1999 Cadillac ESCALADE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
112,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 36 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Suspension:Front | 2 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seats: 2; Steering: 2; Suspension:Front: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 25 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 5; 2002: 6; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 4; 2014: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10121224 · 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)
DT CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THE ABS GOES OFF AT ABOUT 5 MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER WHY THE ABS WAS DOING THIS. *JB CONTACT STATES WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE THE STEERING COLLAPSED, AFTER THE WHEELS ARE STRAIGHTENED THE STEERING IS NORMAL. THE SERVICE DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140202 · 2005-10-19 (October 19, 2005)
DT: 1999 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATES THE ABS IS MAKING HORRIBLE NOISES AND PULSATSE WHEN DRIVING UNDER 15 MPH. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON 5 TIMES ALREADY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE LAST TIME HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THEY TOLD HIM IF HE COULD WAIT AWHILE THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL FOR THE ABS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT SHOUL B E APROBLEM DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS. WHEN HE DROVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS NOT MAKING ANY NOISE. THAT WAS A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048507 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT BECAME LOOSE THEN GRABBED. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE STEERING MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM 1999 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHEN MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL SLIPS THEN GRABS. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO OVER-STEERING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT REPAIRS WOULD COST $200.00.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745420 · 2001-05-16 (May 16, 2001)
WE PURCHASED A 99 ESCALADE CADILLAC UNDER A MISLEADING ASSUMPTION OF CONDITION OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY HAD SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING AND SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 60 - 85 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE GM DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. 12+ SETS OF TIRES WERE REPLACED IN JUST ONE DAY. THERE FINAL STATEMENT WAS THAT ALL THE GOODYEAR TIRES DESIGNED FOR THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALIGN UP. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BODY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8005132 · 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)
DUE TO DESIGN AND MOUNTING CONNECTION, BATTERY IS DISCONNECTING, THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO EXPLODE, ON ONE OCCASION VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING, ON ANOTHER OCCASION THIS CAUSED BATTERY TO NOT HOLD CHARGES. CONSUMER STATES WHEN RETURNING FROM TRIPS, THE BATTERY IS DEAD THE NEXT DAY, IN EVERY INSTANCE THE BATTERY IS DEAD BECAUSE IT NO LONGER WAS ABLE TO HAVE CONTINUOUS CONNECTION TO THE CABLE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8005132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009246 · 2002-05-06 (May 6, 2002)
FUEL GAUGE WAS INADEQUATE TO THE AMOUNT IN THE FUEL TANK. VEHICLE HAS A 25 GALLON TANK, AND WOULD EMPTY IN 200 MILES TO A FULL TANK. THE SUM PUMP (PULLS THE GAS TO THE TANK) BROKE COMPLETELY AND WAS LYING AT THE OF THE TANK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860984 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP. BUT PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. ALSO, DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE ELECTRICAL PARTS, AS WELL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 859881 · 2000-04-07 (April 7, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 75 MPH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ECM TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED . *AK.ET.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859881 at NHTSA ↗