Total Complaints
28 filings
CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV · model year
28 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004CADILLACESCALADE ESV carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 ESCALADE ESV is air bags with 4 filings, followed by wheels (3) and electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2004 ESCALADE ESV, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
28 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| WHEELS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the ABS and traction stability warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and was diagnosed with needing the shocks and struts replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
I HAD A BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPNTURE AND NEARLY WRECKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH LINES ROUTED THROUGH THE FRAME, OR BETWEEN FRAME AND BODY. THEY RECOMMEND A FULL BODY REMOVAL AND THEY REFUSED. FAULTY TRANS MODULES AND PEELING/LEAKING STOCK RIMS.
Mileage: 173,000
I HAD A BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPNTURE AND NEARLY WRECKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH LINES ROUTED THROUGH THE FRAME, OR BETWEEN FRAME AND BODY. THEY RECOMMEND A FULL BODY REMOVAL AND THEY REFUSED. FAULTY TRANS MODULES AND PEELING/LEAKING STOCK RIMS.
Mileage: 173,000
I HAD A BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPNTURE AND NEARLY WRECKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH LINES ROUTED THROUGH THE FRAME, OR BETWEEN FRAME AND BODY. THEY RECOMMEND A FULL BODY REMOVAL AND THEY REFUSED. FAULTY TRANS MODULES AND PEELING/LEAKING STOCK RIMS.
Mileage: 173,000
RADIO SOUND GOES IN AND OUT. ALSO DOOR CHIME DOES OR DOESN'T WORK RIGHT ALONG WITH IT. IT COULD BE A SHORT OR THE BCM FROM WHAT I CAN SEE. ALSO SOMETIMES THE SUNROOF LEAKS
Mileage: 125,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SWERVE AND CRASH INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AT 58 MPH IN THE RAIN, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO TREE STUMPS AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN.THEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP. BUT RIGHT BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. ITS NEVER BEEN HIT OR HIT ANYTHING. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN NOV.2012. WE GOT A CARFAX WITH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CLEAN, I LOOKED FOR RECALLS AND 4 APPEARED, I ALSO CALLED CADILLAC, SPOKE TO A DEALER AND THE WOMAN SAID MY VIN NUMBER HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED, I STATED IT WAS IN 2004 IT WAS RECALLED AND ALL THE THINGS IT WAS RECALLED FOR WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING NOW..AT TIMES IT WAS MAKING A NOISE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 136,000
THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN.THEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP. BUT RIGHT BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. ITS NEVER BEEN HIT OR HIT ANYTHING. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN NOV.2012. WE GOT A CARFAX WITH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CLEAN, I LOOKED FOR RECALLS AND 4 APPEARED, I ALSO CALLED CADILLAC, SPOKE TO A DEALER AND THE WOMAN SAID MY VIN NUMBER HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED, I STATED IT WAS IN 2004 IT WAS RECALLED AND ALL THE THINGS IT WAS RECALLED FOR WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING NOW..AT TIMES IT WAS MAKING A NOISE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 136,000
THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN.THEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP. BUT RIGHT BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. ITS NEVER BEEN HIT OR HIT ANYTHING. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN NOV.2012. WE GOT A CARFAX WITH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CLEAN, I LOOKED FOR RECALLS AND 4 APPEARED, I ALSO CALLED CADILLAC, SPOKE TO A DEALER AND THE WOMAN SAID MY VIN NUMBER HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED, I STATED IT WAS IN 2004 IT WAS RECALLED AND ALL THE THINGS IT WAS RECALLED FOR WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING NOW..AT TIMES IT WAS MAKING A NOISE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 136,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A BUMPY ROAD, THE FRONT END CLUNKED AND SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE COMING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Mileage: 40,000
2004 ESCALADE ESV; SPEEDOMETER AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES BEGAN TO GO HAYWIRE, SOMETIMES STICKING ON 0MPH OTHER TIMES ON 140MPH. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THIS IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND TOLD THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE ITS NOT WORKING. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT SAYING IT HAD MORE THAN 70,000 MI...THAT WAS 2008 AND IT HASN'T WORKED SINCE. I ESTIMATE MY SPEED BY THE TACHOMETER (NOT SAFE)...ORIGINAL BROKEN PART IS STILL INSTALLED...I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 72,000
PREMATURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITH NO ERROR CODE OR WARNING. OCCURRED ON A LOW TRAFFIC AREA HAVING NO COLLISION OR INJURIES. VEH IS 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV WITH 67 K MILES. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER CONTROLS. *TR
Mileage: 67,849
MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV, THE FACTORY CHROME WHEELS HAVE RUSTED AND PEELED AND INTERFERES WITH SAFETY SENSORS ASSOCIATED WITH TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN A PROGRESSIVE PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST TIME THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT 6 MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 6,800
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING HER TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK AND MOVE THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,100. THE CONTACT ASKED IF SHE COULD GET A SECOND OPINION AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE OPINION OF ANOTHER MECHANIC INTO CONSIDERATION, IF THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,790 AND FAILURE MILEAG
Mileage: 57,699
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING HER TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK AND MOVE THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,100. THE CONTACT ASKED IF SHE COULD GET A SECOND OPINION AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE OPINION OF ANOTHER MECHANIC INTO CONSIDERATION, IF THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,790 AND FAILURE MILEAG
Mileage: 57,699
THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER OF MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE WILL STICK OR SLOWLY DROP DOWN TO 0 WHILE DRIVING. IT APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN AT NIGHT TIME WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR
WE HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT REAR SEAT WARMER CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND THEY BAGGED IT WHILE IT WAS STILL SMOKING AND PUT OIT BACK IN CAR AND SPRAYED FREBREEZE IN THE CAR AND SENT US ON OUR WAY AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL. THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE US SOMETHING STATING WE WERE THERE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS HAVING IT FIXED AND LETTING OTHERS KNOW SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.OUR DAUGHTER WAS ASLEEP ON TOP OF TWO PILLOWS LAYING ON THE SEAT.NOW EVERYTHING IS DRAGGING SUCH AS ALL THE WINDOWS. IT IS ACTING UP BAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Mileage: 77,000
VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER THAT STICKS AND WILL DEALER AND GM WILL NOT COVER UNDER RECALL LAWSUIT. TOO MANY MILES. *TR
Mileage: 88,000
SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND IS NOT ACCURATE. THERE IS A POLICY SET UP TO FIX ONLY THOSE VEHICLES UNDER 70000 MILES. WHY IS MY VEHICLE BEING EXCLUDED? I HAVE 88,000 MILES ON MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE DEALER, KEY CADILLAC IN EDINA MINNESOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. A BROKEN SPEEDOMETER THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM IS JUSTIFIED. *TR
Mileage: 88,000
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
Rear-View Camera Failure
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.