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Cadillac Escalade EXTYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 92 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on record for the Cadillac Escalade EXT.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints92Top: Air bagsSafety recalls162002–2013 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Cadillac Escalade EXT years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Escalade EXT median. Tap a year for its full report.

'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2013Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2011Not rated–/1003 complaints · 4 recalls2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2009Not rated–/1003 complaints · 5 recalls2008Not rated–/10014 complaints · 4 recalls2007Not rated–/10016 complaints · 5 recalls2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2005Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall2004Not rated–/10011 complaints · 2 recalls2003Not rated–/10015 complaints · 2 recalls2002Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Cadillac Escalade EXT problems

All model years combined: 92 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 bags262
Electrical system214
Service brakes110
Service brakes, hydraulic103
Structure72
Power train61
Engine50
Equipment40
Tires41
16 other systems294
16 recalls

Cadillac Escalade EXT recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

38%Passenger side: inflator module21V-052 · 2007–2009 · Feb 5, 2021 · 557,023 vehicles51%Passenger side: inflator module21V-054 · 2010–2013 · Feb 5, 2021 · 1,778,128 vehicles43%Passenger side: inflator module21V-053 · 2009–2013 · Feb 5, 2021 · 692,526 vehicles39%Passenger side: inflator module21V-051 · 2012 · Feb 5, 2021 · 284,645 vehicles28%Passenger side: inflator module21V-050 · 2007–2011 · Feb 5, 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles63%Electrical system: ignition14V-827 · 2011–2012 · Dec 30, 2014 · 84,192 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission13V-001 · 2013 · Jan 2, 2013 · 54,686 vehicles–Axle: spindle11V-007 · 2011 · Jan 6, 2011 · 30,566 vehicles–Electrical system10V-240 · 2007–2009 · Jun 4, 2010 · 1,365,070 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline09V-154 · 2009 · May 6, 2009 · 27,188 vehicles–Electrical system08V-441 · 2007–2008 · Aug 28, 2008 · 857,735 vehicles–Wheels: rim06V-307 · 2007 · Aug 11, 2006 · 3,227 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Escalade EXT

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2007–2013 · still open
    Open
  2. NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA08010 · 2007–2008 · closed Sep 8, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-441
  3. NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE08010 · 2007–2008 · closed Jun 12, 2008
    No recall
  4. UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONPE05020 · 2002 · closed Sep 13, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-379