2006 Cadillac Escalade Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Cadillac Escalade, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical520.8%
- Brakes520.8%
- Engine416.7%
- Airbags312.5%
- Fuel system28.3%
- Other / unspecified28.3%
- Driver assistance14.2%
- Body & structure14.2%
- Exterior lighting14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING WHILE ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS BLINKING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THE RESULT IS #6 AND #8 ARE MISFIRING AND ALSO WERE TOLD THAT 2 MANIFOLD BOLTS ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE WERE BROKEN OFF IN ENGINE BODY. IF THEY CANNOT GET THE BOLTS TO BACK OFF THEY WILL HAVE TO PULL THE HEAD TO DRILL THEM OUT ON THE INSIDE.
VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING. ENGINE DIES HAPPENED FOUR TIMES, THREE TIMES AT 70 TO 80 MPH ON 6 LN. FREEWAY HAVE TO TRY AND STEER AND USE BRAKES WITH NO POWER. ONCE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LET SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTS UP AGAIN. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WHEN THEY PUT ON THE COMPUTER. I FEEL THAT HIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IT COULD GET US KILLED ALONG WITH ANY ONE ELSE CLOSE BY THAT HITS US.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED EXTENSIVELY TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE DEALER (JOSEPH CHEVROLET, 8733 COLERAIN AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45251, (513) 904-4110) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES MADE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE STABILIZER LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING WHILE ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS BLINKING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THE RESULT IS #6 AND #8 ARE MISFIRING AND ALSO WERE TOLD THAT 2 MANIFOLD BOLTS ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE WERE BROKEN OFF IN ENGINE BODY. IF THEY CANNOT GET THE BOLTS TO BACK OFF THEY WILL HAVE TO PULL THE HEAD TO DRILL THEM OUT ON THE INSIDE.
VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING. ENGINE DIES HAPPENED FOUR TIMES, THREE TIMES AT 70 TO 80 MPH ON 6 LN. FREEWAY HAVE TO TRY AND STEER AND USE BRAKES WITH NO POWER. ONCE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LET SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTS UP AGAIN. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WHEN THEY PUT ON THE COMPUTER. I FEEL THAT HIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IT COULD GET US KILLED ALONG WITH ANY ONE ELSE CLOSE BY THAT HITS US.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
A VEHICLE TURNED ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. STOOD ON THE BRAKES AND FELT THE BRAKES GRAB HARD. I INITIALLY THOUGHT I COULD MISS THE TRUCK WHEN FIRST APPLIED BRAKES, THEN THEY FELT LIKE THEY RELEASED. NO PULSING LIKE YOU WOULD FEEL WHEN ANTI-LOCK HAS ENGAGED. JUST FELT LIKE THEY RELEASED. ALSO, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP NOW AND THEY TOLD ME THE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW AND KNOW OF ANY REASON WHY THEY WOULD BE OFF, NOR DID I KNOW YOU COULD TURN THEM OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW AIR BAG DUE TO THE FAILED MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN PASSING A VEHICLE, I PRESSED THE THROTTLE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PASSING THE VEHICLE, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL REMAINED STUCK FULLY DOWN WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL THROTTLE. I KICKED AT THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PEDAL POPPED UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I TRY NOW TO NOT PRESS THE PEDAL COMPLETELY DOWN, BUT I ALWAYS WONDER IF AND WHEN IT WILL STICK AGAIN.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF. I DROVE IT FOR 5 MORE MINUTES AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING. THE CAR HAS 109,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED REGULARLY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME EITHER THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT COSTING ME ANYWHERE BETWEEN $5000 AND $7000. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS AND WAS TERRIFIED THAT THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I NOTICED VIBRATIONS WITH VOGUE CUSTOM BUILT TIRES WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A SEPARATED VOGUE CUSTOM BUILT TIRE ON LEFT FRONT. TIRE SIZE IS 305-40-22. THE VOGUE CUSTOM BUILT TIRE HAS BEEN DRIVEN 25,000 MILES. SEE PHOTO.
I NOTICED VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CADILLAC DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A SEPARATED TIRE ON LEFT FRONT. TIRE SIZE IS 305-40-22. TIRE HAS BEEN DRIVEN 25,000 MILES. SEE PHOTO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING WHILE ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS BLINKING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THE RESULT IS #6 AND #8 ARE MISFIRING AND ALSO WERE TOLD THAT 2 MANIFOLD BOLTS ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE WERE BROKEN OFF IN ENGINE BODY. IF THEY CANNOT GET THE BOLTS TO BACK OFF THEY WILL HAVE TO PULL THE HEAD TO DRILL THEM OUT ON THE INSIDE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
NEWER MODELS OF VEHICLES SUCH AS THE CADILLAC ESCALADE, CADILLAC STS, BMW, NISSAN AND OTHER VEHICLES INCORPORATE LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE) TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IN SOME MODELS, THESE LED LAMPS ARE STROBED OR PULSED AT A RATE TO EFFECT A CHANGE IN BRIGHTNESS BETWEEN TAILLIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATIONS. THE STROBING EFFECT IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE ON BUMPY ROADS OR WHEN VISUALLY SCANNING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. THE STROBING EFFECT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS BY DRIVERS FOLLOWING SUCH EQUIPPED VEHICLES AND FIXATING ON THE STROBING TAIL LIGHTS. I RECOMMEND THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS INCREASING THE STROBING RATE OF SUCH TAIL LIGHTS SUCH THAT THE VISUAL DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THE SLOW STROBE LIGHT EFFECT IS MINIMIZED. IN PARTICULAR, I FIND SUCH LIGHTS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BEHIND. MY EYES ARE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE STROBING EFFECT THAN OTHERS. I SUSPECT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS SENSITIVITY. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .