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2004 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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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: 9 of 11 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 →
  • Air Bags. Review the 1 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports
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15,000 miles · May 5, 2005
Power TrainCrash

1ST INCIDENT 1) I WAS GOING TO PARK IN A SPOT BETWEEN TWO BUILDING, ONLY LARGE ENOUGH FOR ONE VEHICLE. I CAME DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH HAS A DECLINE TO IT, AND TURNED RIGHT, INTO THE PARKING SPOT. DUE TO THE ROAD BEING 1 WAY, AND THE PARKING SPOT BEING TIGHT, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY INTO THE PARKING SPOT. …

Read full complaint

1ST INCIDENT 1) I WAS GOING TO PARK IN A SPOT BETWEEN TWO BUILDING, ONLY LARGE ENOUGH FOR ONE VEHICLE. I CAME DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH HAS A DECLINE TO IT, AND TURNED RIGHT, INTO THE PARKING SPOT. DUE TO THE ROAD BEING 1 WAY, AND THE PARKING SPOT BEING TIGHT, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY INTO THE PARKING SPOT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO BACK UP TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PARKING SPOT. I PRESSED THE BRAKE, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. MEANWHILE, A LADY WALKED IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE ON THE SIDEWALK. 2) THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH THE RPMS WERE AT APPROXIMATELY 2200 RPMS AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. I HIT THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY HIT THE LADY. SHE WAS FORTUNATELY FINE, AND CONTINUED ON HER WAY. 3) I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS WORKING WITHIN IN DESIGN PARAMETERS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THAT COULD BE DONE. I CALLED CADILLAC CUSTOMER CARE, AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID AT THE TIME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND CHALKED IT UP TO A FLUKE. 2ND INCIDENT 1) I PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AGAIN WITH A DECLINE. ABOUT 2 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS A CEMENT POST. I CAME OUT, STARTED THE TRUCK, PRESSED THE BRAKE, AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. 2). I PRESSED THE GAS, THE RPMS WERE OVER 2000 RPMS, AND THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN DID NOT REVERSE BUT RATHER ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE CEMENT POST, CRACKING MY FRONT BUMPER. AFTER THAT, THE REVERSE ENGAGED AND THE TRUCK STARTED REVERSING. 3). THE DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE, AND IS TELLING ME TO COME PICK IT UP, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED WHAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THEY DID SOMETHING, AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE CALLED CADILLAC CUSTOMER CARE AGAIN, LEFT 3 MESSAGES, AND STILL AHVE NOT HEARD BACK. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIABILITY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI #10119922

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.