Total Complaints
9 filings
CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT · model year
9 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005CADILLACESCALADE EXT carries 9 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, 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 2005 ESCALADE EXT is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by electrical system:horn (1) and seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler (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 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
9 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 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
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON POWERS BLVD AND CROSSING THE BRIARGATE INTERSECTION IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO ON MAY 2, 2015, HONDA CIVIC VEHICLE RAN RED LIGHT TRAVELING WEST AROUND 32 TO 33 MPH (HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE). AND IMPACTED 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT ON DRIVERS SIDE. COMPONENT PARTS IN QUESTION ARE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT. DRIVER SUPPOSIVELY REPORTED TO ONSTAR THAT DRIVERS SEATBELT HAD DISENGAGED SOMETIME DURING IMPACT. POLICE REPORT STATES CADILLAC CAME TO STOP 219 FEET FROM IMPACT. ONSTAR CALL ONLY AVAILABLE IF SUBPOENA IS REQUESTED. INJURIES TO PASSENGER WAS SIDE WHIPLASH, BACK INJURY, AND ROAD RASH TO KNEES, BRUISING AND SORES AS A RESULT OF KNEES IMPACTING GLOVE BOX IN FRONT OF PASSENGER. INITIAL INJURIES TO DRIVER WAS CONCUSSION, CLOSED HEAD INJURY, WHIPLASH, LEFT RIB CONTUSIONS, BRUISING AND SORES. BOTH OCCUPANTS IN CADILLAC WERE TRANSPORTED TO ER. PICTURES TAKEN OF VEHICLE ONCE LOCATED 3 DAYS LATER ILLUSTRATE DRIVERS SEATBELT IN NORMAL POSI
Mileage: 67,124
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY AND DISPLAYED THAT THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 80 MPH WHEN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INITIATED A VOLUNTARY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE VIN RANGE OF THE VEHICLES CHOSEN FOR THE VOLUNTARY REPAIR AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,700.
Mileage: 68,700
I HAVE A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, I WAS IN LAS VEGAS AND PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PARKING SPOT , WHICH WAS THE HANDICAP PARKING IN FRONT OF STORE . I WAS IN THERE FOR NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AND MY VEHICLE WAS STOLEN , I THE CALLED THE POLICE WHICH GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO ONSTAR, THEN ONSTAR TOLD ME THEY SENT A SIGNAL TO THE TRUCK, AND THE TIME FRAME WAS NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES OF 8:50 . THE OUTCOME WAS THAT ONSTAR DID NOT LOCATE THE VEHICLE IT WAS LOCATED BY THE POLICE 6 DAYS LATER. WHEN I WENT TO GO TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK AT THE TOW YARD I DISCOVERED THAT THE ONSTAR ANTENNA WAS BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR , SO THE PERSON WHO IS STEALING YOUR VEHICLE JUST HAS TO PULL A PLUG OUT OF REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THAT DISABLES THE ANTENNA. THE TRUCK WILL NEVER BE PICK UP BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY TAKE THEM TWO SECONDS FROM JUMPING IN THE VEHICLE TO DISABLE IT . AND THE UNIT IS BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WHICH THEY JUST PULL DOWN THE BOX AND RIP OFF THE WIRES THAT CONNECT THE POWER AND ETC.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Mileage: 18,558
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Mileage: 18,558
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Mileage: 18,558
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Mileage: 18,558
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL TANK AND FOG LIGHT WAS REPLACED UPDATED 09/25/06. *JB
Mileage: 18,558
THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE HORN IS NOT USED FOR SOME TIME. I HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, AND I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON ALL GM CARS AND TRUCKS INVOLVED. I AM TIRED OF BEING SCARED WHEN MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. AFTER A YEAR, GM SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. I THINK NHTSA SHOULD NOW RESOLVE IT FOR THEM!*JB
Mileage: 8,363
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.