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2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 18 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

18 reports
147,000 miles · Feb 3, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, ILLUMINATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES INCLUDING SERVICE BRAKES SOON, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITRAK, BATTERY AND STALLING OF VEHICLE. TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE REPEATEDLY AND DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE. ALSO CONTACTED GM TO NO AVAIL. SEARCHED ONLINE A…

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EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, ILLUMINATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES INCLUDING SERVICE BRAKES SOON, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITRAK, BATTERY AND STALLING OF VEHICLE. TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE REPEATEDLY AND DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE. ALSO CONTACTED GM TO NO AVAIL. SEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED BY THE NHTSA: ORIGINAL RECALL FROM THE NHTSA MANUFACTURER'S REPORT DATE: MAY 18, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V154000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 27,188 MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE A NEW FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE AND IS NOT OFFERING ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REPEATEDLY.

NHTSA ODI #10824127

107,000 miles · Jan 17, 2016
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

BEGINNING IN OR AROUND OCTOBER 2014, MY CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID WITH 107,000 MILES BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING WHEREBY VARIOUS LIGHTS, ALERTS AND WARNING SIGNALS BEGAN ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY INCLUDING THE BRAKE, ENGINE, STABILITRAK, HYBRID SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER SIGNALS TO NAME A FEW. MORE LIGHTS THAN I C…

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BEGINNING IN OR AROUND OCTOBER 2014, MY CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID WITH 107,000 MILES BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING WHEREBY VARIOUS LIGHTS, ALERTS AND WARNING SIGNALS BEGAN ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY INCLUDING THE BRAKE, ENGINE, STABILITRAK, HYBRID SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER SIGNALS TO NAME A FEW. MORE LIGHTS THAN I CAN REMEMBER WOULD ACTIVATE AND THE CAR WOULD STALL FROM 65MPH TO 30MPH WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING. ALSO, THE CAR SOMETIMES STALLS WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER REPEATEDLY AND AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THE SYSTEM RESET AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUE. THEN I WAS TOLD THE ISSUE WAS THE ENGINE AND CHARGED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THEN I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY WHICH I PAID FOR BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE SERVICE TRIPS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND MANY COMPLAINTS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, CROWN CADILLAC, AND CALLS TO THE GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, AN ENGINEER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS RELATING TO THE SENSORY POWER MODULE IN FEBRUARY 2015. THE VEHICLE RAN AS IT SHOULD FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL DECEMBER. HOWEVER, IN LATE DECEMBER 2015 THE SAME ISSUES BEGAN AGAIN. FRUSTRATED WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALER, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE OUR OTHER NON-HYBRID CADILLAC WAS PURCHASED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT THE ESCALADE FOR OVER A WEEK FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CODES OR MAKE ANY REPAIRS. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PICK THE CAR UP ON JANUARY 12, 2016. TODAY, JANUARY 17, LESS THAN ONE WEEK LATER, THE CAR STALLED OUT AND THE ALERT LIGHTS BEGAN AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND TRAPPED WITH THIS MALFUNCTIONING AND DEFECTIVE CAR THAT IT SEEMS EVEN ITS MANUFACTURER CANNOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10820718

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10660896

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2014
Service Brakes

WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT. REPLACED THE FLUID AND IT LEAKED OUT AGAIN. CALLED DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT RIGHT IN NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED. PRIOR TOO THAT THERE HAD BEEN OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IT TOOK …

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WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT. REPLACED THE FLUID AND IT LEAKED OUT AGAIN. CALLED DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT RIGHT IN NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED. PRIOR TOO THAT THERE HAD BEEN OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IT TOOK OVER A WEEK AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10609127

29,500 miles · Feb 5, 2014
EnginePower Train

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER GOT REDUCED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED TO ABOUT 30 MPH. THIS ABRUPT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND REDUCTION OF SPEED FROM 70 MPH TO 30 MPH CAUSED NEAR-CRASH CONDITIONS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHERE ALL VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING UNIFORMLY AT 70 MPH, …

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WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER GOT REDUCED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED TO ABOUT 30 MPH. THIS ABRUPT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND REDUCTION OF SPEED FROM 70 MPH TO 30 MPH CAUSED NEAR-CRASH CONDITIONS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHERE ALL VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING UNIFORMLY AT 70 MPH, NARROWLY AVOIDING MULTIPLE COLLISIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AT A LAY-BY FOR A FEW MINUTES, EVERYTHING RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMING UP INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND RETURNING TO NORMAL BY ITSELF. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563084

52,612 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

I DRIVE A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID. THE POWER ON THE BRAKES WENT OUT, TO WHERE I ONLY HAD ABOUT 5% BREAKING POWER. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS GOING SLOW, SO NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. THREE ERROR CODES CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD, "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", "SERVICE STABILITRAK", AND "SERVICE BRAKES SOON". …

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I DRIVE A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID. THE POWER ON THE BRAKES WENT OUT, TO WHERE I ONLY HAD ABOUT 5% BREAKING POWER. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS GOING SLOW, SO NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. THREE ERROR CODES CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD, "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", "SERVICE STABILITRAK", AND "SERVICE BRAKES SOON". I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE LOST MY BREAKS WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, EVERYTHING STARTED UP NORMAL AGAIN AND WORKED AFTER I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND TURNED IT BACK ON. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. NOW AFTER THIS INCIDENT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THAT CAR. HAVING MY BRAKES GIVE OUT WHILE DRIVING IS THE MOST SCARY THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT CAN GO UNRESOLVED. THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS IS AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FORUMS, OTHER GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HYBRID OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH LOSING THE BREAKING SYSTEM. EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE! SOME HAVE FALLEN UNDER THE LEMON LAW AND HAVE GOTTEN NEW VEHICLES. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER BUT I AM WAITING TO FIND OUT. IN THE MEANTIME THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE AIR CONDITIONING GOING OUT OR A MINOR DEFECT, THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. FROM MY INVESTIGATIONS, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION AND I WONDER WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN SOME KIND OF RECALL. PLEASE GOOGLE SEARCH "GM HYBRID BRAKE ISSUES" AND YOU WILL FIND MANY OTHERS ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP AS NOT ONLY MY LIFE BUT THE LIFE OF OTHERS ARE IN DANGER IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10419768

29,529 miles · Feb 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE HAS STALLED WITH A WARNING ON MESSAGE CENTER SAYING, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND OIL PRESSURE LOW. TURN OFF ENGINE." THE SUV WILL ALSO GO "DEAD" WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE SOMETIMES. AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS AND TURNING THE IGNITION KEY AGAIN, THE SUV WILL CRANK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 7…

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THE ENGINE HAS STALLED WITH A WARNING ON MESSAGE CENTER SAYING, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND OIL PRESSURE LOW. TURN OFF ENGINE." THE SUV WILL ALSO GO "DEAD" WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE SOMETIMES. AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS AND TURNING THE IGNITION KEY AGAIN, THE SUV WILL CRANK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES WITH CONSECUTIVE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS ILLUMINATING WITHIN HOURS AFTER THE REPAIR. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES HAVE REPORTED MULTIPLE SENSORS FAILING, INCLUDING THE KNOCK SENSOR ON BANK 1 (THREE TIMES). THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, AS THE KNOCK SENSOR HAS FAILED AND THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE RETURNED FOR THE 8TH REPAIR IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10383967

5,500 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Air BagsEquipmentStructureCrashInjury

2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID SIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF LATE IN CRASH AND CAUSED MORE INJURY, FRAME DID NOT HOLD DUE TO EXTRA HYBRID WEIGHT, ONSTAR WOULD NOT FUNCTION TW*

NHTSA ODI #10303055

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.