2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
111
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
22
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE
The 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE has received a total of 111 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with WHEELS:HUB, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER. 22 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (14 complaints), Service Brakes (9 complaints), and Electronic Stability Control Esc (6 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE, potentially affecting up to 1,647,758 vehicles.
Recall 07E106000 — WHEELS:HUB
| 130,000 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Consequence: WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.
View full details →Recall 06E043000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
| 88,303 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK...
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
View full details →Recall 05V163000 — SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
| 1,359,824 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE...
Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY...
View full details →Recall 04V045000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 68,875 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.
Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.
View full details →Recall 03V037000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
| 107 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH FOUR WELDS ON THE REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, ONE OR TWO OF THE WELDS MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATION.
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE DOOR STRENGTH MAY BE DEGRADED DURING A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS ON THE LEFT REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. IF A WELD IS FOUND OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, A BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE HINGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 17, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN...
View full details →Recall 02V224000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
| 649 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE A WEAR-THROUGH OF THE CABLE INSULATION, EXPOSING THE WIRE CORE AND RESULT IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORTING. IF ENOUGH CURRENT IS DISCHARGED AT THE POINT OF CONTACT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING AND RE-ROUTE, IF NECESSARY. NO OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL TAKE PLACE SINCE ALL VEHICLES WERE CAPTURED AT THE DEALERS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE
111 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
All of a sudden 3rd and 4th gears became useless causing a rapid deacceleration of the vehicle and posing the possibility of being rear ended with end result of massive damage to vehicle and serious injury to occupants
The sunroof on my vehicle flew off on the highway while it was in the "closed" position. There was NO personal injury nor damage to any persons or vehicles. I returned to the area where the glass flew off only to find it shattered all over the shoulder of the road, completely destroyed. I've uploading a pic of the serial number sticker and my VIN sticker off my door panel.
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.
Air bag light is on .want go off..its Cadillac (EST TRUCK )NOT THE SUV
COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE LEAK DUE TO INFERIOR BRAKE LINES
Safety Rating for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE
General Motors, LLC has issued 22 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
030730020C — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS A HARSH 1-2 SHIFT, SLIPPING 1-2 SHIFT FOLLOWED BY A HARSH ENGAGEMENT. *TT
030861002B — STRUCTURE:BODY
SNAP/POPPING TYPE NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT 03-08-61-002B, DATED 05/01/2004 REPLACED. *TT
040941003 — AIR BAGS
PROPER USE OF LABOR OPERATION CODE WHEN DIAGNOSIS LEADS TO SIR PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. *TT
040137004 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
REVISED AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) SYSTEM PERFORMANCE TEST. *TT
01562 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
HVAC DIGITAL DISPLAY DOES NOT ILLUMINATE OR FUNCTION. SERVICE VME. SIT BULLETIN 1411066. *TT
01425A — SUSPENSION:FRONT
SNAP AND POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. *TT
01747 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
LOCKING GAS CAP AVAILABILITY. *MR
01919 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
REPLACEMENT RADIO READS CAL ERROR, HAS NO AUDIO OR WILL NOT PROGRAM. *TT
01610 — STRUCTURE:BODY
STAINED OR FADED CARGO COVERS. *TT
01913A — EQUIPMENT
CARGO COVERS- CLADDING STAINED OR DISCOLORED. *TT
Showing 10 of 22 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CADILLAC ESCALADE
- 1999 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 46 complaints
- 2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 96 complaints
- 2001 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 3 complaints
- 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 164 complaints
- 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE (current)
- 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 99 complaints
- 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 63 complaints
- 2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 26 complaints
- 2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 317 complaints
- 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE — 180 complaints
Other CADILLAC Models
- CADILLAC SRX — 4,131 total complaints
- CADILLAC DEVILLE — 3,659 total complaints
- CADILLAC CTS — 3,088 total complaints
- CADILLAC SEVILLE — 1,049 total complaints
- CADILLAC CATERA — 826 total complaints
- CADILLAC DTS — 725 total complaints
- CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV — 633 total complaints
- CADILLAC STS — 609 total complaints