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2005 Cadillac Escalade

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 47.5.

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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

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

30 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2025
Fuel System, Gasoline

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while refueling, the gasoline was spilling out of the filler neck. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the fai…

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The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while refueling, the gasoline was spilling out of the filler neck. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11648105

105,000 miles · Jul 19, 2012
Fuel System, GasolineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/17/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10466644

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GET 8 MPG IN THE CITY AND 10 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS WITHOUT RUNNING THE AIR, OR HEAT, AND NOT PLAYING MUSIC OR USING ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL IMPLEMENTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT AFTER REACHING AN ODOMETER READING OF 2, 000 MILE…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GET 8 MPG IN THE CITY AND 10 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS WITHOUT RUNNING THE AIR, OR HEAT, AND NOT PLAYING MUSIC OR USING ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL IMPLEMENTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT AFTER REACHING AN ODOMETER READING OF 2, 000 MILES THE VEHICLE SHOULD GET THE MILEAGE THAT WAS ADVERTISED. THE CONTACT DID MOSTLY CITY DRIVING AND TOOK CARE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2005, IT HAS NEVER REACHED THE MPG THAT IT SHOULD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,050.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS INCLUDED THE MILEAGE PAGE AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND LEGAL DOCUMENT FROM LAWYER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER SAID SOMETIMES THEY GET VEHICLES IN LIKE THAT AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. UPDATE 4/25/07*TR UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10185278

Official recalls

2

05V163000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Apr 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 & remedy

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.

05V055000 · Power Train:manual Transmission:shift Pattern Indicator

Feb 14, 2005

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

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.