RoadVitals

2005 Cadillac Escalade Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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 Feb 8, 2026
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.
19%
of 43 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.
2
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 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 brake

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

BrakesFuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2026
Crash reported

Brake/abs system locked up on me and I couldn’t stop. I accidentally hit someone from behind and was proven to be an accident. My traction light my abs light and my brake light all came on at the same time right before I wrecked. The suv swerves over to the other lane randomly while on the interstate and does stop on time. Every time I fuel up gas leaks out from somewhere and its pumps gas really slow and takes so long

NHTSA ID
11716518
Incident
Mar 23, 2023
BrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 24, 2024
Fire reported

While driving down the road under any condition the brakes start to apply themselves ultimately leading the vehicle to not being able to pull itself. The more throttle you give it the more the brakes apply. I believe this is the same as the 2002-2004 chevy hydro boost recall. Also around the same time the resistor for the blower motor caught fire while driving down the road.

NHTSA ID
11632273
Incident
Feb 14, 2023
Brakes
Filed Aug 1, 2019

BRAKE PEDDLE GOING TO THE FLOOR

NHTSA ID
11241090
Incident
Jul 29, 2019
Mileage
250,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Jul 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10731537
Incident
Jun 30, 2015
Brakes
Filed Oct 15, 2013

DRIVING AT 35 MPH CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES CAR STOPPED DASH BOARD LIT UP WITH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS. AS I TOOK OFF I WENT TWO BLOCKS PUT ON BRAKES HAD NO BRAKES.THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS TOTALLY CORRODED THROUGH AND ALL BRAKE FLUID HAD DRAINED OUT.AFTER CHECKING LINE FOUND OUT ENTIRE FRONT BRAKE LINE FROM LEFT WHEEL TO RIGHT WHEEL IS CORRODED .CADILLAC IS CLAIMING TO MANY MILES WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT.THE CARS ORIGINAL BATTERY HAS OUTLASTED BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547901
Incident
Oct 7, 2013
Mileage
132,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2013

AT HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY, STARTED THE ENGINE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE. UNDER THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A LARGE POOL OF BRAKE FLUID AND A LEAK FROM ONE OF THE BRAKE PIPES UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED BADLY OVER A SECTION LENGTH OF AROUND ONE FOOT IN LENGTH, AND COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, SUDDENLY GIVEN WAY - LUCKILY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A SALTY ENVIRONMENT OTHER THAN NORMAL VIRGINIA WINTER ROAD SALT, OR USED OFF ROAD. *LN

NHTSA ID
10542533
Incident
Sep 8, 2013
Mileage
55,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 8, 2013

THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE RELEASE MECHANISM HAS BROKEN TODAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS MECHANISM HAS FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A GM OEM PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER ON 8-13-2011. THIS VEHICLE HAS 68932 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FAILURE IN THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10523687
Incident
Jul 8, 2013
Mileage
68,932 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 7, 2011

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FRICTION LININGS BECAME SEPARATED FROM THEIR METAL SHOE WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS RUINED THE ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS OF THE REAR BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438896
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Mileage
45,000 mi

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

Electrical11Airbags10Fuel system8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .