CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV · model year

2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV

19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008CADILLACESCALADE 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 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 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 2008 ESCALADE ESV is air bags with 12 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 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 4 active recall campaigns, 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 2008 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.

19
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (4)

08V44100028/08/2008

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIP

21V05000005/02/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally s

21V05200005/02/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the

10V24000004/06/2010

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUT

Recent Complaints

20180808AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. I CONTACTED GUARANTY CHEVROLET IN SANTA ANA CA AND TUSTIN CADILLAC TO HAVE MY TAKATA AIR BAG REPLCED AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE PARTS.

20180615AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS RECALL? MY 2008 CADILLAC IS IN LIMBO AS GM DRAGS ITS FEET WITH PETITIONS TO AVOID THE WHOLE ISSUE. TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE, I HAVE IMPORTED THIS VEHICLE INTO CANADA AND CAN NOT REGISTER OR LEGALLY DRIVE IT UNTIL ALL OF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. DOES ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAVE ANY POWER TO MAKE AN AUTO MANUFACTURER COMPLY WITH A RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER?THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WITH NO RESOLUTION AS YET. FRUSTRATING AND VERY DISAPPOINTING.

20180214AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED CADILLAC OF NAPERVILLE AT (630) 355-2700 LOCATED AT 1507 OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL 60540 WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20180210POWER TRAIN

SERVICE STABILITRAK THAT PROCEED INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER. NORMALLY WHILE STEERING THE PROBLEM WILL DROP UP. I HAVE GONE TWICE INTO GM/CADILLAC DEALERS AND THEY INCAPABLE OF FIXING IT.

Mileage: 60

20180210VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE STABILITRAK THAT PROCEED INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER. NORMALLY WHILE STEERING THE PROBLEM WILL DROP UP. I HAVE GONE TWICE INTO GM/CADILLAC DEALERS AND THEY INCAPABLE OF FIXING IT.

Mileage: 60

20180210UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERVICE STABILITRAK THAT PROCEED INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER. NORMALLY WHILE STEERING THE PROBLEM WILL DROP UP. I HAVE GONE TWICE INTO GM/CADILLAC DEALERS AND THEY INCAPABLE OF FIXING IT.

Mileage: 60

20171201AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS CADILLAC, 374 SYLVAN AVE, ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ 07632) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20171127AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BRITAIN CHEVROLET CADILLAC AT (903) 274-4401 (4495 I-30 FRONTAGE RD, GREENVILLE, TX 75402) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE/PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20171107AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED CADILLAC OF NEW ORLEANS AT (504) 885-3000 (3100 LIME ST, METAIRIE, LA 70006) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE/PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20171107AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (KENT COUNTY MOTORS, 2181 S DUPONT HWY, DOVER, DE 19901) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20171031AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL

20171031AIR BAGS

:TAKATA RECALL"RECEIVED NOTIFICATION IN 2016 AND MANUFACTURER HAS NOT REPAIRED.

20161210CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO TAKATA AIRBAGS BEGINNING IN MAY 2016. THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THE AIRBAG ISSUE AND IT IS NOW DECEMBER 10, 2016. MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY.

Mileage: 83,000

20161118AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20161024AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20151019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED TO 25 MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO INCREASE SPEED. UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V240000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 08V441000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20140412ENGINE

STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I COULD NOT PULL OVER TO THE CURB AND HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP ME GET THE CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. CAR STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR 15 MINUTES. THE CAR'S ENGINE FAULT LIGHT HAD BEEN ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD BEEN FRAYED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT RESULTING IN A NUMBER OF ENGINE FAULTS. *JS

Mileage: 91,280

20100628VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND MOVED FROM THE ROADWAY WHERE HE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE IN OLDER MODEL VEHICLE BUT NOT THE 2008 MODEL. THE DEALER CONTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 22,000

20090129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LIGHT RAIN, ABOUT 50 DEGREES, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, NAVIGATION/RADIO OFF, LIGHTS OFF. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, LOST AND REGAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAPPENED WITH DEPUTY SHERIFF DIRECTLY BEHIND HER. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF UNINTENTIONALLY. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND CADILLAC CAME OUT AND CHANGED BATTERY. THIS TIME WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK TSB'S. SAID THERE WERE TOO MANY. *TR

Mileage: 11,010

Compare 2008CADILLACESCALADE ESV to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV have?
The 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV has 19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV?
Yes, the 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV?
The most-complained component for the 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV is AIR BAGS with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.