2007 Cadillac Escalade

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION(ODI) DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE08-010, GM PROVIDED ODI WITH 41 ALLEGATIONS OF NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES INCLUDING 16 ALLEGATIONS OF FIRES ORIGINATING WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.ONE OF THE FIRES WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAUSED BY AN ARSON EVENT.ODI HAS ALSO RECEIVED 5 REPORTS, 4 OF WHICH ARE OF DUPLICATIVE OF REPORTS PROVIDED BY GM, ALLEGING NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN TOTAL, ODI IS AWARE OF 41 NON-CRASHENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ARE UNRELATED TO ARSON.EIGHT OF THE 41 FIRE ALLEGATIONS ALSO ALLEGE PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE FIRES.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-010) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED NON-CRASH RELATED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

The contact owned a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, there was an area where the pavement was incomplete and caused the vehicle to go off-road and into the woods, and the vehicle crashed into the trees, where it came to a stop. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The steering wheel and driver’s seat air bag had not deployed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact was taken to a hospital and was treated for a fractured fibula and sternum and was receiving physical rehabilitation for the injuries. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11753781

Incident

Jul 27, 2026

Mileage

160,000 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that upon approaching the parked vehicle, he discovered that all the air bags had deployed without impact. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the air bag deployment. The contact then discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags). The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11703244

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Mileage

123,000 mi

Airbags warning light is on

NHTSA ID

11697256

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

I started the car and noticed a smell. Then my red battery light came on and a notification that my battery was not charging. I drove less than a mile and noticed smoke under my hood. I pulled over to a safe place and opened the hood to see flames around my alternator.

NHTSA ID

11687245

Incident

Sep 14, 2025

Entire information cluster has lost power vehicle halts to a stop in mid driving breaking response is sometimes hard sometimes very loose intermittent warning lights

NHTSA ID

11666957

Incident

Jun 12, 2025

The Stabilitrak/Oxygen sensor harness was ripped off by the driveshaft. Ive heard this is common on the 2007+ escalade

NHTSA ID

11659388

Incident

May 1, 2025

My car shut down completely as I was driving it home last month [XXX] the cluster panel was showing charging system failure, stabilization and traction control coming on and off when not in use, the battery I bought was purchased in 2022 was completely drained and not rechargeable and even lights were staying on inside vehicle without out the battery connected, the driver door handle fell off not broken came loose and the tires had a locked lug nuts that never came with the vehicle when i purchased it, i had to buy a $103 unlocking key to remove the tire in order to get the brakes fixed and the spare tire was rusted and there wasn't a key to release it so i had it cut off Because i was stranded on the road with no help, the shift gear came undone as i had to put a paper clip in it as I didn't have a warranty to cover this expense, the starter and battery and alternator, serpinewas paid out of pocket as I was sold a 2007 Cadillac Escalade with 238,0000 miles with prior accident and the Carfax shows 50 different problems errors and the emergency break will shift out or on when not activated, the car has been without any power but yet the interior door lights and the radio would come on without any power, the car was in a prior accident before I became the owner, the gas costs me 140 weekly, I only used regular gas I only get 9miles to the gallon driving to nearest City but it costs me 40dollars total for round trip when I only drive 8 miles to culver Indiana from my home, the car doesn't have air as it was removed before I purchased it, it's hot without air as heat comes from the engine and hits my legs my feet and my face with the heat turned off, the engine light is currently on the car was sold to me as is but its not worth $$ 11, 800.00 with a 498.00 car note, and I have been in between jobs because of the car constantly breaking down and causing me to lose my job and I scheduled a air bag replacement recall with the dealer in Rochester, shepreds Chevrolet INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

NHTSA ID

11605774

Incident

Jul 5, 2024

N212328760 Recall preformed on 8/4/2022. Airbag warning light still coming on while driving! Evidently, my problem was never fixed.

NHTSA ID

11599836

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This service bulletin provides a procedure to flush and bleed power steering system to correct a power steering noise or fluid leak concern that is caused during extremely low temperatures.