Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Cadillac Escalade problems

Owners filed 103 complaints about the 2004 Cadillac Escalade with NHTSA between Dec 2003 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (32).

Complaints
103
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system32
  2. Service brakes23
  3. Air bags12
  4. Power train10
  5. Seats7
  6. Fuel/propulsion system6
  7. Steering6
  8. Exterior lighting5
  9. Suspension5
  10. Equipment5
  11. Engine4
  12. Vehicle speed control4
  13. Seat belts3
  14. Wheels3

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
20032
20046
200512
20064
20073
20086
20095
20109
20114
20126
20138
20148
20155
20162
20176
20185
20193
20201
20211
20222
20230
20241
20254

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

32 reports1 crash3 fires
“I don’t know all I stopped driving it because it is not shifting right and I can’t ark it for some reason . I have to leave it in reverse and then turn off and put rocks so it does not move. Not safe, one day I drive 30 minutes later it is this way.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2025Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11639247

Service brakes

23 reports
“At speeds of 50 mph and above, my vehicle does the death wobble. Any time I hit a tiny crack in the road, going higher speeds. The person that sold he this car knew it did not pass emissions in September 2024 and I bought it in November 2024. A dealership checked car fax for me after I bought it. And this person rolled back the odometer also. I found this out after I purchased it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2025Suspension, Structure, Service brakesODI 11637676

Air bags

12 reports9 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. DURING THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT SECURE THE PASSENGERS. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT LEG LACERATION AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND RIGHT KNEE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED FIVE FRACTURED VERTEBRAE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (INTEGRITY GM OF CHATTANOOGA, TN) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11020884

Power train

10 reports2 crashes
“I HAD A BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPNTURE AND NEARLY WRECKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH LINES ROUTED THROUGH THE FRAME, OR BETWEEN FRAME AND BODY. THEY RECOMMEND A FULL BODY REMOVAL AND THEY REFUSED. FAULTY TRANS MODULES AND PEELING/LEAKING STOCK RIMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2018Power train, Wheels, Service brakesODI 11063905

Seats

7 reports4 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, REAR PASSENGER SEAT BECAME HOT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED, ONLY THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 232,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2017SeatsFire reportedODI 10944125

Fuel/propulsion system

6 reports
“Searching of Google results indicates this is a known problem with these vehicles. I am unable to put fuel/gas in the tank because the vapor safety system fails! Having to replace the entire vapor purge and canister assembly is very costly when this known safety hazard should have been taken care of by the manufacturer.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11574499
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.