RoadVitals

2005 Cadillac Escalade Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
11
Latest Dec 24, 2024
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.
26%
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.
1
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 11 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 electrical

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

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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2021

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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2020

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
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 10, 2019

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
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 10, 2014

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
Electrical
Filed Feb 26, 2014

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 11, 2013

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
Electrical
Filed Mar 22, 2013

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED INACCURATE GAUGE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. KMJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10504162
Incident
Aug 15, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 26, 2012

MY SERVICE AIRBAG CAME ON OUT OF THE BLUE AS I WAS DRIVING, THAN EARLIER THIS YEAR MY AIRRIDE CONTROL WENT OUT AIR COMPRESSOR AND SHOCKS , IN FEB MY REAR BOLTS ON THE DRIVE SHAFT WERE LOOSE LEAKING FLUID , MY REAR SEAT BELT IS MALFUNCTIONING FOR MY SON 8 YEARS GET STUCK, MY AIR CONDITIONING IS HOT ON ONE SIDE AND COLD ON THE OTHER CADILLAC CHANGED OUT A MODULE THREE MONTHS LATER. IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING BUT I WON'T TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN ALL THE OTHER STUFF STARTING HAPPENING REAR BOLTS LOSE LOST MASSIVE FLUID THEN THE AIR RIDE WENT OUT AIR COMPRESSOR AND SHOCKS. WHEN WE OPENED THE AIR COMPRESSOR UP IT WAS RUSTED AS IF IT HAD NOT WORKED IN YEARS SO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT SEWELLE CADILLAC DAMAGED MY SUV EVERYTHING BUT THE AIR ON ONE SIDE WAS GETTING HOT NOT TO MENTION THEY HAD MY TRUCK FOR OVER 7HRS AS I WAITED IN THE LOBBY LAST YEAR LOST MY ONE OF MY HUBS THE INTERIOR PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE VIDEO PLAYER WENT OUT IN 2007 . MY VEHICLE STAYS ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN AND THE KEY IS OFF AND OUT OF THE IGNITION THE INSIDE LIGHT SWITCH COMES ON SOMETIMES AND THIS TRUCK IS ALMOST PAID BUT ITS A LOT OF MONEY FOR ALL THESE THINGS TO GO WRONG. THERE IS A LOT MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10482369
Incident
Sep 14, 2011
Mileage
151,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 2009

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER DEFECT CAUSES SPEEDOMETER TO STICK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296129
Incident
Dec 13, 2009
Mileage
53,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 18, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE SPEEDS WELL ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL TRAVELED SPEEDS. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR HER SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE, BUT HER YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 05/05/09. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10259224
Incident
Oct 30, 2007
Mileage
60,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .