Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Cadillac Escalade submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Truck goes into limp mode, reduced power, stuck in second gear, stabilitrak and engine lights. Took it to the Cadillac dealership and after 3100 dollars in repairs the truck is still doing it. If the high level techs can’t figure it out after 2000 in labor it’s should be a recall item.
Well driving, fuel indications went out and car started to do rough idling with poorer fuel economy. Upon inspection, wiring harness by driveshaft on the driver side got caught in the driveshaft and destroyed wiring.
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS TREMBLING FOR A MONTH PRIOR TO THE LIGHT. THEN PEPBOYS COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. RESET ELECTRICAL PANEL. A WEEK LATER BRAKE STABILIZER LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO OCEAN CADILLAC IN MIAMI. THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING, KNOCKING AND ABOUT TO GO ON FIRE. IT LOST PRESSURE AND I CALLED INSURANCE FLATBED.. AFTER FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND $1200 LATER.. PICKED UP AND DROVE OFF. 15 MINUTES LATER ENGINE VIBRATING & SMOKING AS SERVICE DEPT CLOSED. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR, AND SAID FUEL PUMP BLOWN OUT FROM ENGINE MALFUCTION.. OTHER OWNERS, SAME MODEL, TOLD ,ME A COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM REPAIRS FOR FREE SINCE ON RECALL. THE DELEARSHIP NOW SAYS 4,000 BILL TO FIX THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM WHO DOES NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. TWO MONTHS GOING BACK AND FORTH THE DELEARSHIP AND NO MORE MONEY TO GIVE 4,000 TO THE ENGINE WHICH IS ON RECALL & RESPONSIBILITY OF GM MOTORS.
HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL AND GO OUT DUE TO LACK OF PROPER DESIGN. CONSTANTLY GETTING MOISTURE INSIDE OF THEM. *TR
HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION OVERHEATED AND COMPLETELY MELTED ON DRIVERS SIDE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE NOR HAVE I EVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF WARNING FROM GM THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A GREAT NUMBER OF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME POOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT MOST ENDED UP STARTING A FIRE. I WAS HAVING MY OIL CHANGED AT THE GM DEALERSHIP, AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK AS TO WHY MY HEATED SEATS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, SO IT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE AS WELL. THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO PAY JUST FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN OR CONSTANTLY WORRY IF REPAIRED, WAS IT GONNA CAUSE A FIRE NEXT TIME. I STILL ENDED UP PAYING TO HAVE THEM SEARCH THE PROBLEM AND PAY TO DISCONNECT THE MODULE COMPLETELY. $800 PLUS DOLLARS TO REPAIR , MOSTLY LABOR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE SEAT TO REPLACE THE MODULE. HA!, THEY DISCONNECT THE BURNT UP MODULES WITHOUT TAKING MY SEAT OUT, SERIOUSLY??? SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THE HEATED STEERING AS WELL?!?!. AFTER REVIEWING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE , CADILLAC SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN BET THAT I'M VERY FURIOUS ABOUT THIS AND I EXPECT AN ANSWER BACK WITH AN EXPLANATION. SINCERELY, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES IN & OUT. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, WHAT GEAR YOU'RE IN, WHETHER YOU'RE IN PARK REVERSE DRIVE. WAS TOLD PREVIOUS RECALL 08V441000 WAS ISSUED 8/28/2008 ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING. DEALER CAN'T GET NEW PART TO REPLACE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WILL GO OUT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG OR PARKED.
MY TRUCK NORMAL DRIVING AND A FEW MILES LOOSE POWER METERS GO UP AND DOWN LOOOSE POWER TRAIN CONECTION THIS TRUCKS ON PARTICULAR HAS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS GROUND PROBLEMS I NEED TO STOP TURN OFF THE KEY AND TURN ON AGAIN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GO ON AND YOU CAN SEE TONS OF VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY . I REALLY CONCERN ABOUT THAT AND THE DEALERS KNOW THE PROBLEM AND DOESN"T MAKE A MASSIVE RECALL ON THAT I JUST REPORT THAT IF I HAD A ACCIDENT I REPORT ON THE NHTSA PAGE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) BEYOND A THREE YEAR PERIOD. THE DEALER (CAPITAL CADILLAC OF ATLANTA, 2210 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080, (770) 884-7397) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING. IN PREVIOUS REPAIRS, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED A CABLE FOR THE SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM DUE TO A CONSTANT LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE READER THAT PRODUCED A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION ON STREET AND ON FREEWAY, THE SPEED DROPS AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO CUT OFF. THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN, THE RADIO SHUTS OFF AND, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 SEPARATE TIMES (TWICE THIS YEAR) DIFFERENT DATES. THERE SHOULD BE 3 PICTURES SHOWN OF THAT. -LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE BATTERY IS 1 YR. OLD- GOOD, THE RADIO WOULD NOT COME ON, INTERIOR LIGHTS ALL WORKED. TOWED TO A SHOP DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MODULAR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL WON'T GO OFF. -WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2015 THE SERVICE SUSPENSION ALERT WAS ON, THE DEALER (SUBURBAN CADILLAC IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MI) SAID "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW", THIS YEAR THERE THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A BUZZING NOISE. EVERY MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT BEFORE IT STARTED.
MOISTURE GETTING INTO HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY CAUSING BALLAST TO SHORT, AND HID FAILURE
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. TWICE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AS I WAS TRYING TO SAFELY GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME BACK ON, THE RADIO COMES ON AT TOP VOLUME, THE POWER COMES BACK ON. I HAVE HAD IT INTO AN AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK AND COULD NEVER REPLICATE IT OR FIND THE ISSUE. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED ON A SIDE STREET, NOT AS BAD AS THE HIGHWAY, BUT STILL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING. THE ONE I READ WAS IN 2008 WHICH IS THE MODEL YEAR OF THIS CAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS APPX LATE NOV 2015,, THEN AGAIN IN MARCH 2016, AND THIS LAST TIME ON JULY 17, 2016.
WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C THIS SMELLS LIKE OIL BURNING, AND I HAVE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL. THIS IS BECAUSE OIL IS LEAKING IN TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I READ THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL ISSUE IN THESE CARS. I THOUGHT THIS IS A PARTICULAR CAR'S DEFECT, BUT I READ THAT IS VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2008 ESCALADES.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF OFF AND BACK ON. DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK, AIR CONDITIONER TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF ALONG WITH HEATED SEATS TURNING ON. RADIO INCREASES IN VOLUME AND VEHICLE ENGINE INCREASE RPMS. WITH HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH OTHER TRAFFIC INVOLVED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT SHATTERED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IN ORDER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
I WILL BE DRIVING AND LOSE ALL POWER! IT DOES IT AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. ITS LIKE SOMEONE TURNS THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE WEIRD THING IS IT WILL DO IT ALOT ONE DAY AND THEN IT DOESNT DO IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON BUT IN TRAFFIC IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD IT PUT ON COMPUTERS AND IT NEVER HAS SHOWED ANYTHING. AND I WAS READING ON RECALLS ON THE IGNITIONS AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE A PART OIF THE RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED COMPLETELY OFF, WHEN AN ALARM TYPE OF SOUND STARTED RINGING. I LOOKED AT MY CAR AND I SEE SMOKE INSIDE BY THE DASH BOARD, I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE RUSHES OUTSIDE AND GRABBED A TOOL. HE OPENED UP THE HOOD AND ALOT MORE SMOKE CAME OUT, HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WITH THE TOOL AND MY UNCLE GRABBED THE HOSE AND WATER DOWN THE ENGINE PART OF THE CAR. THE FIRE WENT OUT AND I RIGHT AWAY CONTACT ME INSURNACE.THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL FUSE BOX IS BURN AND IM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS DAMAGE IN THE DASH BOARD. *TR
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED.THAT BEING SAID YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY A PERSON WOULD BE FRUSTRATED WHEN THEY DISH OUT AN ESTIMATED 700 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS ONLY TO BE FACING THE SAME ISSUE NO MORE THAN A YEAR LATER.THE PROBLEM IS WITH GM'S HEATED SEAT DESIGN. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE; DOING A QUICK SEARCH WILL BRING SEVERAL FORUM THREADS WITH USERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUES.WITH THE CURRENT STATUS OF GM IN REGARDS TO FAILURE TO ACT ON POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THEY ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE HERE. THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT TAKE THE TIME TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. SEVERAL USERS HAVE REPORTED RECURRING ISSUES EVEN AFTER THE "FIRE HAZARD" HAS BEEN FIXED/REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN I USE THE AUTO START FEATURE IN COLD WHETHER.I LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND THE TEMPERATURES GET RATHER COLD, IT'S REALLY NICE TO USE THIS FEATURE WHENEVER POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, WHEN USING THE AUTO START IN COLD WEATHER, SEVERAL USERS AS WELL AS MYSELF HAVE REPORTED THAT THIS IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE MELTING WIRES DUE TO RESISTANCE ISSUES RELATING TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT GET SO HOT THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SMELL IT BURNING AS WELL AS VISUALLY SEE THE BURN DAMAGE UPON INSPECTING THE CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SCARIEST PART OF IT ALL IS THAT NO FUSE WILL TRIP DURING THIS HAZARDOUS PROCESS. THE WIRE WILL SIMPLE MELT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NO LONGER MAKE A GOOD CONTACT AND THEN "HOPEFULLY" QUIT WORKING WITHOUT CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A REPORT COMES IN OF A VEHICLE BURNING TO THE GROUND, HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL BE HURT BECAUSE OF GM'S FAILURE TO ACT "AGAIN". EITHER WAY, IF IT DOES, I WILL BE CONTACTING THE NEWS AND SUPPLYING THEM THIS SUBMISSION AS PROOF THAT A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. *TR
THE FRONT SEAT HEATERS FAILED. PRIOR TO FAILURE I NOTED A MEDIUM-STRONG BURNING SMELL, BUT COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL SEAT MODULE (CCSM) HAD MELTED DUE TO TOO MUCH CURRENT PASSING THROUGH IT. THEY QUOTED ME $1092.00 TO REPLACE THE PART, WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED WHILE TRAVELING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON JUNE 30, 2011, HIS WIFE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID HEATER RECALL PERFORMED, A INOPERATIVE LOCK ON ONE OF THE DOORS FIXED AND AN EVALUATION OF THE DVD SYSTEM THAT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER CLAIMED THE RECALL WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, WITHIN 24 HOURS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE WITHIN THE DASHBOARD AND THE LACK OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. AN ELECTRICAL CAUSE, COULD NOT BE ELIMINATED. *JB
2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEASED AND THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC OR BURNING WIRES AND TURNED THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FOR HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE RADIO BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,500.
THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE PEDALS RESET AND MOVED INTO THERE START POSITION, WHICH MY WIFE CANT REACH. SHE COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS AND I TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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