Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Cadillac Escalade problems

Owners filed 112 complaints about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade with NHTSA between Oct 2002 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (29).

Complaints
112
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system29
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic16
  3. Service brakes14
  4. Steering9
  5. Air bags8
  6. Engine7
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)6
  8. Fuel system, gasoline6
  9. Power train5
  10. Vehicle speed control4
  11. Wheels4
  12. Structure4
  13. Engine and engine cooling4
  14. Seats4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20022
20039
200415
20059
20064
20078
20084
20090
20106
20116
20124
20137
201410
201511
20162
20172
20182
20194
20202
20213
20220
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

29 reports6 fires1 related recall
“WHILE DRIVING I LOST ALL USE OF BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON DRIVING 45MPH ON A CITY STREET. WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR SHUT OFF 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING. T/C LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET AND IMMEDIATELY LOST RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. DASH LIGHTING SYSTEM FLASHES DIFFERENT INDICATOR LIGHTS, DISPLAY RANDOMLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2019Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11290631

Service brakes, hydraulic

16 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS SEIZED AND FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN NEEDED. THE FAILURE PRESENTED THE RISK OF A POTENTIAL CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 02V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); ALTHOUGH, THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2019Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 11223001

Service brakes

14 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THE ABS AND TRACTION ACTIVITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRO-BOOST FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2015Service brakesODI 10766335

Steering

9 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND IT FELT AS IF SHE WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. ON OCCASION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AND LOOSENED ON ITS OWN. FURTHERMORE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE "REAR DOOR MAINTENANCE" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TAKEN TO KUNI CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2449 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, (916) 538-7217). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER STEERING AND SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR THE STEERING AND SEAT BELT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2019Steering, Parking brake, Seat belts, EngineODI 11187056

Air bags

8 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT. The contact stated that the air bag light was illuminated. The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the air bag needed replacement but did not diagnose the failure cause. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 178,531.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2021Air bagsODI 11422042

Engine

7 reports
“WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE" COMES ON. THE CAR COMES TO A STOP. WHEN YOU LIFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE MESSAGE GOES OUT AND WHEN YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE ENGAGES. IT HAPPENS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CAR BEHIND ALMOST RAMS ME AND I AM IN A DANGEROUS POSITION WITH MERGING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A GM DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A CODE FOR THIS OR TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO OCCUR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 10627381
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.