Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 81 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 81 · page 1 of 4
All of a sudden 3rd and 4th gears became useless causing a rapid deacceleration of the vehicle and posing the possibility of being rear ended with end result of massive damage to vehicle and serious injury to occupants
The sunroof on my vehicle flew off on the highway while it was in the "closed" position. There was NO personal injury nor damage to any persons or vehicles. I returned to the area where the glass flew off only to find it shattered all over the shoulder of the road, completely destroyed. I've uploading a pic of the serial number sticker and my VIN sticker off my door panel.
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT. The contact stated that the air bag light was illuminated. The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the air bag needed replacement but did not diagnose the failure cause. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 178,531.
Air bag light is on .want go off..its Cadillac (EST TRUCK )NOT THE SUV
COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE LEAK DUE TO INFERIOR BRAKE LINES
BREAKS WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WENT DOWN EMBANKMENT.
SOME BODY TAKE MY TRUCK LIKE A ROBBERY. IM HAVE A POLICE REPORT BIT THEY DON'T FIND IT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL USE OF BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON DRIVING 45MPH ON A CITY STREET. WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR SHUT OFF 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING. T/C LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET AND IMMEDIATELY LOST RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. DASH LIGHTING SYSTEM FLASHES DIFFERENT INDICATOR LIGHTS, DISPLAY RANDOMLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING.
CONTINOUSLY LIGHT COMES ON SERVICE AIRBAG, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVER SEAT IS MOVED AND WHEN HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS SEIZED AND FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN NEEDED. THE FAILURE PRESENTED THE RISK OF A POTENTIAL CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 02V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); ALTHOUGH, THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND IT FELT AS IF SHE WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. ON OCCASION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AND LOOSENED ON ITS OWN. FURTHERMORE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE "REAR DOOR MAINTENANCE" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TAKEN TO KUNI CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2449 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, (916) 538-7217). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER STEERING AND SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR THE STEERING AND SEAT BELT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK SATURDAY, 4/21/18 AND WHEN I GOT ON THE RAMP TO TAKE I-40 EAST IN KNOXVILLE, TN, MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COME OFF, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED ME TO THE RIGHT. I STARTED TO DRIVE SLOW AND WHEN I PICKED UP SPEED TO SEE IF EVERYTHING WAS OK AND IT APPEARED TO BE. GET FURTHER DOWN THE BELTWAY, ALMOST HOME AND MY TIRE BRAKES OFF AT THE AXLE AND ROLLS ACROSS 3 LANES.
TAKA TA RECALL, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE HIT A SPEED BUMP AND MY AIRBAG IN MY STEERING WHEEL CAME OUT AND INFLATED AND MY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT HAS BEEN A PROBLEUM. AT THIS TIME I DIDN'T NO WHAT TO DO, SO I CALLED ROADSIDE FOR A TOW TRUCK. MY SENSORS HAVE BEEN COMING ON EVERY SINCE.CAN SOMETHING BE DONE TO HELP WITH MY SITUATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA, SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH HIS BABY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTING THE HOOD AREA, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE LOCATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, TOOK PICTURES, AND WAS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 02V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO FOLLOW UP TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
THE CAR ACCELERATES AS SOON AS YOU TURN IT ON AND IT JUST KEEPS ACCELERATING SO WE HAVE TO TURN IT OF BECAUSE IT DOES NOT STOP. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE LATCH FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V129000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL WAS ONLY PARTIALLY COMPLETED DUE TO PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR THE COMPLETE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,869.
I WAS ON I 75 PASSING UNDER MILLER RD IN FLINT, MI WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO BACK UP AND SLOW DOWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STATED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDDLE THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT TO 1ST GEAR AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO WHERE I COULD GET IT INTO REVERSE TO STOP IT. WE WHERE SO LUCKY! I GOT IT TO A CADILLAC DEALER IN DEARBORN, MI AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MAIN BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. I HAD ALL THE BRAKE LINE REPLACE. I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM STILL ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT GM HAD A BRAKE LINE MATERIAL PROBLEM DURING THE EARLY 2000 THAT LEAD TO RUSTING OUT OF THE LINES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. THE DEALER WAS LES STANFORD CADILLAC UPDATED 10/9/15 *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FIVE SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESPONDING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ *CN
BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF HYDRAULIC LINES/COMPONENTS. LAST TIME WHEN BRAKE FAILED I WAS ON A FREEWAY AND I HIT THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR TO TAKE AN EXIT AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THANKS GOD NO DAMAGE TOOK PLACE. I AM HAVING LOT OF RUST/CORROSION/CHROME FAILURE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEM ON THE 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON, ABS LIGHT COMES ON, SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL ALARM COMES ON. WHEN IT IS NOT ONE ALARM OR THE OTHER IT IS ALL. REPLACED HUBS, SHOCKS, SENSORS, COMPRESSOR SEVERAL TIMES, WORKED ON SYSTEM GROUNDS FOR ELECTRICAL, ETC. PROBLEM SOMETIME WILL GO AWAY FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES THEN RETURNS. CADILLAC MECHANICS STUMPED.STARTED WHEN VEHICLE HAD ALMOST 80,000 MILES NOW HAS 146,000 AND IT IS CONSTANT PROBLEM AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. SEEMS PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED AND I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON IT..... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CUP HOLDER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PART BENEATH THE CUP HOLDER HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED FAILING TO DISPLAY ANY READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
CHROME LINING OF WHEELS HAS BEEN PEELING FOR YEARS. WHEN FIRST APPEARED FACTORY REP FROM CADILLAC/GM INSPECTED CAR AND STATED ONLY COSMETIC (CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). MY CONCERN WAS THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO INTO THE INTERFACE OF THE TIRE AND WHEEL. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GM SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT HAS. BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE IT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD A FIX. THIS FIX WAS PERFORMED NUMEROUS TIMES AT DEALER AND OTHER TIRE DEALERS, MR TIRE AND GOODYEAR. ALL OF THE TIRE DEALERS HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE RIGHT AWAY. THE ISSUE IN ALSO NOTED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET. WE CAN CHECK PRESSURE AND LOAD TIRES TO SPECS GO ON A RIDE ON HIGHWAY AND FEEL SOME LOSS OF STEERING AFTER A HUNDRED MILES. THEN NEED TO ADD PRESSURE. THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH ACUTE INSTANCES THAT HAS POTENTIAL OF CREATING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER WANTS $1000.00 PER WHEEL TO REPLACE PLUS LABOR. GM NOT INTERESTED IN ANY FINANCIAL HELP OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CASE # 71-1423629281 (JANUARY 13, 2015). THEY STATED THAT THEY "HAVE TO FOLLOW COMPANY GUIDELINES", THAT THE "ISSUE IS TRICKY BECAUSE I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST BUT THERE IS NO RECALL", "THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE PRECLUDES ANY FIX", "OUR GUIDELINES ONLY COVER UP TO 8 YEARS" ...... PLEASE HELP. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A FIX THAT DOES NOT LAST (AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR), AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND AN EVENTUAL ACCIDENT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WHEN I BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, I HAD NO BRAKES WHAT SO EVER, LUCKY ME I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BRAKE LINES IS BROKE, I HAVE A POOL OF BRAKE FLUID IN MY DRIVE WAY. *TR
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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