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2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Compare all Escalade Ext years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 12 of 15 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

15 reports
62,000 miles · Feb 14, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

12/24/06 I HAD A CAR FIRE AT MY HOUSE, GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR OVER A MONTH NOW REGARDING THERE LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. 2/13/07 THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY OF THE FIRE OVER THE PHONE TO ME. I FAXED TO THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. NOW TODAY 2/14/07 THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR D…

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12/24/06 I HAD A CAR FIRE AT MY HOUSE, GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR OVER A MONTH NOW REGARDING THERE LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. 2/13/07 THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY OF THE FIRE OVER THE PHONE TO ME. I FAXED TO THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. NOW TODAY 2/14/07 THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR DENYING IT WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BIG COMPANY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WORKING PUBLIC. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182537

62,000 miles · Jan 30, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

MY 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WAS PARKED AT 10:30 DECEMBER 23. 2006 IN MY DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 9-9:15 ON DECEMBER 24, 2006 THE TRUCK IGNITED ITSELF ON FIRE. THE TRUCK IS SEVERELY BURNED AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S 2006 MERCEDES BENZ AS WELL AS MY PROPERTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181087

34,500 miles · Mar 22, 2005
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WAS EXITING THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY, SOUTH IN PELHAM, NY. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR! I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR AND HAD TO STEER INTO A UTILITY POLE TO AVOID AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ODI #10114465

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2004
Electronic Stability ControlService Brakes, Hydraulic

SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE STABILITY/TRACTION SYSTEM. STABILITRAK COMBINES ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. *BF THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM COMMANDED THE BRAKED BE APPLIED TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN IT SHOULDN'T HAVE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL. THE VEH…

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SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE STABILITY/TRACTION SYSTEM. STABILITRAK COMBINES ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. *BF THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM COMMANDED THE BRAKED BE APPLIED TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN IT SHOULDN'T HAVE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RE-SOLDERED THE ABS MOTOR. THE BRAKING OF ONE WHEEL HAS BEEN LESS VIOLENT BUT PERSIST NONETHELESS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10099694

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2004
Power Train

DRIVELINE "CLUNK" #99-04-20-002B-(08/21/2003) - PER GM ADVISORY BULLETIN TO DEALER- PERSISTENT-NO RESOLVE BY GM CHARACTERIZED AS A "DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC" BY GM REPRESENTATIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10067686

Official recalls

2

04V129000 · Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

Mar 17, 2004

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Feb 4, 2004

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 & remedy

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.

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.