2003 Cadillac Escalade problems
Owners have filed 111 complaints about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 23.4% of them — the clear leader, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 10.8%.
Complaints111
Crashes5
Fires6
Injuries5
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 23.4% · 26
Service brakes, hydraulic 10.8% · 12
Service brakes 8.1% · 9
Electronic stability control (ESC) 5.4% · 6
Steering 5.4% · 6
Air bags 4.5% · 5
Engine and engine cooling 3.6% · 4
Engine 3.6% · 4
Severity
Of those complaints, 5 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 5 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 8 model years of the Cadillac Escalade in this data, 2003 draws comparatively few complaints; 2007 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 13 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 75,000 miles.
In owners' own words
My blower motor is staying on continuously and the smell of plastic burning in the vehicle. I was told by a mechanic it is a blower motor control module shortage from the factory. I have found this as a recall on some 2003-2006 Cadillac escalades but my vin is not on the recall they say it is a fire hazard. I was thinking that mine should also be on the recall list.Maybe they missed mine for some reason. Electrical system · reported at 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the speedometer, fuel, and the oil gages displayed inaccurate reading levels. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the instrumental panel cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Electrical system · reported at 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the instrument panel malfunctioned failing to display any readings. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000. Electrical system · reported at 104,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…