2009 Cadillac ESCALADE: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

HEADLIGHT INSTALLED HEIGHT ON TALLER VEHICLES SUCH AS CATEGORY 1 AND 2 TRUCKS (COMMONLY CALLED SUV, CROSSOVER, VAN, PICKUP TRUCK, ETC.) IS OF SUCH A DESIGN THAT IT COMMONLY (PERHAPS UNAVOIDABLY) ENDS UP BLINDING DRIVERS IN PASSENGER CARS AT LOWER HEIGHTS BY DIRECTING THE 'HOT SPOT' OF HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF PASSENGER CAR DRIVERS. IN ADDITION, BUMPER HEIGHT ON THESE SAME VEHICLES IS NOT DESIGNED TO MEET BUMPERS ON OTHER VEHICLES, RESULTING IN HIGHER THAN NECESSARY INJURY AND FATALITY RATES. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CONT…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277190 at NHTSA ↗

ON GENERAL MOTORS CARS THAT LIGHT THE BACKUP LIGHTS WHILE PARKED AND REMOTE LOCK AND UNLOCK ARE ACTIVATED. PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS STOP AS IF THE VEHICLE MAY BACK UP WHICH SHOULD BE A PROPER REACTION. I HAVE EVEN TAUGHT MY CHILDREN THIS, PEOPLE NOW HAVE A TENDENCY TO IGNORE THE BACKUP LAMPS ON VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS AS WELL AS CREATING INCONVENIENT SITUATIONS AS CARS AND PEDESTRIANS STOP FOR UNOCCUPIED VEHICLES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF DRIVING PAST THESE VEHICLES WHEN THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BACKUP CREATING A CLOSE CALL. I KNOW THIS SEEMS TRIVIAL …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10304827 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/L ALENZA TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS 285/45/22. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED DUE TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500. THE DOT NUMBER W…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360536 at NHTSA ↗

PULSE WIDTH MODULATED L.E.D. AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTS SUCH AS ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED ON A FEW UPSCALE LUXURY CARS, NEED TO HAVE THEIR MINIMUM PULSEWIDTH INCREASED OR STANDARDIZED. THEY PRODUCE A DISTRACTING AND OFTEN IRRITATING STROBING EFFECT WHEN VIEWED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10376473 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE HEATED SEAT HAD STOPPED WORKING. THE HEATED/COOLED SEAT MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD A BURNT CONNECTOR. IT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE EASILY STARTED A FIRE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM MANY TIMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562372 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2009-05-06 (May 6, 2009)

GM IS RECALLING 27,188 MY 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE HYBRID, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, TAHOE HYBRID, AND COLORADO; AND GMC YUKON, YUKON HYBRID, YUKON XL, AND CANYON VEHICLES. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN ADHESIVE SEPARATION OF THE ROOM TEMPERATURE VULCANIZING (RTV) SEAL BETWEEN THE SEAL AND THE HOUSING MAY ALLOW WATER TO SEEP INTO THE MODULE.

Consequence: WATER IN THE MODULE COULD CAUSE A SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT, ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, SETTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES OR THE ENGINE MAY BE HARD TO START, MAY NOT START OR MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

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.

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.

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.

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

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL 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 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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."

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 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.