2005 Cadillac Escalade Owner Complaints

The check air bag light stays on and will not go off. The light stays on with the seatbelt on or off.

NHTSA ID

11755197

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

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

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while refueling, the gasoline was spilling out of the filler neck. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11648105

Incident

Aug 15, 2021

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

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 62 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the sunroof. The contact stated while attempting to exit the highway, the sunroof detached from the vehicle and hit the road. The contact drove to nearby auto glass repair shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact drove another vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the sunroof was not the original equipment but was an aftermarket sunroof. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V427000 (Equipment). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact attempted to speak with a representative from Webasto Product North America, Inc. manufacturer but was not successful. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.

NHTSA ID

11435436

Incident

Sep 22, 2021

Mileage

235,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DURING THE DAYTIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, THE GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V055000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ID

11414146

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

126,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ONLY AROUND 55,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. YOU CAN DRIVE IT AWHILE AND THEN IT QUITS WORKING. LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND QUIT AGAIN. NO OTHER GAUGES ARE AFFECTED YET. LAMP ASSEMBLY IS FADING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE LIGHT HOUSING.

NHTSA ID

11394897

Incident

Jan 12, 2021

Mileage

55,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SWITCHES INTO THE NEXT GEAR. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS EMPTY. FILLED IT UP AND THE NEXT DAY IT STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11387336

Incident

Jan 7, 2021

THE LIGHTING FOR THE GEAR INDICATOR DOESN'T WORK. I CANNOT TELL WHAT GEAR IT IS IS

NHTSA ID

11374633

Incident

Aug 11, 2020

Mileage

198,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SIMILAR VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V055000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. CADILLAC OF NEW ORLEANS LOCATED AT (3100 LIME ST, METAIRIE, LA 70006) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11318254

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND HAS REMAINED ON. IT IS ON WHILE IDLING AND DRIVING. IT NEVER GOES OFF. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR ANYTHING TO CAUSE IT TO COME ON. I FEAR THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING FAULTY HAPPEN WHILE I DRIVE. ALSO I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES FUELING MY 2005 ESCALADE. IT WILL ONLY LET ME PUT IN $1.00 MAYBE $1.50 AT A TIME AND THE PUMP WILL KICK OFF. I'VE EVEN HAD GAS SPILL OUT WHILE THIS IS OCCURRING. THE GAS SPILL HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND THE FUEL TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY. SO IT WASN'T OVERFILL. ALSO, MY AIR CONDITIONER, AT TIMES WILL JUST GET HOT WHILE DRIVING. IF I STOP AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON, THE AIR WILL RETURN TO COLD. AND IT SMELLS LIKE BURNING WIRES. I HAVE BEEN ROUTINELY LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE THROUGH THIS WEBSITE.

NHTSA ID

11288292

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

BRAKE PEDDLE GOING TO THE FLOOR

NHTSA ID

11241090

Incident

Jul 29, 2019

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO A HUB BEARING FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HERITAGE CHEVROLET BUICK OWINGS MILLS (11234 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, 1-(866) 730-3826) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUB BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL NUMBER: 07E-10B (HUB ASSEMBLY) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E106000 (WHEELS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11133571

Incident

Apr 2, 2014

AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND SAYS CHECK AIRBAGS

NHTSA ID

11129309

Incident

Aug 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ADD FUEL TO THE FUEL TANK, THE VALVE BECAME STUCK AND PREVENTED THE FUEL FROM ENTERING. AS A RESULT, FUEL SPILLED OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11079082

Incident

Feb 27, 2018

Mileage

53,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY CAR USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2009 AND I NOW HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH IT. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OUT, THE ERROR STATES THE FUEL CAP IS NOT TIGHT AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TIGHTENED IT NEVER GOES AWAY. WHEN FUELING THE CAR FUEL WILL OVERFLOW IF NOT PAYING ATTENTION. ALSO THE THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED SO I AM NOT SURE WHICH POSITION THE CAR IS IN MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO LISTEN AND GAUGE IT BEFORE TRYING TO PUT IT IN GEAR. I NEVER RECEIVED AN COMMUNICATIONS THAT THE CAR WAS UNDER RECALL BUT FROM WHAT I AM SEEING FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM NOW HAVING.

NHTSA ID

11032027

Incident

Sep 6, 2017

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR NOT ILLUMINATED. GM RECALL # 05023. I CALLED GM # 866-982-2339. THEY STATED MY VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND HAVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPROGRAMED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I CAN'T TELL WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN AND THIS IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11021549

Incident

Aug 3, 2017

Mileage

215,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,977.

NHTSA ID

10915892

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

64,977 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10762401

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED SHOWING THE INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE WHEELS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10746323

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10663397

Incident

Dec 2, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

WITHOUT ANY PRIOR PROBLEM THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO STICK AND NOT DISPLAY PROPER SPEEDS AND NEVER GOES BACK TO ZERO EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. ALSO, AFTER THIS BEGAN THE OTHER GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO GIVE NO/FALSE READINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565964

Incident

Dec 10, 2013

Mileage

126,144 mi

I HAVE TWO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. I HAVE READ THAT THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE THIS SAME CONDITION. I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT IT WON'T PASS EMISSIONS. I AM ALSO WORRIED OF WHERE IT IS LOCATED, THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. I WOULD THINK GM SHOULD HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FIX THIS DEFECT DUE TO THE EPA VIOLATION & SAFETY RISK THAT IT POSSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552744

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

95,000 mi

FROM PARKED POSITION PLACED KEY IN IGNITION AND STARTED CAR. ALL WARNING LIGHT (TRACTION CONTROL, EMERGENCY BRAKE, SERVICE STABILITY, ETC) REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DID NOT GO OFF. ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF CAR AND IGNITION WAS STUCK IN "ON" POSITION. COULD NOT TURN CAR OFF OR REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. VEHICLE HAD FULL POWER AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME EVEN THOUGH WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED. ONCE HOME, HAD TO TRY NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET VEHICLE TO TURN OFF. FINALLY, HAD TO UNHOOK BATTERY, PULL FUEL PUMP RELAY, AND PULL WIRES OUT OF COMPUTER IN ORDER TO GET ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. HAVING TO TOW TO SHOP FOR REPAIRS. POSSIBLE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING IS STUCK. IF IT IF THE CLOCK SPRING, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551722

Incident

Nov 11, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi