Model year record

2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext recalls & problems

The 2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext has 2 safety recalls and 15 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (4 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints15filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

StructureMar 17, 2004

Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments

Recall 04V1290003,662,211 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicFeb 4, 2004

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 04V04500068,875 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Escalade Ext AWD

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 15 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

6 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Master cylinder; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	4	1	0	2	—
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	4	0	2	0	62,000 mi
Service brakes	3	0	0	0	145,000 mi
Power trainDriveline	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump	2	0	0	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system	2	0	0	0	—
Electronic stability controlAutomatic (asc)	1	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	1	1	0	2	—
StructureBody › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments	1	0	0	1	—
Equipment	1	0	0	0	—
Engine	1	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
Nov 28, 2014 · 145,000 miles
Service brakes
I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME AND AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. RETURNED HOME AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT FRAME AREA UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. PULLED WHEEL OFF AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. ALL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUR OTHER CARS AND NONE HAVE BRAKE LINES RUSTED LIKE THESE. SUSPECT MATERIAL USED TO MAKE BRAKE LINES NOT TO SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN SEVER CORROSION.. *TR
Jul 11, 2014 · 127,527 miles
Unknown or other
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE SPEED IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 17 OF THIS YEAR. DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO CODES OR HISTORY OF CODES IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. LEFT IT THERE FOR A DAY BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WHAT NOW. *JS
Jun 25, 2014 · 70,122 miles
Service brakes
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. CAUSE WAS A CORRODED REAR, STEEL (HARD) BRAKE LINE ALONG THE FRAME. *TR
Jul 15, 2013 · 190,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH WAS RELATED TO OXIDATION AND RUST DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINES (METAL TUBING) AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE LINES AS WELL AS THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED OVER A YEAR LATER, WHERE 14 ADDITIONAL LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST. A PATCH JOB WAS PERFORMED TO RETURN BRAKING CAPACITY. *JB
Sep 21, 2011 · 124,371 miles
Engine
FOUND HALF OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN AND CANNOT GET INSPECTED NOW. *TR
Jun 8, 2011 · 96,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT METAL BRAKE LINE PROBLEM. I NOTICED A LEAK AND I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? WHY WASN'T IT NOTICED DURING PREVIOUS SERVICE? WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM? CAN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PARTS AND VERIFICATION OF RECALLS. "I WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY ACID DRIPPED ON LINE". I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ANSWER I RECEIVED DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL SERVICE AND WORK DONE TO MY ESCALADE EXT TRUCK WERE COMPLETED MY THE DEALER. MY BATTERY HAD NO CORROSION AND I DO NOT LIVE INSALT BELT STATE. I…
Aug 17, 2012
Electrical system
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 CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE…
Mar 10, 2006 · 168,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.