Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
125–50K
950–75K
575–100K
5100–150K
8150K+
30 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
43 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GET 8 MPG IN THE CITY AND 10 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS WITHOUT RUNNING THE AIR, OR HEAT, AND NOT PLAYING MUSIC OR USING ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL IMPLEMENTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT AFTER REACHING AN ODOMETER READING OF 2, 000 MILE…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GET 8 MPG IN THE CITY AND 10 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS WITHOUT RUNNING THE AIR, OR HEAT, AND NOT PLAYING MUSIC OR USING ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL IMPLEMENTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT AFTER REACHING AN ODOMETER READING OF 2, 000 MILES THE VEHICLE SHOULD GET THE MILEAGE THAT WAS ADVERTISED. THE CONTACT DID MOSTLY CITY DRIVING AND TOOK CARE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2005, IT HAS NEVER REACHED THE MPG THAT IT SHOULD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,050.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS INCLUDED THE MILEAGE PAGE AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND LEGAL DOCUMENT FROM LAWYER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER SAID SOMETIMES THEY GET VEHICLES IN LIKE THAT AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. UPDATE 4/25/07*TR UPDATED *JB
NHTSA ODI #10185278
1,850 miles · Mar 10, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury
HAD A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS 4 WEEKS OLD AND HAD 1850 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. CALLED CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS GIVEN AN AIRBAG HISTORY LESSON VIA TELEPHONE FROM SOMEONE THAT HAD NEVER SEEN MY VEHICLE OR INSPECTED IT FOR DAMAGE AFTER THE ACC…
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HAD A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS 4 WEEKS OLD AND HAD 1850 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. CALLED CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS GIVEN AN AIRBAG HISTORY LESSON VIA TELEPHONE FROM SOMEONE THAT HAD NEVER SEEN MY VEHICLE OR INSPECTED IT FOR DAMAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. AT THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION I WAS TOLD ALL WAS OK, NONE OF MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS KNOCKED OFF, THE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND IS BENT AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION AND THE COLLISION CENTER IS 90% CERTAIN THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRABLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10152376
15,000 miles · Nov 23, 2005
Air BagsEquipmentCrashInjury
ON JULY 16TH, 2005; I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE CHANGING, SINGLE VEHICLE AUTO ACCIDENT. I STRUCK A HILL WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH ENOUGH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO FLIP THIS CADILLAC ESCALADE HEAD FIRST. THE ESCALADE FLIPPED TWICE, IMPACTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND LANDING UP SIDE DOWN. ASTONISHINGLY, OUT OF THE FO…
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ON JULY 16TH, 2005; I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE CHANGING, SINGLE VEHICLE AUTO ACCIDENT. I STRUCK A HILL WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH ENOUGH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO FLIP THIS CADILLAC ESCALADE HEAD FIRST. THE ESCALADE FLIPPED TWICE, IMPACTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND LANDING UP SIDE DOWN. ASTONISHINGLY, OUT OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS IN THIS VEHICLE, NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. I PURCHASED THIS 2004 ESCALADE BRAND NEW AND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IT ONLY HAD 15,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IT IS UTTERLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE RAVED REVIEWS, CONSUMER REPORTS INCLUDING SAFETY FEATURES, AND STYLISH BODY THAT THIS CADILLAC ESCALADE BECAME THE VEHICLE OF MY DREAMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY CADILLAC EXPERIENCE. I DO NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET INTO ANOTHER ONE. I KNOW THAT I AM ONLY HERE BECAUSE GOD DECIDED THE SPARE MY LIFE. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT I FREQUENTLY SUFFER SEVERE MIGRAINES, DIZZY SPELLS, BLURRED VISION, MEMORY LOSS, AND ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS ALL WHICH KEEP ME FROM SLEEPING. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COMMUTE FROM DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND WORK FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE NEXT WEEK I HAD SEVERE CHEST, SHOULDER AND LOWER BACK PAINS; ALL OF WHICH I AM BEING TREATED FOR ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ALSO SEEK TREATMENT FROM A NEUROLOGIST FOR THE HEAD INJURY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS AND GM SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. *JB
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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 AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
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 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year