Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports
188,000 miles · Oct 6, 2023
Electrical System
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that each time the doors were manually locked or unlocked, the vehicle started and turned off. The alarm alert warning light and the tire pressure monitor warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that …
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The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that each time the doors were manually locked or unlocked, the vehicle started and turned off. The alarm alert warning light and the tire pressure monitor warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical system malfunctioned, and the steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The steering column was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to Jiffy Luke where it was diagnosed and determined that the cause was related to the electrical system. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.
NHTSA ODI #11548629
128,000 miles · Sep 5, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE IT HAD BEEN SINCE THE DAY BEFORE. IT WAS NOT POWERED ON IN ANYWAY, NOR WAS ANYTHING PLUGGED IN INSIDE. IN THE EARLY MORNING WE WERE MADE AWARE BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD AREA AND THE CENTER CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIR…
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THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE IT HAD BEEN SINCE THE DAY BEFORE. IT WAS NOT POWERED ON IN ANYWAY, NOR WAS ANYTHING PLUGGED IN INSIDE. IN THE EARLY MORNING WE WERE MADE AWARE BY A NEIGHBOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD AREA AND THE CENTER CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED QUICKLY AND EXTINGUISHED THE BLAZE. THE FIRE REPORT STATED: IGNITION - D1 AREA OF FIRE ORIGIN: VEHICLE AREA, OTHER D2 HEAT SOURCE: HEAT FROM POWERED EQUIPMENT, OTHER D3 ITEM FIRST IGNITED: OTHER CAUSE OF IGNITION - FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION - ELECTRICAL FAILURE, MALFUNCTION, OTHER HUMAN FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO IGNITION - NONE
NHTSA ODI #11124518
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2016
Service Brakes
FEBRUARY 14, 2016 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR UPON APPROACHING 60 THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO LOSE POWER SO I STEERED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND HIT THE ONSTAR BUTTON TO TELL THEM THAT I WAS LOSING POWER AND THAT WOULD THEY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC THEY STATED THAT WOULD. THEY STATED ALSO WHAT THEY ARE GOING T…
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FEBRUARY 14, 2016 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR UPON APPROACHING 60 THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO LOSE POWER SO I STEERED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND HIT THE ONSTAR BUTTON TO TELL THEM THAT I WAS LOSING POWER AND THAT WOULD THEY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC THEY STATED THAT WOULD. THEY STATED ALSO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO CHECK, BRAKING SYSTEM, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION ETC. WHEN THEY CAME BACK ONLINE ME NOT KNOW WHAT THEY REALLY DID CHECK I WAS TOLD THAT ALL WAS A GREEN LIGHT, SO I PROCEED TO CONTINUE ON MY WAY TO WORK, BUT IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. NEVER ONCE DID THEY DIAGNOSTIC ONLY MEANT THAT THEY WAS JUST CHECKING FOR CODES AND IT WAS NOT A TRUE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THEY ALSO NEVER OFFER TO TOW THE VEHICLE HOME OR TO THE DEALER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND TOOK IT TO THE FIRST MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACED AT $500 SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT SO I TOOK IT TO A GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HYDO-BOOST, PRESSURE HOSES NEEDED REPLACED AT $2600 ALONG ON THE PHONE BACK AND FORTH WITH ON STAR WHICH CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY ON STAR STATED TO ME THAT GM TECH WANTED THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. SO GM CAME AND PICK THE VEHICLE UP AND TRANSPORTED TO BOMMORITO CADILLAC OF WHICH THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPORT BACK TO ON STAR WHICH STATED THAT THEY WASN'T RESPONSIBLE AND THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT GM SHOULD HANDLE IT FROM HERE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT GM CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH YOU GUY'S AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS WARNED THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM BEFORE AND THEY DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY COMPLAINT THAT THIS ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY NOR THE COST CAUSE THEY NEW THE POTENTIAL OF THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10850208
230,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ONCOMING VEHICLES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT, W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ONCOMING VEHICLES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NO BRAKE FLUID WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
NHTSA ODI #10762059
131,000 miles · Apr 25, 2015
Electrical SystemSeats
THE DRIVERS HEATED SEAT BUTTON TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN PUSHED BUT THIS TIME IT STAYED ON, IT OVER HEATED AND IT BURNT A SMALL HOLE IN THE SEAT AS I WAS DRIVING... THE PASSENGER HEATED SEAT DOES THE SAME BUT DID NOT BURN HOLE ... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10712862
95,000 miles · Sep 1, 2014
Service Brakes
BRAKES COMPLETELY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. BRAKE LINE RUST BUSTED THE BRAKE LINES. THIS WAS OUT OF NO WHERE AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629857
85,000 miles · Sep 30, 2012
Exterior LightingPower Train
THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN BLINKING TOGETHER ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. STARTED, STOPPED, MOVING, SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER SHUT OFF WAITING FOR DELAY LIGHTING TO TURN OFF. THE LOSS IS MOMENTARY. IT IS MORE CRITICAL ON UNLIT HIGHWAYS AND SIDE STREETS. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF TOGETHER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IN A…
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THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN BLINKING TOGETHER ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. STARTED, STOPPED, MOVING, SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER SHUT OFF WAITING FOR DELAY LIGHTING TO TURN OFF. THE LOSS IS MOMENTARY. IT IS MORE CRITICAL ON UNLIT HIGHWAYS AND SIDE STREETS. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF TOGETHER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IN A 4 MONTH WINDOW. ON DRY ROADS, FROM A STOP, STARTING OUT AT 5-20 MPH ACTIVE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLS. AS MOST STOPS OCCUR DIRECTLY PRIOR TO INTERSECTION THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION TO PLACE THE DRIVER WITH A GAS PEDDLE THAT IS BASICALLY INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE CAR IS IN ACTIVE TRACTION MODE AND TAKING OVER THE DRIVE TRAIN. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR OVER A 4 MONTH PERIOD. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RELATED TO SPEED SENSORS IN FRONT WHEELS BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO REPLACE THEM. THEY MADE ME DRIVE FOR 2 WEEKS WITH A CODE RECORDER IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO DO ANY SERVICE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10478026
123,633 miles · Aug 10, 2012
Engine
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE SHEARING OFF THE ENGINE CAUSING EXHAUST ODOR AND FUMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10470184
95,000 miles · May 2, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. WE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF THE FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SINCE WE LEASED THE CARE AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY BOUGHT IT. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY JUST SHUT OFF WHEN PREVIOUSLY SHOWING A FULL TANK THEN GO TO EMPTY OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10398655
97,656 miles · Oct 8, 2010
Air Bags
2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV.. INTERMITTENT SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OWNERS OF SIMILAR GM VEHICLES 2003 TO 2005 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT KNOWING IF YOUR AIR BAG IS WORKING IS A SCARY SITUATION. *TR
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Cadillac Escalade Esv Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year