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2008 Cadillac ESCALADE ESV: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

17 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

52,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 17 complaints (70.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues317.6%
Engine operation15.9%
Steering behavior15.9%

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
12
Electrical System
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Engine
1
Power Train
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags12
Electrical System2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Engine1
Power Train1
Unknown Or Other1

Air Bags: 12; Electrical System: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

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

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 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.

2009
1
2010
1
2014
1
2015
1
2016
3
2017
6
2018
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20101
20141
20151
20163
20176
20184

2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 6; 2018: 4

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10256882 · 2009-01-29 (January 29, 2009)

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LIGHT RAIN, ABOUT 50 DEGREES, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, NAVIGATION/RADIO OFF, LIGHTS OFF. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, LOST AND REGAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAPPENED WITH DEPUTY SHERIFF DIRECTLY BEHIND HER. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF UNINTENTIONALLY. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND CADILLAC CAME OUT AND CHANGED BATTERY. THIS TIME WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK TSB'S. SAID THERE WERE TOO MANY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 11,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10340458 · 2010-06-28 (June 28, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND MOVED FROM THE ROADWAY WHERE HE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE IN OLD…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10579363 · 2014-04-12 (April 12, 2014)

STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I COULD NOT PULL OVER TO THE CURB AND HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP ME GET THE CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. CAR STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR 15 MINUTES. THE CAR'S ENGINE FAULT LIGHT HAD BEEN ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD BEEN FRAYED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT RESULTING IN A NUMBER OF ENGINE FAULTS. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 91,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579363 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10783341 · 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED TO 25 MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO INCREASE SPEED. UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V240000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 08V441000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10783341 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10918561 · 2016-10-24 (October 24, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10918561 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10926819 · 2016-11-18 (November 18, 2016)

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10926819 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10934429 · 2016-12-10 (December 10, 2016)

TAKATA RECALL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO TAKATA AIRBAGS BEGINNING IN MAY 2016. THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THE AIRBAG ISSUE AND IT IS NOW DECEMBER 10, 2016. MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY.

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10934429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11041508 · 2017-10-31 (October 31, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11041508 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

NHTSA campaign record ↗
10V240000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V050000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V052000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.

NHTSA campaign record ↗