Electrical system: 12v
Free remedy
CERTAIN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITHOUT A POWER STEERING BRACKET TO SECURE THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING SHAFT.
29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade cite electrical system, 26% of all 112 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA, SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH HIS BABY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTING THE HOOD AREA, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE LOCATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, TOOK PICTURES, AND WAS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 02V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO FOLLOW UP TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, ALL THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD FAILED BUT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FIVE SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESPONDING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ *CN”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CUP HOLDER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PART BENEATH THE CUP HOLDER HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.”
Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
CERTAIN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITHOUT A POWER STEERING BRACKET TO SECURE THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING SHAFT.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.