES/BRAKE SYSTEM: BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED CADILLAC ESCALADE 2002, AFTER IT REACHED ABOUT 75000 MILES, ABS SYSTEM MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN U PRESS THE BRAKES, EXTREMELY LOUD,BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.....SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE RECALLED WITH THESE TRUCKS IN REGARDS TO THE ABS SYSTEMS.....NEVER MADE THAT SOUND BEFORE WHEN I HAD OWNED IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AFTER A YEAR STARTED TO MAKE A HORRIBLE UNSAFE LOUD NOISE WHEN U PRESS THE BRAKES....FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE..... ALSO THE TRUCK ACCELERATED ONCE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS......TRUCK WAS IN PARK SO THE TRUCK DIDN'T MOVE--JUST ACCELERATED LIKE IT WANTED TO RACE. NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT STARTED IN THE TRUCK AT AROUND 80,000 MILES---NOT ALL SENSORED AREAS ARE LIT, 1/2 ARE, 1/2 ARE NOT, DRIVERS HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING ALSO.*JB
WHILE DRIVING THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO RUN A RED LIGHT AND HIT A CURB. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE NO BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE VEHICLE HAD RUN INTO THE PHARMACY PARKING LOT CURB AND GRASS TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A NEW VEHICLE AND OR REFUND. THE DASH DISPLAY KEPT GOING OUT, SEVERAL FUNCTIONS OF PROGRAMMING DID NOT WORK AND THE CD PLAYER HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *SC *JB
THERE WAS INTERMITTENT STALLING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *AK THE CONSUMER SMELLED WIRES BURNING, THE CHECK ENGINE WAS ON, THE SEAL FOR THE REAR HATCH LEAKED WATER, THERE WAS A LONG CRANK WITH THE ENGINE WHEN WARM, THERE WAS A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S LEFT FRONT TIRE AREA DUE TO A FAILED BEARING WHICH DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THE A/C WAS NOT COLD DUE TO A LEAK, WATER LEAKED IN THE TRUNK, THE MIRRORS WOULD NOT TILT IN REVERSE, A POSITIVE CABLE WAS LOOSE AND A BOLT WAS STRIPPED, THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE AFTER WAITING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WOULD BE HEARD WHEN RESTARTED. *SC *CB
THE PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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