Total Complaints
24 filings
CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT · model year
24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003CADILLACESCALADE EXT carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 5 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 2003 ESCALADE EXT is electrical system with 3 filings, followed by service brakes (3) and service brakes, hydraulic (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 2 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 2003 ESCALADE EXT, 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
24 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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 TH
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.
BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
Mileage: 145,000
I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME AND AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. RETURNED HOME AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT FRAME AREA UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. PULLED WHEEL OFF AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. ALL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUR OTHER CARS AND NONE HAVE BRAKE LINES RUSTED LIKE THESE. SUSPECT MATERIAL USED TO MAKE BRAKE LINES NOT TO SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN SEVER CORROSION.. *TR
Mileage: 127,527
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE SPEED IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 17 OF THIS YEAR. DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO CODES OR HISTORY OF CODES IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. LEFT IT THERE FOR A DAY BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WHAT NOW. *JS
Mileage: 70,122
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE SPEED IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 17 OF THIS YEAR. DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO CODES OR HISTORY OF CODES IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. LEFT IT THERE FOR A DAY BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WHAT NOW. *JS
Mileage: 70,122
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. CAUSE WAS A CORRODED REAR, STEEL (HARD) BRAKE LINE ALONG THE FRAME. *TR
Mileage: 190,000
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH WAS RELATED TO OXIDATION AND RUST DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINES (METAL TUBING) AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE LINES AS WELL AS THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED OVER A YEAR LATER, WHERE 14 ADDITIONAL LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST. A PATCH JOB WAS PERFORMED TO RETURN BRAKING CAPACITY. *JB
Mileage: 124,371
FOUND HALF OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN AND CANNOT GET INSPECTED NOW. *TR
Mileage: 96,000
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT METAL BRAKE LINE PROBLEM. I NOTICED A LEAK AND I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? WHY WASN'T IT NOTICED DURING PREVIOUS SERVICE? WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM? CAN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PARTS AND VERIFICATION OF RECALLS. "I WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY ACID DRIPPED ON LINE". I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ANSWER I RECEIVED DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL SERVICE AND WORK DONE TO MY ESCALADE EXT TRUCK WERE COMPLETED MY THE DEALER. MY BATTERY HAD NO CORROSION AND I DO NOT LIVE INSALT BELT STATE. I FEEL THIS BRAKE LINE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING. *TR
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT METAL BRAKE LINE PROBLEM. I NOTICED A LEAK AND I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? WHY WASN'T IT NOTICED DURING PREVIOUS SERVICE? WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM? CAN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PARTS AND VERIFICATION OF RECALLS. "I WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY ACID DRIPPED ON LINE". I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ANSWER I RECEIVED DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL SERVICE AND WORK DONE TO MY ESCALADE EXT TRUCK WERE COMPLETED MY THE DEALER. MY BATTERY HAD NO CORROSION AND I DO NOT LIVE INSALT BELT STATE. I FEEL THIS BRAKE LINE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT, THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROUGH AND SHIFTING HARD. UPDATED 10/27/10
Mileage: 168,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT, THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROUGH AND SHIFTING HARD. UPDATED 10/27/10
Mileage: 168,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT, THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROUGH AND SHIFTING HARD. UPDATED 10/27/10
Mileage: 168,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT, THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROUGH AND SHIFTING HARD. UPDATED 10/27/10
Mileage: 168,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS AND REPLACED SIX TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAD ALSO BEEN REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10
Mileage: 37,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS AND REPLACED SIX TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAD ALSO BEEN REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10
Mileage: 37,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS AND REPLACED SIX TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAD ALSO BEEN REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10
Mileage: 37,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING HIS TAILGATE WITH 12 BAGS OF 40 POUND WOOD CHIPS, HE HEARD A POPPING SOUND . THE CONTACT THEN LOADED A 13 POUND BAG ONTO THE TAILGATE AND APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 BAGS FELL ONTO HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT. HE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURES TO HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT, WHICH RESULTED IN THREE SURGERIES. THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT DUE TO RECALL NUMBER 04007 AND AGAIN AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 12-12-2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Mileage: 17,000
12/24/06 I HAD A CAR FIRE AT MY HOUSE, GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR OVER A MONTH NOW REGARDING THERE LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. 2/13/07 THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY OF THE FIRE OVER THE PHONE TO ME. I FAXED TO THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. NOW TODAY 2/14/07 THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR DENYING IT WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BIG COMPANY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WORKING PUBLIC. *NM
Mileage: 62,000
MY 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WAS PARKED AT 10:30 DECEMBER 23. 2006 IN MY DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 9-9:15 ON DECEMBER 24, 2006 THE TRUCK IGNITED ITSELF ON FIRE. THE TRUCK IS SEVERELY BURNED AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S 2006 MERCEDES BENZ AS WELL AS MY PROPERTY. *JB
Mileage: 62,000
WAS EXITING THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY, SOUTH IN PELHAM, NY. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR! I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR AND HAD TO STEER INTO A UTILITY POLE TO AVOID AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION.
Mileage: 34,500
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.