2003 Cadillac ESCALADE EXT: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVELINE "CLUNK" #99-04-20-002B-(08/21/2003) - PER GM ADVISORY BULLETIN TO DEALER- PERSISTENT-NO RESOLVE BY GM CHARACTERIZED AS A "DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC" BY GM REPRESENTATIVE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067686 at NHTSA ↗

SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE STABILITY/TRACTION SYSTEM. STABILITRAK COMBINES ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. *BF THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM COMMANDED THE BRAKED BE APPLIED TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN IT SHOULDN'T HAVE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RE-SOLDERED THE ABS MOTOR. THE BRAKING OF ONE WHEEL HAS BEEN LESS VIOLENT BUT PERSIST NONETHELESS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099694 at NHTSA ↗

WAS EXITING THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY, SOUTH IN PELHAM, NY. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR! I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR AND HAD TO STEER INTO A UTILITY POLE TO AVOID AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114465 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WAS PARKED AT 10:30 DECEMBER 23. 2006 IN MY DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 9-9:15 ON DECEMBER 24, 2006 THE TRUCK IGNITED ITSELF ON FIRE. THE TRUCK IS SEVERELY BURNED AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S 2006 MERCEDES BENZ AS WELL AS MY PROPERTY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181087 at NHTSA ↗

12/24/06 I HAD A CAR FIRE AT MY HOUSE, GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR OVER A MONTH NOW REGARDING THERE LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. 2/13/07 THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY OF THE FIRE OVER THE PHONE TO ME. I FAXED TO THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. NOW TODAY 2/14/07 THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR DENYING IT WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BIG COMPANY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WORKING PUBLIC. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182537 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING HIS TAILGATE WITH 12 BAGS OF 40 POUND WOOD CHIPS, HE HEARD A POPPING SOUND . THE CONTACT THEN LOADED A 13 POUND BAG ONTO THE TAILGATE AND APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 BAGS FELL ONTO HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT. HE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURES TO HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT, WHICH RESULTED IN THREE SURGERIES. THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT DUE TO RECALL NUMBER 04007 AND AGAIN AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203536 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS AND REPLACED SIX TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAD AL…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342574 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE C…

Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343178 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

Reported: 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Consequence: ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.