Total Complaints
19 filings
CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV · model year
19 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005CADILLACESCALADE ESV carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 2005 ESCALADE ESV is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by service brakes (3) and power train:automatic transmission (1). 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 2005 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
19 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR
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
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.
Mileage: 188,000
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
Mileage: 128,000
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
Mileage: 128,000
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
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.
Mileage: 230,000
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
Mileage: 131,000
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
Mileage: 131,000
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
Mileage: 95,000
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
Mileage: 85,000
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
Mileage: 85,000
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE SHEARING OFF THE ENGINE CAUSING EXHAUST ODOR AND FUMES. *TR
Mileage: 123,633
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
Mileage: 95,000
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
Mileage: 97,656
THIS IS THE EMAIL I SENT TO CADILLAC A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE SEAT BELT HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE DANGER STILL EXIST. MY SON IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE; NEARLY RESULTING IN WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL STRANGULATION. HERE IS THE EMAIL: I AM CONTACTING CADILLAC TO REPORT A PROBLEM I'VE EXPERIENCED WITH YOUR SEATBELTS. I HAVE AN 05 ESCALADE ESV AND MY SON WAS IN THE BACKSEAT SLEEPING AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET THE SEATBELT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WITH HOPES THAT IT WOULD LOOSEN UP SO I COULD GET IT OFF BUT IT ONLY BECAME TIGHTER THE MORE I WORKED TO GET IT OFF. AT THE POINT WHERE HE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING AND STARTED TURNING PURPLE I HAD MY HUSBAND OBTAIN SCISSORS AND WE HAD TO CUT IT OFF. MY SONS NECK IS NOW CUT AND BRUISED FROM THE SEATBELT. IS THIS HOW ALL THE SEATBELTS IN YOUR CARS WORK (DOESN'T LOOSEN UP EVEN AFTER THE CAR IS OFF) HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET SCISSORS TO FREE HIM THIS MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE S
Mileage: 52,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO COAST. THE CONTACT LOST STEERING ABILITY, BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $3,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECEIVE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FAILED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,050. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE TIRES BLEW OUT. UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB
Mileage: 83,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO COAST. THE CONTACT LOST STEERING ABILITY, BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $3,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECEIVE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FAILED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,050. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE TIRES BLEW OUT. UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB
Mileage: 83,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO COAST. THE CONTACT LOST STEERING ABILITY, BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $3,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECEIVE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FAILED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,050. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE TIRES BLEW OUT. UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB
Mileage: 83,000
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER FROZE. WHEN I PULLED ONTO AN EXIT RAMP AN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE GAUGE FEEL TO ZERO BUT WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE THE GAUGE WOULD NOT MOVE, IT STAYED ON ZERO FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DRIVE. ONSTAR COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER YET. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR TSB FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Mileage: 95,987
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE USING THE DVD PLAYER AND THEN SWITCHING TO THE RADIO, CD OR SATELLITE, THE SPEAKER VOLUME INCREASES TO A DEAFENING LEVEL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT A REMEDY WAS UNAVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
Mileage: 15,000
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.