2009 Cadillac ESCALADE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
58 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 58 complaints (41.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 12.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.2% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 5.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 24 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Air Bags: 24; Electrical System: 14; Engine: 9; Power Train: 4; Steering: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 6; 2016: 7; 2017: 6; 2018: 11; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10692143 · 2015-03-04 (March 4, 2015)
MY WIFE WAS GOING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WITH OUR 1 YEAR OLD CHILD. WHEN SHE ARRIVES SHE NOTICED THE POWER-ASSISTED STEP DID NOT UNFOLD WHEN SHE OPENED HER DOOR, AS IT NORMALLY DOES. WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM HER APPOINTMENT AND GOT IN THE CAR IT THE POWER-ASSISTED STEP OPENED NORMALLY. AFTER MAKING HER FIRST TURN OUT OF THE STREET SHE HAD PARKED ON, THE NAVIGATION CD STARTED EJECTING AND INSERTING ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY, ALL OF DOORS WERE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CENTER CONSOLE WERE FLICKERING, POWER STEERING…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10721313 · 2015-05-25 (May 25, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT GO. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF AND START IT AGAIN I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OUT IN MAJOR TRAFFIC AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. THEN AGAIN IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF AND START AGAIN. IT ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT GAVE ERROR CODES. I BROUGHT IT IN THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP WITH 30000 MILES ON IT BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR UNDER A RECALL. WHILE LOOKING UP THE ISSUES ONLINE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN # I THINK THE REC…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895278 · 2016-08-12 (August 12, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ALSO WHILE IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE "SERVICE STEERING" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERIAL DATA GATEWAY MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO PART DISCONTINUITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514869 · 2013-06-03 (June 3, 2013)
CAR SHUT OFF ON ME TWICE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR HAS A LOUD SQUEAKING, SQUEALING, ROUGH NOISE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS MY RPMS LOCK UP AND WON'T TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT IS SAID TO BELIEVE AT AN UP/DOWN SHIFT AND A DOWN/UP SHIFT. SUSPENSION AND OTHER PARTS UNDER VEHICLE ARE LEAKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993428 · 2017-06-06 (June 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE RPMS ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO ZONE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND BATTERY CAUSED THE FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, FAMILY TRUCKS AND VANS OF DENVER COLORADO WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND FURTHER DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE FAUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 158,389 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274779 · 2009-06-23 (June 23, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID (NA). WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 5 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINE SHUT DOWN AND THE BRAKES LOST ALL POWER. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE POWER RETURNED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274779 at NHTSA ↗