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2003 Cadillac EscaladeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 81 owner complaints about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

2003 Cadillac Escalade
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year2% below the Escalade median · #12 of 25 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints8111 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage104kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 4, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Sfoskett~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Cadillac Escalade has problems

81 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
Electrical system234
Service brakes, hydraulic111
Service brakes91
Steering62
Electronic stability control (ESC)60
Air bags50
Engine40
Engine and engine cooling40
Wheels31
16 other systems332

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

4 recalls

2003 Cadillac Escalade 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.

–no report yet

Seat belts: rear/other

Recall 05V-163 · Apr 22, 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

12v/24v/48v battery: cables

Recall 02V-224 · Aug 12, 2002 · 649 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE A WEAR-THROUGH OF THE CABLE INSULATION, EXPOSING THE WIRE CORE AND RESULT IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

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

2003 vs. every other Escalade 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 median. How we score

'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Cadillac Escalade safety ratings

2003 Cadillac Escalade 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Cadillac Escalade, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Brake line corrosion failureEA11001 · closed Apr 8, 2015
    No recall
In owners' words

What Escalade owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11290631 · Dec 21, 2019
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…
Complaint 10967873 · Mar 22, 2017 · 170,000 miles
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…
Complaint 10807423 · Nov 30, 2015 · 180,000 miles

Own a 2003 Escalade?

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