2003 Cadillac Escalade problems and complaints

Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade. The most-reported areas: Service Brakes (30), Electrical System (29), Hydraulic (16).

Key takeaways

  • 112 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 6 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Service Brakes3027%
Electrical System2926%
Hydraulic1614%
Steering98%
Air Bags87%
Engine76%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)65%
Fuel System65%
Gasoline65%
Power Train54%
Unknown Or Other54%
Vehicle Speed Control44%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2003 Cadillac Escalade 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Power Train - filed 2024-02-04

All of a sudden 3rd and 4th gears became useless causing a rapid deacceleration of the vehicle and posing the possibility of being rear ended with end result of massive damage to vehicle and serious injury to occupants

Visibility - filed 2023-04-22

The sunroof on my vehicle flew off on the highway while it was in the "closed" position. There was NO personal injury nor damage to any persons or vehicles. I returned to the area where the glass flew off only to find it shattered all over the shoulder of the road, completely destroyed. I've uploading a pic of the ser...

Air Bags - filed 2021-06-23

The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT. The contact stated that the air bag light was illuminated. The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the air bag needed replacement but did not diagnose the failure cause. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of th...

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More for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.