RoadVitals

2003 Cadillac Escalade Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Mar 15, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 81 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesEngineSeat belts+1 more
Filed Mar 15, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11187056
Incident
Feb 25, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 22, 2014

WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE" COMES ON. THE CAR COMES TO A STOP. WHEN YOU LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE MESSAGE GOES OUT AND WHEN YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE ENGAGES. IT HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CAR BEHIND ALMOST RAMS ME AND I AM IN A DANGEROUS POSITION WITH MERGING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A GM DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A CODE FOR THIS OR TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627381
Incident
Sep 18, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENGAGED INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE WHILE AND STALLED. THE FAILURE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS BUT THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10526337
Incident
May 12, 2009
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 10, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.\

NHTSA ID
10524178
Incident
Jan 10, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2011

2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE 6.0L ENGINE, EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN EXHAUST LEAK HTTP://YOUTU.BE/0YG6WLBNZGI. *TR

NHTSA ID
10420144
Incident
Jul 15, 2011
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2010

MANIFOLD STUDS ON DRIVER SIDE ARE BROKE!!! 03 ESCALADE 6.0. *TR

NHTSA ID
10358362
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2010

BOLTS ENDED UP COMING OUT OF MANIFOLD ON THEIR OWN THROUGH TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348071
Incident
Jul 31, 2010
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON THE HWY, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE LOCK UP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8020974
Incident
Oct 10, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical23Brakes20Driver assistance11

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .