2004 Cadillac ESCALADE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
69 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
84,489 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 69 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 30.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 17 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Service Brakes: 17; Electrical System: 15; Air Bags: 7; Unknown Or Other: 5; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Seats: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10050311 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH DRIVER HEARD AN EXPLOSION. THE POWER BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING, AND VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER STATED PISTON ROD WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051316 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
THE NEW MODEL YEAR 03 AND 04 CADILLAC ESCALADE SUVS HAVE TOO HIGHLY MOUNTED AND POORLY DESIGNED AND OR MIS ADJUSTED HEADLIGHTS CAUSING BLINDING GLARE TO ON COMING DRIVERS OR DRIVERS IN FRONT OF THESE VEHICLES. THE EXCESSIVELY GLARING LIGHT CAUSED EYE PAIN TO OTHER DRIVERS AND TEMPORARY BLINDNESS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081489 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT PRODUCED A WHININNING NOISE. DEALER REPAIRED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090312 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
WHEN BRAKING AT 25 MPH BRAKES FAILED CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,466 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120905 · 2005-05-13 (May 13, 2005)
THE TRUCK HAS HAD A VIBRATION THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY WHEN THE TRUCK REACHES A SPEED BETWEEN 76-78 MPH. THE DEALER HAS MADE 5 ATTEMPTS THUS FAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM INCLUDING CHANGING THE TIRES & BALANCING THE TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES TO NOI AVAIL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10120905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124581 · 2005-06-08 (June 8, 2005)
DT: PROBLEM WAS NOTICED IN 5/05 WHEN KEY WAS TURNED ON, NO LIGHT CAME ON REGARDING THE STABILITY CONTROL FUNCTION. WAS PUT ON DIAGNOSTICS, BUT NO ERROR CODE SHOWED. OWNER MANUAL STATED THE LIGHT WILL COME ON BRIEFLY WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THEN DISAPPEAR. IF THE LIGHT DOES NOT GO ON, THEN STABILITY CONTROL FUNCTION MAY NEED SERVICE. THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILED IN APRIL, WHEN RADIO, AND OTHER ELECTRIC FUNCTIONS FAILED. ALSO, THE LOW PSI LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TIRE WENT FLAT. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE REPAIR OF ELECTRIC SYSTE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125145 · 2005-06-13 (June 13, 2005)
INVOLVED IN A HORRIFIC AUTO ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLE. HIT IN FRONT PASSENGER & FRONT PART OF VEHICLE (BY RADIATOR AREA) AT HIGH SPEED. EST.SPEED APPROX. 45-55 MPH WITH NO SKID MARKS, OTHER VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT HIT US. NEW GM/ESCALADE-SUV/"04-WITH 11,000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW DECLARED TOTAL LOSS, WITH APPARENT SERIOUS FRAME DAMAGE/BENT 12 IN. AND FOUND STRESS CRK. SHOULD GIVE AN IDEA HIGH SPEED OTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING. 8-10 SECONDS FROM IMPACT, ONSTAR CAME ON AUTOMATICALLY, THEY RECD. EMERGENCY MESSAGE VIA SATELLITE, VEHICLE HAD BEEN I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126019 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
DT: THE VEHICLE HAS ONSTAR THAT DOESNT WORK. THE OWNER HAS FILED 29 COMPLAINTS WITH THE DEALER AND ONSTAR. CAR IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126019 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V163000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 2005-04-22 (April 22, 2005)
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
NHTSA campaign record ↗