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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Cadillac ESCALADE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

115 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

78,780 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 115 complaints (12.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5043.5%
Steering behavior119.6%
Electrical and battery issues97.8%
Transmission and shifting54.3%
Fuel system concerns54.3%
Engine operation43.5%

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.

Electrical System
14
Service Brakes
11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9
Suspension
7
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
5
Parking Brake
4
Power Train
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System14
Service Brakes11
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic9
Suspension7
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)5
Parking Brake4
Power Train4

Electrical System: 14; Service Brakes: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 9; Suspension: 7; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 5; Parking Brake: 4; Power Train: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
13
50,000 to 74,999
11
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
17
150,000 and above
9
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99913
50,000 to 74,99911
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above9

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 9

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 44 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.

2001
3
2002
9
2003
16
2004
13
2005
6
2006
9
2007
6
2008
3
2009
6
2010
8
2011
4
2012
3
2013
4
2014
8
2015
4
2016
1
2017
2
2018
2
2020
2
2021
2
2024
2
2025
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20013
20029
200316
200413
20056
20069
20076
20083
20096
20108
20114
20123
20134
20148
20154
20161
20172
20182
20202
20212
20242
20252

2001: 3; 2002: 9; 2003: 16; 2004: 13; 2005: 6; 2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 6; 2010: 8; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10011616 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)

THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE, THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL, WHICH ALSO CRACKED AND LEAKED FLUID. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION FELT FROM ALL FOUR WHEELS, IN WHICH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TO SEIZE AND EXPLODE. SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011616 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026181 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL HAVE HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026181 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063273 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)

POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX, AND THEN INTO A DITCH. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063273 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009018 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)

THE PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009018 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10150451 · 2006-02-16 (February 16, 2006)

ABS BRAKES/BRAKE SYSTEM: BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED CADILLAC ESCALADE 2002, AFTER IT REACHED ABOUT 75000 MILES, ABS SYSTEM MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN U PRESS THE BRAKES, EXTREMELY LOUD,BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.....SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE RECALLED WITH THESE TRUCKS IN REGARDS TO THE ABS SYSTEMS.....NEVER MADE THAT SOUND BEFORE WHEN I HAD OWNED IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AFTER A YEAR STARTED TO MAKE A HORRIBLE UNSAFE LOUD NOISE WHEN U PRESS THE BRAKES....FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE..... ALSO THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10080721 · 2004-07-09 (July 9, 2004)

CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND WOULD STALL AT TIMES, EITHER WHEN BACKING UP OR INCREASING IN SPEED. TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES CRACKED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 86,380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080721 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10258544 · 2009-02-13 (February 13, 2009)

PARKED VEHICLE IN STORE PARKING LOT TO SHOP , WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE . THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE STUCK. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SLIP, IT WAS AS IF I TRYING TO PULL A BUILDING DOWN. I HAD TO PAY FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258544 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10219441 · 2008-02-20 (February 20, 2008)

2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE WITH FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN IT BURNED OUT ALL THE FUSES. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND GAVE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10496093 · 2013-02-01 (February 1, 2013)

SMOKE FROM REAR CLOSE TO GAS TANK . *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496093 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061292 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)

THERE WAS INTERMITTENT STALLING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *AK THE CONSUMER SMELLED WIRES BURNING, THE CHECK ENGINE WAS ON, THE SEAL FOR THE REAR HATCH LEAKED WATER, THERE WAS A LONG CRANK WITH THE ENGINE WHEN WARM, THERE WAS A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S LEFT FRONT TIRE AREA DUE TO A FAILED BEARING WHICH DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THE A/C WAS NOT COLD DUE TO A LEAK, WATER LEA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061292 at NHTSA ↗