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2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

22 reports
57,699 miles · Jan 15, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING HER TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK AND MOVE THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT EFFORT TO T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING HER TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK AND MOVE THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,100. THE CONTACT ASKED IF SHE COULD GET A SECOND OPINION AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE OPINION OF ANOTHER MECHANIC INTO CONSIDERATION, IF THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,790 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,699. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF UPDATED 02/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10255189

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2008
Electrical System

THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER OF MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE WILL STICK OR SLOWLY DROP DOWN TO 0 WHILE DRIVING. IT APPEARS TO ONLY HAPPEN AT NIGHT TIME WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252483

77,000 miles · Sep 12, 2008
SeatsFire

WE HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT REAR SEAT WARMER CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND THEY BAGGED IT WHILE IT WAS STILL SMOKING AND PUT OIT BACK IN CAR AND SPRAYED FREBREEZE IN THE CAR AND SENT US ON OUR WAY AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL. THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE US SOMETHING STATING…

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WE HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE RIGHT REAR SEAT WARMER CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND THEY BAGGED IT WHILE IT WAS STILL SMOKING AND PUT OIT BACK IN CAR AND SPRAYED FREBREEZE IN THE CAR AND SENT US ON OUR WAY AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL. THEY DID NOT EVEN GIVE US SOMETHING STATING WE WERE THERE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS HAVING IT FIXED AND LETTING OTHERS KNOW SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.OUR DAUGHTER WAS ASLEEP ON TOP OF TWO PILLOWS LAYING ON THE SEAT.NOW EVERYTHING IS DRAGGING SUCH AS ALL THE WINDOWS. IT IS ACTING UP BAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241980

88,000 miles · Sep 8, 2008
Electrical System

VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER THAT STICKS AND WILL DEALER AND GM WILL NOT COVER UNDER RECALL LAWSUIT. TOO MANY MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241365

88,000 miles · Sep 2, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND IS NOT ACCURATE. THERE IS A POLICY SET UP TO FIX ONLY THOSE VEHICLES UNDER 70000 MILES. WHY IS MY VEHICLE BEING EXCLUDED? I HAVE 88,000 MILES ON MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE DEALER, KEY CADILLAC IN EDINA MINNESOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. A BROKEN SPEEDOMETER THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A MANUFACTU…

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SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND IS NOT ACCURATE. THERE IS A POLICY SET UP TO FIX ONLY THOSE VEHICLES UNDER 70000 MILES. WHY IS MY VEHICLE BEING EXCLUDED? I HAVE 88,000 MILES ON MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE DEALER, KEY CADILLAC IN EDINA MINNESOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. A BROKEN SPEEDOMETER THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM IS JUSTIFIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240692

122,558 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Power Train

HAD MY ESCALADE ESV IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION, AT 122,000 MY 3RD AND OVERDRIVE BAND BROKE LEAVING ME STRANDING IN GILROY CALIFORNIA, NOT A BAD PLACE REALLY NICE PEOPLE. WROTE A LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF GM, RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE NAMED AMY, AND HERE IS THE DIALOGUE: I AM SORRY THIS HAPPEN WE …

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HAD MY ESCALADE ESV IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION, AT 122,000 MY 3RD AND OVERDRIVE BAND BROKE LEAVING ME STRANDING IN GILROY CALIFORNIA, NOT A BAD PLACE REALLY NICE PEOPLE. WROTE A LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF GM, RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE NAMED AMY, AND HERE IS THE DIALOGUE: I AM SORRY THIS HAPPEN WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, NO WONDER GM IS LOSING MARKET SHARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219548

29,800 miles · Dec 28, 2006
Power Train

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WOULD GO INTO GEAR WITH THE IGNITION BEING IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS ON ACCESSORY POSITION, AND THE CHILD PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN HE …

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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WOULD GO INTO GEAR WITH THE IGNITION BEING IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS ON ACCESSORY POSITION, AND THE CHILD PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT, THE REASON THAT YOU CAN PULL THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN CASE YOU NEED TO TOW THE VEHICLE, SO YOU CAN SET IT IN NEUTRAL. CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10177217

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON JULY 16TH, 2005; I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE CHANGING, SINGLE VEHICLE AUTO ACCIDENT. I STRUCK A HILL WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH ENOUGH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO FLIP THIS CADILLAC ESCALADE HEAD FIRST. THE ESCALADE FLIPPED TWICE, IMPACTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND LANDING UP SIDE DOWN. ASTONISHINGLY, OUT OF THE FO…

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ON JULY 16TH, 2005; I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE CHANGING, SINGLE VEHICLE AUTO ACCIDENT. I STRUCK A HILL WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH ENOUGH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO FLIP THIS CADILLAC ESCALADE HEAD FIRST. THE ESCALADE FLIPPED TWICE, IMPACTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND LANDING UP SIDE DOWN. ASTONISHINGLY, OUT OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS IN THIS VEHICLE, NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. I PURCHASED THIS 2004 ESCALADE BRAND NEW AND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IT ONLY HAD 15,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IT IS UTTERLY UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE RAVED REVIEWS, CONSUMER REPORTS INCLUDING SAFETY FEATURES, AND STYLISH BODY THAT THIS CADILLAC ESCALADE BECAME THE VEHICLE OF MY DREAMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY CADILLAC EXPERIENCE. I DO NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET INTO ANOTHER ONE. I KNOW THAT I AM ONLY HERE BECAUSE GOD DECIDED THE SPARE MY LIFE. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT I FREQUENTLY SUFFER SEVERE MIGRAINES, DIZZY SPELLS, BLURRED VISION, MEMORY LOSS, AND ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS ALL WHICH KEEP ME FROM SLEEPING. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COMMUTE FROM DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND WORK FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE NEXT WEEK I HAD SEVERE CHEST, SHOULDER AND LOWER BACK PAINS; ALL OF WHICH I AM BEING TREATED FOR ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ALSO SEEK TREATMENT FROM A NEUROLOGIST FOR THE HEAD INJURY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS AND GM SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139277

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2005
EquipmentWheels

FIRST OCCURANCE: 3/05 NOTICED TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE LIGHT UP IN VEHICLE, WENT TO GAS STATION CHECKED ALL TIRES AND FILLED FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. ONE DAY LATER SAME TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ON, WENT TO TIRE SHOP TO FIX FLAT TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RIM HAD THREE HAIR LINE CRACKS IN IT , TOOK RIM TO DEALER AND DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE.…

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FIRST OCCURANCE: 3/05 NOTICED TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE LIGHT UP IN VEHICLE, WENT TO GAS STATION CHECKED ALL TIRES AND FILLED FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. ONE DAY LATER SAME TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ON, WENT TO TIRE SHOP TO FIX FLAT TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RIM HAD THREE HAIR LINE CRACKS IN IT , TOOK RIM TO DEALER AND DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. SECOND OCCURANCE: 7/05 SAME THING HAPPENS BUT TO FRONT DRIVER SIDE RIM. THE VEHICLE HASN'T EVEN BEEN DRIVEN ENOUGH TO GET A FLAT TIRE LET ALONE A RIM WITH TWO HAIR LINE CRACKS IN IT. DEALER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE RIMS, AND WON'T EVEN DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECT. I STILL HAVE BOTH THE RIMS. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. THANKS ANDREA BENSON

NHTSA ODI #10127562

6,000 miles · Jan 20, 2005
Power Train

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON A NEW 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR WARNING PRIOR. AFTER THE BEARING SEIZED, THE AXEL SNAPPED AND THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL ON W…

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THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON A NEW 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR WARNING PRIOR. AFTER THE BEARING SEIZED, THE AXEL SNAPPED AND THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL ON WAS THE BRAKE CALIPER. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR AXEL, DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HEARD OF WHEEL FAILURES ON CHEVROLET AVALANCHE TRUCK'S ALSO (SAME CHASSIS). MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS A COMPONENT PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL BEARING ON THESE TRUCKS WHICH COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107628

Official recalls

1

04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Feb 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.