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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

72,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 22 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior627.3%
Transmission and shifting418.2%
Steering behavior29.1%
Engine operation14.5%
Electrical and battery issues14.5%
Fuel system concerns14.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
4
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
3
Wheels
3
Electrical System
2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Service Brakes
2
Steering
2
Electrical System:Horn
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags4
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel3
Wheels3
Electrical System2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Service Brakes2
Steering2
Electrical System:Horn1

Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 3; Wheels: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004
2
2005
3
2006
1
2008
5
2009
2
2010
3
2013
1
2015
1
2016
1
2017
1
2018
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20042
20053
20061
20085
20092
20103
20131
20151
20161
20171
20181
20211

2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10107628 · 2005-01-20 (January 20, 2005)

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON A NEW 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR WARNING PRIOR. AFTER THE BEARING SEIZED, THE AXEL SNAPPED AND THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL ON WAS THE BRAKE CALIPER. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR AXEL, DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HEARD OF WHEEL FAILURES ON CHEVROLET AVALANCHE TRUCK'S ALSO (SAME CHASSIS). MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS A COMPONEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107628 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10177217 · 2006-12-28 (December 28, 2006)

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WOULD GO INTO GEAR WITH THE IGNITION BEING IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS ON ACCESSORY POSITION, AND THE CHILD PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT, THE REASON THAT YOU CAN PULL THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN CASE YOU NEED TO TOW THE VEHICLE, SO YOU CAN SET IT IN NEUTRAL. CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDE…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177217 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071898 · 2004-04-30 (April 30, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE BACK AND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE TRUNK AND THE ROAD WHEN THEY PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND INDICATED THAT THE SERVO WASN'T INSTALLED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY, WHICH RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION TO LEAK OIL. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071898 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10255189 · 2009-01-15 (January 15, 2009)

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 FAILU…

Owner-reported narrative. 57,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10523740 · 2013-07-08 (July 8, 2013)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523740 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10331296 · 2010-05-19 (May 19, 2010)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 67,849 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331296 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10352547 · 2010-08-29 (August 29, 2010)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352547 at NHTSA ↗