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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

14 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

95,987 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 14 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior428.6%
Transmission and shifting214.3%
Electrical and battery issues214.3%
Steering behavior214.3%
Engine operation17.1%

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.

Electrical System
5
Service Brakes
3
Air Bags
1
Engine
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Power Train
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System5
Service Brakes3
Air Bags1
Engine1
Exterior Lighting1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Power Train1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission1

Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 3; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 1 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.

2006
1
2009
2
2010
2
2011
1
2012
2
2014
1
2015
2
2016
1
2018
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20061
20092
20102
20111
20122
20141
20152
20161
20181
20231

2006: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10256451 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10629857 · 2014-09-01 (September 1, 2014)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629857 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10850208 · 2016-03-17 (March 17, 2016)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10850208 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11124518 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124518 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11548629 · 2023-10-06 (October 6, 2023)

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 diagno…

Owner-reported narrative. 188,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11548629 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478026 · 2012-09-30 (September 30, 2012)

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 PL…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478026 at NHTSA ↗