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2009 Cadillac Escalade ESVProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-050 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.

2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 28%Owner complaints62 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage47kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 5, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV has problems

6 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags31
Fuel/propulsion system30
Engine20
Electrical system10
Service brakes10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

28%repaired · 2023 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-050 · Feb 5, 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles · 734,119 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

38%repaired · 2023 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-052 · Feb 5, 2021 · 557,023 vehicles · 212,499 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

43%repaired · 2023 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-053 · Feb 5, 2021 · 692,526 vehicles · 298,205 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 09V-154 · May 6, 2009 · 27,188 vehicles

Risk. WATER IN THE MODULE COULD CAUSE A SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT, ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, SETTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES OR THE ENGINE MAY BE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Cadillac.

Best & worst years

2009 vs. every other Escalade ESV year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escalade ESV median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV safety ratings

2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (23.7% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Escalade ESV owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON AND IT WILL NOT GO AWAY. I AM UNABLE TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THAT. 07/06/2016 MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL ISSUED NHTSA #16V381 RECALL #2049151 PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATORS STATUS: REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE
Complaint 11352448 · Sep 1, 2020
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR.…
Complaint 10893134 · Aug 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS…
Complaint 10660101 · Nov 21, 2014 · 47,000 miles

Own a 2009 Escalade ESV?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.